diff --git a/src/factory/PVStructure.cpp b/src/factory/PVStructure.cpp
index b24c553..861f5ac 100644
--- a/src/factory/PVStructure.cpp
+++ b/src/factory/PVStructure.cpp
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ void PVStructure::setImmutable()
     PVField::setImmutable();
 }
 
-StructureConstPtr PVStructure::getStructure() const
+const StructureConstPtr& PVStructure::getStructure() const
 {
     return structurePtr;
 }
diff --git a/src/pv/pvData.h b/src/pv/pvData.h
index cf34b29..05df98b 100644
--- a/src/pv/pvData.h
+++ b/src/pv/pvData.h
@@ -756,7 +756,7 @@ public:
      * Get the introspection interface
      * @return The interface.
      */
-    StructureConstPtr getStructure() const;
+    const StructureConstPtr &getStructure() const;
     /**
      * Get the array of pointers to the subfields in the structure.
      * @return The array.