diff --git a/Source/cmMakefile.cxx b/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
index 8097dd1cb8..ebbe3e70e8 100644
--- a/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
@@ -3347,7 +3347,7 @@ bool cmMakefile::IsLoopBlock() const
   return !this->LoopBlockCounter.empty() && this->LoopBlockCounter.top() > 0;
 }
 
-std::string cmMakefile::GetExecutionFilePath() const
+std::string const& cmMakefile::GetExecutionFilePath() const
 {
   assert(this->StateSnapshot.IsValid());
   return this->StateSnapshot.GetExecutionListFile();
@@ -3357,8 +3357,8 @@ bool cmMakefile::ExpandArguments(std::vector<cmListFileArgument> const& inArgs,
                                  std::vector<std::string>& outArgs,
                                  const char* filename) const
 {
-  std::string efp = this->GetExecutionFilePath();
   if (!filename) {
+    auto const& efp = this->GetExecutionFilePath();
     filename = efp.c_str();
   }
   std::string value;
@@ -3389,8 +3389,8 @@ bool cmMakefile::ExpandArguments(
   std::vector<cmListFileArgument> const& inArgs,
   std::vector<cmExpandedCommandArgument>& outArgs, const char* filename) const
 {
-  std::string efp = this->GetExecutionFilePath();
   if (!filename) {
+    auto const& efp = this->GetExecutionFilePath();
     filename = efp.c_str();
   }
   std::string value;
diff --git a/Source/cmMakefile.h b/Source/cmMakefile.h
index 7bcb0319f5..0a6e6e2c13 100644
--- a/Source/cmMakefile.h
+++ b/Source/cmMakefile.h
@@ -942,7 +942,7 @@ public:
 
   const char* GetDefineFlagsCMP0059() const;
 
-  std::string GetExecutionFilePath() const;
+  std::string const& GetExecutionFilePath() const;
 
   void EnforceDirectoryLevelRules() const;
 
diff --git a/Source/cmStateSnapshot.cxx b/Source/cmStateSnapshot.cxx
index 3fcf61c09b..1e20abb257 100644
--- a/Source/cmStateSnapshot.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmStateSnapshot.cxx
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ void cmStateSnapshot::SetListFile(const std::string& listfile)
   *this->Position->ExecutionListFile = listfile;
 }
 
-std::string cmStateSnapshot::GetExecutionListFile() const
+std::string const& cmStateSnapshot::GetExecutionListFile() const
 {
   return *this->Position->ExecutionListFile;
 }
diff --git a/Source/cmStateSnapshot.h b/Source/cmStateSnapshot.h
index 0ffd9728bf..d06cba37a8 100644
--- a/Source/cmStateSnapshot.h
+++ b/Source/cmStateSnapshot.h
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ public:
 
   void SetListFile(std::string const& listfile);
 
-  std::string GetExecutionListFile() const;
+  std::string const& GetExecutionListFile() const;
 
   std::vector<cmStateSnapshot> GetChildren();