diff --git a/lib/addMethod/globalize/validateObjectArgumentByReference.js b/lib/addMethod/globalize/validateObjectArgumentByReference.js
index 3a33fbe..533cbce 100644
--- a/lib/addMethod/globalize/validateObjectArgumentByReference.js
+++ b/lib/addMethod/globalize/validateObjectArgumentByReference.js
@@ -17,12 +17,18 @@ module.exports = function (referenceModificationErrorMessage, nonObjectErrorMess
 					} else {
 						// eslint-disable-next-line no-console
 						console.warn(referenceModificationErrorMessage);
+						//Maintain backwards compatibility in non-dev mode
+						return referencedObject;
 					}
 				}
 				/*
 					Need another cloneDeep, else originalObjectCopy variable
 					becomes a reference for method config's function
 				*/
+				/*
+					TODO: introduce breaking change to introduce via a flag
+					(which also avoids the return of the reference object above)
+				*/
 				return _.cloneDeep(originalObjectCopy);
 			} else if (_.isPlainObject(returnedObject)) {
 				return returnedObject;
diff --git a/tests/globalize_test.js b/tests/globalize_test.js
index b0d2cda..e120831 100644
--- a/tests/globalize_test.js
+++ b/tests/globalize_test.js
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ describe('#globalize', function () {
 			.then(done, done);
 		});
 
-		describe('should use original params if modified but not returned (and console warn)', function () {
+		describe('should use reference params if modified but not returned (and console warn)', function () {
 
 			const sampleGlobal = {
 				_globalOptions: {
@@ -414,7 +414,13 @@ describe('#globalize', function () {
 			it('global', function (done) {
 				globalize.before.call(sampleGlobal, {}, _.cloneDeep(originalParams))
 				.then(function (params) {
-					assert.deepEqual(params, originalParams);
+					assert.deepEqual(
+						params,
+						{
+							id: 'abc123',
+							notes: 'Hello'
+						}
+					);
 				})
 				.then(done, done);
 			});
@@ -426,7 +432,13 @@ describe('#globalize', function () {
 					_.cloneDeep(originalParams)
 				)
 				.then(function (params) {
-					assert.deepEqual(params, originalParams);
+					assert.deepEqual(
+						params,
+						{
+							id: 'abc123',
+							notes: ' World'
+						}
+					);
 				})
 				.then(done, done);
 			});
@@ -438,7 +450,13 @@ describe('#globalize', function () {
 					_.cloneDeep(originalParams)
 				)
 				.then(function (params) {
-					assert.deepEqual(params, originalParams);
+					assert.deepEqual(
+						params,
+						{
+							id: 'abc123',
+							notes: 'Hello World'
+						}
+					);
 				})
 				.then(done, done);
 			});
@@ -684,7 +702,7 @@ describe('#globalize', function () {
 			.then(done, done);
 		});
 
-		describe('should use original request if modified but not returned (and console warn)', function () {
+		describe('should use reference request if modified but not returned (and console warn)', function () {
 
 			const sampleGlobal = {
 				_globalOptions: {
@@ -708,7 +726,13 @@ describe('#globalize', function () {
 			it('global', function (done) {
 				globalize.beforeRequest.call(sampleGlobal, {}, _.cloneDeep(originalRequest))
 				.then(function (request) {
-					assert.deepEqual(request, originalRequest);
+					assert.deepEqual(
+						request,
+						{
+							method: 'get',
+							url: 'test.com?hello=world'
+						}
+					);
 				})
 				.then(done, done);
 			});
@@ -720,7 +744,13 @@ describe('#globalize', function () {
 					_.cloneDeep(originalRequest)
 				)
 				.then(function (request) {
-					assert.deepEqual(request, originalRequest);
+					assert.deepEqual(
+						request,
+						{
+							method: 'get',
+							url: 'test.com&test=123'
+						}
+					);
 				})
 				.then(done, done);
 			});
@@ -732,7 +762,13 @@ describe('#globalize', function () {
 					_.cloneDeep(originalRequest)
 				)
 				.then(function (request) {
-					assert.deepEqual(request, originalRequest);
+					assert.deepEqual(
+						request,
+						{
+							method: 'get',
+							url: 'test.com?hello=world&test=123'
+						}
+					);
 				})
 				.then(done, done);
 			});