diff --git a/apps/files_external/lib/config.php b/apps/files_external/lib/config.php
index bb783809f9a3..e3ef47c83506 100644
--- a/apps/files_external/lib/config.php
+++ b/apps/files_external/lib/config.php
@@ -194,9 +194,9 @@ private static function prepareMountPointEntry(StorageConfig $storage, $isPerson
 	 */
 	public static function setUserVars($user, $input) {
 		if (is_array($input)) {
-			foreach ($input as &$value) {
+			foreach ($input as $key => $value) {
 				if (is_string($value)) {
-					$value = str_replace('$user', $user, $value);
+					$input[$key] = str_replace('$user', $user, $value);
 				}
 			}
 		} else {
@@ -220,8 +220,8 @@ public static function getBackendStatus($class, $options, $isPersonal, $testOnly
 		if (self::$skipTest) {
 			return StorageNotAvailableException::STATUS_SUCCESS;
 		}
-		foreach ($options as &$option) {
-			$option = self::setUserVars(OCP\User::getUser(), $option);
+		foreach ($options as $key => $option) {
+			$option[$key] = self::setUserVars(OCP\User::getUser(), $option);
 		}
 		if (class_exists($class)) {
 			try {