diff --git a/src/jalview/datamodel/ColumnSelection.java b/src/jalview/datamodel/ColumnSelection.java
index 7ef2a68..7d227cf 100644
--- a/src/jalview/datamodel/ColumnSelection.java
+++ b/src/jalview/datamodel/ColumnSelection.java
@@ -47,6 +47,11 @@ public class ColumnSelection
      */
     private List<Integer> order = new ArrayList<Integer>();
 
+    /*
+     * an unmodifiable wrapper for order
+     */
+    private List<Integer> _uorder = Collections.unmodifiableList(order);
+
     /**
      * bitfield for column selection - allows quick lookup
      */
@@ -97,9 +102,13 @@ public class ColumnSelection
       return order.isEmpty();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * 
+     * @return unmodifiable version of ordered list
+     */
     public List<Integer> getList()
     {
-      return order;
+      return _uorder;
     }
 
     public int size()
@@ -288,14 +297,17 @@ public class ColumnSelection
   }
 
   /**
-   * Returns a list of selected columns. The list contains no duplicates but is
-   * not necessarily ordered. It also may include columns hidden from the
-   * current view. This returns a copy of the actual list, and changes to the
-   * copy will not affect the selection.
+   * Returns the list of selected columns for this column selection.
+   * 
+   * The list contains no duplicates but is not necessarily ordered. It also may
+   * include columns hidden from the current view.
+   * 
+   * The list returned is *unmodifiable*. ie you'll need to copy the list to
+   * process it.
    */
   public List<Integer> getSelected()
   {
-    return new ArrayList<Integer>(selection.getList());
+    return selection.getList();
   }
 
   /**