diff --git a/source/common/router/scoped_config_impl.h b/source/common/router/scoped_config_impl.h
index f6197f09abdc..91e67e841b14 100644
--- a/source/common/router/scoped_config_impl.h
+++ b/source/common/router/scoped_config_impl.h
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ class ScopedRouteInfo {
   ScopedRouteInfo(envoy::api::v2::ScopedRouteConfiguration&& config_proto,
                   ConfigConstSharedPtr&& route_config);
 
-  ConfigConstSharedPtr routeConfig() const { return route_config_; }
+  const ConfigConstSharedPtr& routeConfig() const { return route_config_; }
   const ScopeKey& scopeKey() const { return scope_key_; }
   const envoy::api::v2::ScopedRouteConfiguration& configProto() const { return config_proto_; }
   const std::string& scopeName() const { return config_proto_.name(); }