diff --git a/include/OperationDetail.h b/include/OperationDetail.h
index 4cdda715..bf898dff 100644
--- a/include/OperationDetail.h
+++ b/include/OperationDetail.h
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ public:
 			 OperationDetailStatus status = STATUS_EXECUTE,
 			 Font font = FONT_NORMAL ) ;
 	void set_description( const Glib::ustring & description, Font font = FONT_NORMAL ) ;
-	Glib::ustring get_description() const ;
+	const Glib::ustring& get_description() const;
 	void set_status( OperationDetailStatus status ) ;
 	void set_success_and_capture_errors( bool success );
 	OperationDetailStatus get_status() const ;
diff --git a/src/OperationDetail.cc b/src/OperationDetail.cc
index 1e358650..89c15dc3 100644
--- a/src/OperationDetail.cc
+++ b/src/OperationDetail.cc
@@ -75,11 +75,13 @@ void OperationDetail::set_description( const Glib::ustring & description, Font f
 	on_update( *this ) ;
 }
 
-Glib::ustring OperationDetail::get_description() const
+
+const Glib::ustring& OperationDetail::get_description() const
 {
 	return description ;
 }
-	
+
+
 void OperationDetail::set_status( OperationDetailStatus status ) 
 {	
 	if ( this ->status != STATUS_ERROR )