diff --git a/source/cell/cell.cpp b/source/cell/cell.cpp
index 98dc1739..667212d8 100644
--- a/source/cell/cell.cpp
+++ b/source/cell/cell.cpp
@@ -750,7 +750,8 @@ void cell::format(const class format new_format)
         format().d_->references -= format().d_->references > 0 ? 1 : 0;
     }
 
-    d_->format_ = detail::reference(new_format.d_);
+    ++new_format.d_->references;
+    d_->format_ = new_format.d_;
 }
 
 calendar cell::base_date() const
diff --git a/source/detail/implementations/stylesheet.hpp b/source/detail/implementations/stylesheet.hpp
index 9863909d..0ec45161 100644
--- a/source/detail/implementations/stylesheet.hpp
+++ b/source/detail/implementations/stylesheet.hpp
@@ -419,7 +419,6 @@ struct stylesheet
         if (pattern->references == 0)
         {
             *pattern = new_format;
-            return pattern;
         }
         return find_or_create(new_format);
     }
@@ -432,7 +431,6 @@ struct stylesheet
         if (pattern->references == 0)
         {
             *pattern = new_format;
-            return pattern;
         }
         return find_or_create(new_format);
     }
@@ -445,7 +443,6 @@ struct stylesheet
         if (pattern->references == 0)
         {
             *pattern = new_format;
-            return pattern;
         }
         return find_or_create(new_format);
     }
@@ -458,7 +455,6 @@ struct stylesheet
         if (pattern->references == 0)
         {
             *pattern = new_format;
-            return pattern;
         }
         return find_or_create(new_format);
     }
@@ -471,7 +467,6 @@ struct stylesheet
         if (pattern->references == 0)
         {
             *pattern = new_format;
-            return pattern;
         }
         return find_or_create(new_format);
     }
@@ -488,7 +483,6 @@ struct stylesheet
         if (pattern->references == 0)
         {
             *pattern = new_format;
-            return pattern;
         }
         return find_or_create(new_format);
     }
@@ -501,7 +495,6 @@ struct stylesheet
         if (pattern->references == 0)
         {
             *pattern = new_format;
-            return pattern;
         }
         return find_or_create(new_format);
     }
@@ -584,15 +577,5 @@ struct stylesheet
     std::vector<color> colors;
 };
 
-inline format_impl* reference(format_impl *impl)
-{
-    ++impl->references;
-    if (impl->references == 1)
-    {
-        impl = impl->parent->find_or_create(*impl);
-    }
-    return impl;
-}
-
 } // namespace detail
 } // namespace xlnt