diff --git a/gui/saveload.cpp b/gui/saveload.cpp
index 0650be388c8..d6a8688ce31 100644
--- a/gui/saveload.cpp
+++ b/gui/saveload.cpp
@@ -103,11 +103,9 @@ int SaveLoadChooser::runModalWithPluginAndTarget(const EnginePlugin *plugin, con
 	return ret;
 }
 
-Common::String SaveLoadChooser::getResultString() const {
-	if (_impl)
-		return _impl->getResultString();
-	else
-		return Common::String();
+const Common::String &SaveLoadChooser::getResultString() const {
+	assert(_impl);
+	return _impl->getResultString();
 }
 
 } // End of namespace GUI
diff --git a/gui/saveload.h b/gui/saveload.h
index 26a8cd1bad7..17fd99a31d1 100644
--- a/gui/saveload.h
+++ b/gui/saveload.h
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ public:
 	int runModalWithCurrentTarget();
 	int runModalWithPluginAndTarget(const EnginePlugin *plugin, const String &target);
 
-	Common::String getResultString() const;
+	const Common::String &getResultString() const;
 
 	/**
 	 * Creates a default save description for the specified slot. Depending