--- realname.module	2011-02-11 18:12:27.000000000 +0100
+++ realname.module.new	2011-02-18 12:35:34.000000000 +0100
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ function realname_load_multiple(array $a
 function realname_update($account) {
   // Get the default pattern and allow other modules to alter it.
   $pattern = variable_get('realname_pattern', '[user:name-raw]');
-  drupal_alter('realname_pattern', $pattern, $account);
+  drupal_alter('realname_pattern', &$pattern, $account);
 
   // Perform token replacement on the real name pattern.
   $realname = token_replace($pattern, array('user' => $account), array('clear' => TRUE, 'sanitize' => FALSE));
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ function realname_update($account) {
   $realname = truncate_utf8($realname, 255);
 
   // Allow other modules to alter the generated realname.
-  drupal_alter('realname', $realname, $account);
+  drupal_alter('realname', &$realname, $account);
 
   // Save to the database and the static cache.
   db_merge('realname')