diff --git a/stepmania/src/LocalizedString.cpp b/stepmania/src/LocalizedString.cpp
index cec6defed8..60a21e1ee5 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/LocalizedString.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/LocalizedString.cpp
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ LocalizedString::operator RString() const
 	return GetValue();
 }
 
-RString LocalizedString::GetValue() const
+const RString &LocalizedString::GetValue() const
 {
 	ASSERT(m_bLoaded);
 	return m_sValue;
diff --git a/stepmania/src/LocalizedString.h b/stepmania/src/LocalizedString.h
index 22071db0aa..3eb861738b 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/LocalizedString.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/LocalizedString.h
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ public:
 	~LocalizedString();
 	void Refresh();
 	operator RString() const;
-	RString GetValue() const;
+	const RString &GetValue() const;
 private:
 	RString m_sSection;
 	RString m_sName;