diff --git a/clients/nitrogen/nitrogenconfiguration.cpp b/clients/nitrogen/nitrogenconfiguration.cpp
index e84ab1cc32..96749bb250 100644
--- a/clients/nitrogen/nitrogenconfiguration.cpp
+++ b/clients/nitrogen/nitrogenconfiguration.cpp
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ namespace Nitrogen
   }
   
   //__________________________________________________
-  Qt::Alignment NitrogenConfiguration::titleAlignment( QString value )
+  Qt::Alignment NitrogenConfiguration::titleAlignment( const QString& value )
   {
     if (value == "Left") return Qt::AlignLeft;
     else if (value == "Center") return Qt::AlignHCenter;
diff --git a/clients/nitrogen/nitrogenconfiguration.h b/clients/nitrogen/nitrogenconfiguration.h
index 7d02900752..5392c4450a 100644
--- a/clients/nitrogen/nitrogenconfiguration.h
+++ b/clients/nitrogen/nitrogenconfiguration.h
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ namespace Nitrogen
     //@{
     
     static QString titleAlignmentName( Qt::Alignment );
-    static Qt::Alignment titleAlignment( QString );
+    static Qt::Alignment titleAlignment( const QString& );
     
     virtual Qt::Alignment titleAlignment() const
     { return titleAlignment_; }