diff --git a/compiler/cpp/src/thriftl.ll b/compiler/cpp/src/thriftl.ll
index 685bb54..aee4406 100644
--- a/compiler/cpp/src/thriftl.ll
+++ b/compiler/cpp/src/thriftl.ll
@@ -183,6 +183,7 @@
   pwarning(0, "\"async\" is deprecated.  It is called \"oneway\" now.\n");
   return tok_oneway;
 }
+"&"                  { return tok_reference;            }
 
 
 "BEGIN"              { thrift_reserved_keyword(yytext); }