diff --git a/sycl/source/detail/jit_compiler.cpp b/sycl/source/detail/jit_compiler.cpp
index 3b9441455f295..ec4d4b20763d8 100644
--- a/sycl/source/detail/jit_compiler.cpp
+++ b/sycl/source/detail/jit_compiler.cpp
@@ -802,7 +802,7 @@ jit_compiler::fuseKernels(QueueImplPtr Queue,
     assert(KernelCmd->isFusable());
     auto *KernelCG = static_cast<CGExecKernel *>(&CG);
 
-    auto KernelName = KernelCG->MKernelName;
+    auto &KernelName = KernelCG->MKernelName;
     if (KernelName.empty()) {
       printPerformanceWarning(
           "Cannot fuse kernel with invalid kernel function name");