diff --git a/libnativeloader/native_loader_test.cpp b/libnativeloader/native_loader_test.cpp
index 9648713..7663f90 100644
--- a/libnativeloader/native_loader_test.cpp
+++ b/libnativeloader/native_loader_test.cpp
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@
 
 std::string default_public_and_extended_libraries() {
   std::string public_libs = default_public_libraries();
-  std::string ext_libs = extended_public_libraries();
+  const std::string& ext_libs = extended_public_libraries();
   if (!ext_libs.empty()) {
     public_libs = public_libs + ":" + ext_libs;
   }