diff --git a/src/interfaces/metric.hpp b/src/interfaces/metric.hpp
index 3279fd7..62a8f44 100644
--- a/src/interfaces/metric.hpp
+++ b/src/interfaces/metric.hpp
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     virtual ~Metric() = default;
 
     virtual void initialize() = 0;
-    virtual const std::vector<MetricValue>& getReadings() const = 0;
+    virtual std::vector<MetricValue> getReadings() const = 0;
     virtual LabeledMetricParameters dumpConfiguration() const = 0;
 };