diff --git a/Code/Framework/AzFramework/AzFramework/Physics/Material.cpp b/Code/Framework/AzFramework/AzFramework/Physics/Material.cpp
index cdcdbe4655..05f41cc8da 100644
--- a/Code/Framework/AzFramework/AzFramework/Physics/Material.cpp
+++ b/Code/Framework/AzFramework/AzFramework/Physics/Material.cpp
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ namespace Physics
         }
     }
 
-    const AZ::Data::Asset<Physics::MaterialLibraryAsset>& MaterialSelection::GetMaterialLibrary()
+    AZ::Data::Asset<Physics::MaterialLibraryAsset> MaterialSelection::GetMaterialLibrary()
     {
         if (auto* physicsSystem = AZ::Interface<AzPhysics::SystemInterface>::Get())
         {
@@ -516,7 +516,7 @@ namespace Physics
         return s_invalidMaterialLibrary;
     }
 
-    const AZ::Data::AssetId& MaterialSelection::GetMaterialLibraryId()
+    AZ::Data::AssetId MaterialSelection::GetMaterialLibraryId()
     {
         return GetMaterialLibrary().GetId();
     }
diff --git a/Code/Framework/AzFramework/AzFramework/Physics/Material.h b/Code/Framework/AzFramework/AzFramework/Physics/Material.h
index bd15dd338e..455da207d1 100644
--- a/Code/Framework/AzFramework/AzFramework/Physics/Material.h
+++ b/Code/Framework/AzFramework/AzFramework/Physics/Material.h
@@ -306,8 +306,8 @@ namespace Physics
         
         void SyncSelectionToMaterialLibrary();
         
-        static const AZ::Data::Asset<Physics::MaterialLibraryAsset>& GetMaterialLibrary();
-        static const AZ::Data::AssetId& GetMaterialLibraryId();
+        static AZ::Data::Asset<Physics::MaterialLibraryAsset> GetMaterialLibrary();
+        static AZ::Data::AssetId GetMaterialLibraryId();
 
         bool AreMaterialSlotsReadOnly() const;