diff --git a/src/libstd/io/buffered.rs b/src/libstd/io/buffered.rs
index 9ef319782369d..9317f647d4fa6 100644
--- a/src/libstd/io/buffered.rs
+++ b/src/libstd/io/buffered.rs
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ impl<R: Read> BufReader<R> {
     }
 
     /// Gets a reference to the underlying reader.
-    pub fn get_ref<'a>(&self) -> &R { &self.inner }
+    pub fn get_ref(&self) -> &R { &self.inner }
 
     /// Gets a mutable reference to the underlying reader.
     ///