diff --git a/src/catch2/internal/catch_clara.hpp b/src/catch2/internal/catch_clara.hpp
index 477cb08d..3690baad 100644
--- a/src/catch2/internal/catch_clara.hpp
+++ b/src/catch2/internal/catch_clara.hpp
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ namespace Catch {
                     return m_type == ResultType::Ok;
                 }
                 auto type() const -> ResultType { return m_type; }
-                auto errorMessage() const -> std::string {
+                auto errorMessage() const -> std::string const& {
                     return m_errorMessage;
                 }