diff --git a/examples/quicksort_pairs.se b/examples/quicksort_pairs.se
index 5583b4b..f8032a7 100644
--- a/examples/quicksort_pairs.se
+++ b/examples/quicksort_pairs.se
@@ -9,7 +9,13 @@
 
 
 if msg.datasize <= 2:
-    return(msg.data, msg.datasize)
+    # data needs to be copied
+    res = array(msg.datasize)
+    i = 0
+    while i < msg.datasize:
+        res[i] = msg.data[i]
+        i += 1
+    return(res, msg.datasize)
 else:
     low = array(msg.datasize)
     lsz = 0