diff --git a/src/policy/ephemeral_policy.cpp b/src/policy/ephemeral_policy.cpp
index eadc1d24752..67421683ab9 100644
--- a/src/policy/ephemeral_policy.cpp
+++ b/src/policy/ephemeral_policy.cpp
@@ -5,12 +5,12 @@
 #include <policy/ephemeral_policy.h>
 #include <policy/policy.h>
 
-bool HasDust(const CTransactionRef& tx, CFeeRate dust_relay_rate)
+bool HasDust(const CTransaction& tx, CFeeRate dust_relay_rate)
 {
-    return std::any_of(tx->vout.cbegin(), tx->vout.cend(), [&](const auto& output) { return IsDust(output, dust_relay_rate); });
+    return std::any_of(tx.vout.cbegin(), tx.vout.cend(), [&](const auto& output) { return IsDust(output, dust_relay_rate); });
 }
 
-bool PreCheckEphemeralTx(const CTransactionRef& tx, CFeeRate dust_relay_rate, CAmount base_fee, CAmount mod_fee, TxValidationState& state)
+bool PreCheckEphemeralTx(const CTransaction& tx, CFeeRate dust_relay_rate, CAmount base_fee, CAmount mod_fee, TxValidationState& state)
 {
     // We never want to give incentives to mine this transaction alone
     if ((base_fee != 0 || mod_fee != 0) && HasDust(tx, dust_relay_rate)) {
diff --git a/src/policy/ephemeral_policy.h b/src/policy/ephemeral_policy.h
index 65dbab48e25..0ed4a54eb70 100644
--- a/src/policy/ephemeral_policy.h
+++ b/src/policy/ephemeral_policy.h
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
  */
 
 /** Returns true if transaction contains dust */
-bool HasDust(const CTransactionRef& tx, CFeeRate dust_relay_rate);
+bool HasDust(const CTransaction& tx, CFeeRate dust_relay_rate);
 
 /* All the following checks are only called if standardness rules are being applied. */
 
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ bool HasDust(const CTransactionRef& tx, CFeeRate dust_relay_rate);
  * Does context-less checks about a single transaction.
  * Returns false if the fee is non-zero and dust exists, populating state. True otherwise.
  */
-bool PreCheckEphemeralTx(const CTransactionRef& tx, CFeeRate dust_relay_rate, CAmount base_fee, CAmount mod_fee, TxValidationState& state);
+bool PreCheckEphemeralTx(const CTransaction& tx, CFeeRate dust_relay_rate, CAmount base_fee, CAmount mod_fee, TxValidationState& state);
 
 /** Must be called for each transaction(package) if any dust is in the package.
  *  Checks that each transaction's parents have their dust spent by the child,
diff --git a/src/rpc/mining.cpp b/src/rpc/mining.cpp
index 006ec3c78c7..d4491ab1080 100644
--- a/src/rpc/mining.cpp
+++ b/src/rpc/mining.cpp
@@ -496,7 +496,7 @@ static RPCHelpMan prioritisetransaction()
 
     // Non-0 fee dust transactions are not allowed for entry, and modification not allowed afterwards
     const auto& tx = mempool.get(hash);
-    if (tx && HasDust(tx, mempool.m_opts.dust_relay_feerate)) {
+    if (tx && HasDust(*tx, mempool.m_opts.dust_relay_feerate)) {
         throw JSONRPCError(RPC_INVALID_PARAMETER, "Priority is not supported for transactions with dust outputs.");
     }
 
diff --git a/src/validation.cpp b/src/validation.cpp
index 1510200abf0..91a9d02611e 100644
--- a/src/validation.cpp
+++ b/src/validation.cpp
@@ -915,7 +915,7 @@ bool MemPoolAccept::PreChecks(ATMPArgs& args, Workspace& ws)
 
     // Enforces 0-fee for dust transactions, no incentive to be mined alone
     if (m_pool.m_opts.require_standard) {
-        if (!PreCheckEphemeralTx(ptx, m_pool.m_opts.dust_relay_feerate, ws.m_base_fees, ws.m_modified_fees, state)) {
+        if (!PreCheckEphemeralTx(*ptx, m_pool.m_opts.dust_relay_feerate, ws.m_base_fees, ws.m_modified_fees, state)) {
             return false; // state filled in by PreCheckEphemeralTx
         }
     }