diff --git a/hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/loaned_command_interface.hpp b/hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/loaned_command_interface.hpp
index 6013dea778..7bb4d3a0ef 100644
--- a/hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/loaned_command_interface.hpp
+++ b/hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/loaned_command_interface.hpp
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ class LoanedCommandInterface
     }
   }
 
-  const std::string get_name() const { return command_interface_.get_name(); }
+  const std::string & get_name() const { return command_interface_.get_name(); }
 
   const std::string & get_interface_name() const { return command_interface_.get_interface_name(); }
 
diff --git a/hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/loaned_state_interface.hpp b/hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/loaned_state_interface.hpp
index 3ebc8c7ca0..27b3da813e 100644
--- a/hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/loaned_state_interface.hpp
+++ b/hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/loaned_state_interface.hpp
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ class LoanedStateInterface
     }
   }
 
-  const std::string get_name() const { return state_interface_.get_name(); }
+  const std::string & get_name() const { return state_interface_.get_name(); }
 
   const std::string & get_interface_name() const { return state_interface_.get_interface_name(); }