diff --git a/activex/axvlc.idl b/activex/axvlc.idl
index 0cd7992318..b946e6e9c0 100644
--- a/activex/axvlc.idl
+++ b/activex/axvlc.idl
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ library AXVLC
         HRESULT height([out, retval] long* height);
 
         [propget, helpstring("Returns video aspect ratio.")]
-        HRESULT aspectRatio([out, retval] BSTR *aspect);
+        HRESULT aspectRatio([out, retval] BSTR aspect);
         [propput, helpstring("Sets video aspect ratio.")]
         HRESULT aspectRatio([in] BSTR aspect);
 
diff --git a/activex/axvlc_idl.h b/activex/axvlc_idl.h
index ec703cca53..6b779a45dd 100644
--- a/activex/axvlc_idl.h
+++ b/activex/axvlc_idl.h
@@ -2035,7 +2035,7 @@ interface IVLCVideo : public IDispatch
         long* height) = 0;
 
     virtual HRESULT STDMETHODCALLTYPE get_aspectRatio(
-        BSTR* aspect) = 0;
+        BSTR aspect) = 0;
 
     virtual HRESULT STDMETHODCALLTYPE put_aspectRatio(
         BSTR aspect) = 0;
@@ -2109,7 +2109,7 @@ typedef struct IVLCVideoVtbl {
 
     HRESULT (STDMETHODCALLTYPE *get_aspectRatio)(
         IVLCVideo* This,
-        BSTR* aspect);
+        BSTR aspect);
 
     HRESULT (STDMETHODCALLTYPE *put_aspectRatio)(
         IVLCVideo* This,
@@ -2180,7 +2180,7 @@ void __RPC_STUB IVLCVideo_get_height_Stub(
     DWORD* pdwStubPhase);
 HRESULT CALLBACK IVLCVideo_get_aspectRatio_Proxy(
     IVLCVideo* This,
-    BSTR* aspect);
+    BSTR aspect);
 void __RPC_STUB IVLCVideo_get_aspectRatio_Stub(
     IRpcStubBuffer* This,
     IRpcChannelBuffer* pRpcChannelBuffer,
diff --git a/activex/vlccontrol2.cpp b/activex/vlccontrol2.cpp
index 7c1b8ed483..cf27691b36 100755
--- a/activex/vlccontrol2.cpp
+++ b/activex/vlccontrol2.cpp
@@ -1758,9 +1758,9 @@ STDMETHODIMP VLCVideo::get_height(long* height)
     return hr;
 };
 
-STDMETHODIMP VLCVideo::get_aspectRatio(BSTR *aspect)
+STDMETHODIMP VLCVideo::get_aspectRatio(BSTR aspect)
 {
-    if( NULL == *aspect )
+    if( NULL == aspect )
         return E_POINTER;
 
     libvlc_instance_t* p_libvlc;
@@ -1775,19 +1775,16 @@ STDMETHODIMP VLCVideo::get_aspectRatio(BSTR *aspect)
         {
             char *psz_aspect = libvlc_video_get_aspect_ratio(p_input, &ex);
 
-            if( !psz_aspect )
+            libvlc_input_free(p_input);
+            if( NULL == psz_aspect )
                 return E_OUTOFMEMORY;
 
             if( ! libvlc_exception_raised(&ex) )
             {
-                *aspect = SysAllocStringByteLen(psz_aspect, strlen(psz_aspect));
+                aspect = SysAllocStringByteLen(psz_aspect, strlen(psz_aspect));
                 free( psz_aspect );
                 psz_aspect = NULL;
-                libvlc_input_free(p_input);
-                if( ! libvlc_exception_raised(&ex) )
-                {
-                    return NOERROR;
-                }
+                return NOERROR;
 	    }
 	    if( psz_aspect ) free( psz_aspect );
         }
diff --git a/activex/vlccontrol2.h b/activex/vlccontrol2.h
index 380a38cf99..f2ba69a541 100755
--- a/activex/vlccontrol2.h
+++ b/activex/vlccontrol2.h
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ public:
     STDMETHODIMP put_fullscreen(VARIANT_BOOL);
     STDMETHODIMP get_width(long*);
     STDMETHODIMP get_height(long*);
-    STDMETHODIMP get_aspectRatio(BSTR*);
+    STDMETHODIMP get_aspectRatio(BSTR);
     STDMETHODIMP put_aspectRatio(BSTR);
     STDMETHODIMP toggleFullscreen();