diff --git a/include/internal/catch_stringref.cpp b/include/internal/catch_stringref.cpp
index 5a15bbf6..49d9629f 100644
--- a/include/internal/catch_stringref.cpp
+++ b/include/internal/catch_stringref.cpp
@@ -17,10 +17,6 @@
 
 namespace Catch {
 
-    auto StringRef::operator = ( StringRef other ) noexcept -> StringRef& {
-        swap( other );
-        return *this;
-    }
     StringRef::operator std::string() const {
         return std::string( m_start, m_size );
     }
diff --git a/include/internal/catch_stringref.h b/include/internal/catch_stringref.h
index fabd9ce8..2a9ad4c2 100644
--- a/include/internal/catch_stringref.h
+++ b/include/internal/catch_stringref.h
@@ -77,7 +77,14 @@ namespace Catch {
             delete[] m_data;
         }
 
-        auto operator = ( StringRef other ) noexcept -> StringRef&;
+        auto operator = ( StringRef const &other ) noexcept -> StringRef& {
+            delete[] m_data;
+            m_data = nullptr;
+            m_start = other.m_start;
+            m_size = other.m_size;
+            return *this;
+        }
+
         operator std::string() const;
 
         void swap( StringRef& other ) noexcept;