diff --git a/item_updater.cpp b/item_updater.cpp
index b451932..1014890 100644
--- a/item_updater.cpp
+++ b/item_updater.cpp
@@ -521,7 +521,7 @@
     }
 }
 
-void ItemUpdater::createActiveAssociation(std::string path)
+void ItemUpdater::createActiveAssociation(const std::string& path)
 {
     assocs.emplace_back(std::make_tuple(ACTIVE_FWD_ASSOCIATION,
                                         ACTIVE_REV_ASSOCIATION,
@@ -549,7 +549,7 @@
     associations(assocs);
 }
 
-void ItemUpdater::removeActiveAssociation(std::string path)
+void ItemUpdater::removeActiveAssociation(const std::string& path)
 {
     for (auto iter = assocs.begin(); iter != assocs.end();)
     {
diff --git a/item_updater.hpp b/item_updater.hpp
index 1c65a1c..3c8698f 100755
--- a/item_updater.hpp
+++ b/item_updater.hpp
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@
          *
          * @param[in]  path - The path to create the association to.
          */
-        void createActiveAssociation(std::string path);
+        void createActiveAssociation(const std::string& path);
 
         /** @brief Updates the functional association to the
          *  new "running" PNOR image
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@
          *
          * @param[in]  path - The path to remove the association from.
          */
-        void removeActiveAssociation(std::string path);
+        void removeActiveAssociation(const std::string& path);
 
     private:
         /** @brief Callback function for Software.Version match.