diff --git a/src/message.cc b/src/message.cc
index 1d72441..e063d1c 100644
--- a/src/message.cc
+++ b/src/message.cc
@@ -12,13 +12,18 @@ namespace pEp {
 
         }
 
-        Message::Blob::Blob(const Blob& second)
+        Message::Blob::Blob(const Blob& second, bool copy)
         {
             _size = second._size;
-            _value = (char *) malloc(_size);
-            if (!_value)
-                throw bad_alloc();
-            memcpy(_value, second._value, _size);
+            if (copy) {
+                _value = (char *) malloc(_size);
+                if (!_value)
+                    throw bad_alloc();
+                memcpy(_value, second._value, _size);
+            }
+            else {
+                _value = second._value;
+            }
             _mime_type = second._mime_type;
             _filename = second._filename;
         }
diff --git a/src/message.hh b/src/message.hh
index a13e300..5e591ff 100644
--- a/src/message.hh
+++ b/src/message.hh
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ namespace pEp {
             public:
                 Blob(char *value = NULL, size_t size = 0, string mime_type = "",
                         string filename = "");
-                Blob(const Blob& second);
+                Blob(const Blob& second, bool copy = false);
                 ~Blob();
                 void attach(bloblist_t *blob);
                 bloblist_t *detach();