diff --git a/Source/cmCacheManager.h b/Source/cmCacheManager.h
index 31d302ac9..d2712bb5e 100644
--- a/Source/cmCacheManager.h
+++ b/Source/cmCacheManager.h
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ public:
     void AppendProperty(const std::string& property, const char* value,
                         bool asString=false);
     void SetProperty(const std::string& property, bool value);
-    std::string GetValue() const { return this->GetEntry().Value; }
+    const char* GetValue() const { return this->GetEntry().Value.c_str(); }
     bool GetValueAsBool() const;
     void SetValue(const char*);
     CacheEntryType GetType() const { return this->GetEntry().Type; }