diff --git a/NAM/get_dsp.cpp b/NAM/get_dsp.cpp
index f5ce958..6ca34db 100644
--- a/NAM/get_dsp.cpp
+++ b/NAM/get_dsp.cpp
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ std::unique_ptr<DSP> GetDSP(dspData& conf)
     std::vector<int> dilations;
     for (size_t i = 0; i < config["dilations"].size(); i++)
       dilations.push_back(config["dilations"][i]);
-    const std::string& activation = config["activation"];
+    auto activation = config["activation"];
     out = std::make_unique<convnet::ConvNet>(channels, dilations, batchnorm, activation, weights, expectedSampleRate);
   }
   else if (architecture == "LSTM")
diff --git a/NAM/wavenet.h b/NAM/wavenet.h
index abdc823..b1e6248 100644
--- a/NAM/wavenet.h
+++ b/NAM/wavenet.h
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ class LayerArrayParams
   const int mChannels;
   const int mKernelSize;
   std::vector<int> mDilations;
-  const std::string& mActivation;
+  const std::string mActivation;
   const bool mGated;
   const bool mHeadBias;
 };