diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/dataflow/internal/DataFlowUtil.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/dataflow/internal/DataFlowUtil.qll
index 642180d0c2c..193173da442 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/dataflow/internal/DataFlowUtil.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/dataflow/internal/DataFlowUtil.qll
@@ -246,6 +246,9 @@ class DefinitionByReferenceNode extends InstructionNode {
     result =
       instr.getPrimaryInstruction().(CallInstruction).getStaticCallTarget().getName() +
         " output argument"
+    or
+    not exists(instr.getPrimaryInstruction().(CallInstruction).getStaticCallTarget()) and
+    result = "output argument"
   }
 }