diff --git a/desktop_version/src/CustomLevels.cpp b/desktop_version/src/CustomLevels.cpp
index eef6f884..2c93581e 100644
--- a/desktop_version/src/CustomLevels.cpp
+++ b/desktop_version/src/CustomLevels.cpp
@@ -987,7 +987,7 @@ int customlevelclass::findwarptoken(int t)
 }
 
 
-bool customlevelclass::load(std::string& _path)
+bool customlevelclass::load(std::string _path)
 {
     tinyxml2::XMLDocument doc;
     tinyxml2::XMLHandle hDoc(&doc);
diff --git a/desktop_version/src/CustomLevels.h b/desktop_version/src/CustomLevels.h
index 13f6c79d..73d7d33c 100644
--- a/desktop_version/src/CustomLevels.h
+++ b/desktop_version/src/CustomLevels.h
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ public:
 
     int absfree(int x, int y);
 
-    bool load(std::string& _path);
+    bool load(std::string _path);
 #ifndef NO_EDITOR
     bool save(const std::string& _path);
 #endif