diff --git a/include/json/value.h b/include/json/value.h
index efc34ac..0c507a3 100644
--- a/include/json/value.h
+++ b/include/json/value.h
@@ -133,7 +133,8 @@ public:
   typedef Json::LargestUInt LargestUInt;
   typedef Json::ArrayIndex ArrayIndex;
 
-  static const Value& null;
+  static const Value& null;  ///! We regret this reference to a global instance; prefer the simpler Value().
+  static const Value& nullRef;  ///! just a kludge for binary-compatibility; same as null
   /// Minimum signed integer value that can be stored in a Json::Value.
   static const LargestInt minLargestInt;
   /// Maximum signed integer value that can be stored in a Json::Value.
diff --git a/src/lib_json/json_value.cpp b/src/lib_json/json_value.cpp
index ed5aafe..f9139c7 100644
--- a/src/lib_json/json_value.cpp
+++ b/src/lib_json/json_value.cpp
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ namespace Json {
 static const unsigned char ALIGNAS(8) kNull[sizeof(Value)] = { 0 };
 const unsigned char& kNullRef = kNull[0];
 const Value& Value::null = reinterpret_cast<const Value&>(kNullRef);
+const Value& Value::nullRef = null;
 
 const Int Value::minInt = Int(~(UInt(-1) / 2));
 const Int Value::maxInt = Int(UInt(-1) / 2);