diff --git a/pcsx2/DEV9/PacketReader/IP/UDP/DNS/DNS_Classes.cpp b/pcsx2/DEV9/PacketReader/IP/UDP/DNS/DNS_Classes.cpp
index dbcbf33187..42d1b724a1 100644
--- a/pcsx2/DEV9/PacketReader/IP/UDP/DNS/DNS_Classes.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/DEV9/PacketReader/IP/UDP/DNS/DNS_Classes.cpp
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ namespace PacketReader::IP::UDP::DNS
 		//null char
 		*offset += 1;
 	}
-	void DNS_QuestionEntry::WriteDNS_String(u8* buffer, int* offset, std::string value)
+	void DNS_QuestionEntry::WriteDNS_String(u8* buffer, int* offset, const std::string& value)
 	{
 		int segmentLength = 0;
 		int segmentStart = 0;
diff --git a/pcsx2/DEV9/PacketReader/IP/UDP/DNS/DNS_Classes.h b/pcsx2/DEV9/PacketReader/IP/UDP/DNS/DNS_Classes.h
index 7a80999666..d22608db59 100644
--- a/pcsx2/DEV9/PacketReader/IP/UDP/DNS/DNS_Classes.h
+++ b/pcsx2/DEV9/PacketReader/IP/UDP/DNS/DNS_Classes.h
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ namespace PacketReader::IP::UDP::DNS
 
 	private:
 		void ReadDNS_String(u8* buffer, int* offset, std::string* value);
-		void WriteDNS_String(u8* buffer, int* offset, std::string value);
+		void WriteDNS_String(u8* buffer, int* offset, const std::string& value);
 	};
 
 	class DNS_ResponseEntry : public DNS_QuestionEntry