diff --git a/components/layout/flow_ref.rs b/components/layout/flow_ref.rs
index b2dcc5c34fa..d1717ef2000 100644
--- a/components/layout/flow_ref.rs
+++ b/components/layout/flow_ref.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ pub type WeakFlowRef = Weak<Flow>;
 /// See https://github.com/servo/servo/issues/6503
 /// Use Arc::get_mut instead when possible (e.g. on an Arc that was just created).
 #[allow(unsafe_code)]
-pub fn deref_mut<'a>(r: &mut FlowRef) -> &'a mut Flow {
+pub fn deref_mut<'a>(r: &'a mut FlowRef) -> &'a mut Flow {
     let ptr: *const Flow = &**r;
     unsafe {
         &mut *(ptr as *mut Flow)
diff --git a/components/layout/sequential.rs b/components/layout/sequential.rs
index d652d19b773..6663843f572 100644
--- a/components/layout/sequential.rs
+++ b/components/layout/sequential.rs
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ pub fn build_display_list_for_subtree(root: &mut FlowRef,
                                         &mut root_stacking_context.children);
     let mut build_display_list = BuildDisplayList {
         state: DisplayListBuildState::new(&layout_context,
-                                          flow::base(&**root).stacking_context_id),
+                                          flow::base(&*flow_root).stacking_context_id),
     };
     build_display_list.traverse(&mut *flow_root);
     build_display_list.state.items