diff --git a/googlemock/include/gmock/gmock-matchers.h b/googlemock/include/gmock/gmock-matchers.h
index 67bd7e27..4baeb1bd 100644
--- a/googlemock/include/gmock/gmock-matchers.h
+++ b/googlemock/include/gmock/gmock-matchers.h
@@ -678,7 +678,7 @@ class StrEqualityMatcher {
   template <typename MatcheeStringType>
   bool MatchAndExplain(const MatcheeStringType& s,
                        MatchResultListener* /* listener */) const {
-    const StringType& s2(s);
+    const StringType s2(s);
     const bool eq = case_sensitive_ ? s2 == string_ :
         CaseInsensitiveStringEquals(s2, string_);
     return expect_eq_ == eq;