diff --git a/system/database/DB_driver.php b/system/database/DB_driver.php
index 18dbbc7..04490c8 100644
--- a/system/database/DB_driver.php
+++ b/system/database/DB_driver.php
@@ -1208,13 +1208,8 @@
 				}
 				else
 				{
-					/* We have no other choice but to just get the first element's key.
-					 * Due to array_shift() accepting it's argument by reference, if
-					 * E_STRICT is on, this would trigger a warning. So we'll have to
-					 * assign it first.
-					 */
-					$key = array_keys($row);
-					$key = array_shift($key);
+					// We have no other choice but to just get the first element's key.
+					$key = key($row);
 				}
 			}