--- comment.module.orig	2010-05-14 15:18:23.000000000 -0400
+++ comment.module	2010-05-14 15:18:54.000000000 -0400
@@ -1181,11 +1181,11 @@
  * @return
  *   The original $edit.
  */
-function comment_validate($edit) {
+function comment_validate(&$edit) {
   global $user;
 
   // Invoke other validation handlers
-  comment_invoke_comment($edit, 'validate');
+  comment_invoke_comment(&$edit, 'validate');
 
   if (isset($edit['date'])) {
     // As of PHP 5.1.0, strtotime returns FALSE upon failure instead of -1.
@@ -1229,8 +1229,6 @@
       }
     }
   }
-
-  return $edit;
 }
 
 /**