diff --git a/openjpa-kernel/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/kernel/SaveFieldManager.java b/openjpa-kernel/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/kernel/SaveFieldManager.java
index 9a8b0f45b..f5be8cac7 100644
--- a/openjpa-kernel/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/kernel/SaveFieldManager.java
+++ b/openjpa-kernel/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/kernel/SaveFieldManager.java
@@ -193,9 +193,7 @@ public class SaveFieldManager
 
     public Object fetchObjectField(int field) {
         // return the copied field during save, or a null value during restore
-        Object val = _field;
-        _field = null;
-        return val;
+        return _field;
     }
 
     public void storeObjectField(int field, Object curVal) {
diff --git a/openjpa-kernel/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/kernel/SavepointFieldManager.java b/openjpa-kernel/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/kernel/SavepointFieldManager.java
index b68890f6b..a7d8e7aa7 100644
--- a/openjpa-kernel/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/kernel/SavepointFieldManager.java
+++ b/openjpa-kernel/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/kernel/SavepointFieldManager.java
@@ -194,10 +194,7 @@ class SavepointFieldManager
     }
 
     public Object fetchObjectField(int field) {
-        // return the copied field during save, or a null value during restore
-        Object val = _field;
-        _field = null;
-        return val;
+        return _field;
     }
 
     public void storeObjectField(int field, Object curVal) {
diff --git a/openjpa-kernel/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/kernel/TransferFieldManager.java b/openjpa-kernel/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/kernel/TransferFieldManager.java
index 47f4c98a5..8bbaa910b 100644
--- a/openjpa-kernel/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/kernel/TransferFieldManager.java
+++ b/openjpa-kernel/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/kernel/TransferFieldManager.java
@@ -62,10 +62,7 @@ class TransferFieldManager
     }
 
     public Object fetchObjectField(int field) {
-        // don't hold onto strong ref to object
-        Object val = objval;
-        objval = null;
-        return val;
+        return objval;
     }
 
     public short fetchShortField(int field) {