diff --git a/Source/cmCTest.cxx b/Source/cmCTest.cxx
index 3869ea3a0..de9ddac1f 100644
--- a/Source/cmCTest.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmCTest.cxx
@@ -2261,7 +2261,7 @@ std::string cmCTest::GetBinaryDir()
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------
-std::string cmCTest::GetConfigType()
+std::string const& cmCTest::GetConfigType()
 {
   return this->ConfigType;
 }
diff --git a/Source/cmCTest.h b/Source/cmCTest.h
index 2a1169a8d..7dfaa9243 100644
--- a/Source/cmCTest.h
+++ b/Source/cmCTest.h
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ public:
   int TestDirectory(bool memcheck);
 
   ///! what is the configuraiton type, e.g. Debug, Release etc.
-  std::string GetConfigType();
+  std::string const& GetConfigType();
   double GetTimeOut() { return this->TimeOut; }
   void SetTimeOut(double t) { this->TimeOut = t; }