diff --git a/shell/scripting/widget.cpp b/shell/scripting/widget.cpp
index 5ff3a5a73..07b54767e 100644
--- a/shell/scripting/widget.cpp
+++ b/shell/scripting/widget.cpp
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ QString Widget::userBackgroundHints() const
     return hintEnum.valueToKey(applet()->userBackgroundHints());
 }
 
-void Widget::setUserBackgroundHints(QString hint)
+void Widget::setUserBackgroundHints(const QString &hint)
 {
     QMetaEnum hintEnum = QMetaEnum::fromType<Plasma::Types::BackgroundHints>();
     bool ok;
diff --git a/shell/scripting/widget.h b/shell/scripting/widget.h
index dd64d24eb..f6f5b7f8e 100644
--- a/shell/scripting/widget.h
+++ b/shell/scripting/widget.h
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ public:
     QString globalShorcut() const;
 
     QString userBackgroundHints() const;
-    void setUserBackgroundHints(QString hint);
+    void setUserBackgroundHints(const QString &hint);
 
     Plasma::Applet *applet() const override;