diff --git a/src/wx/cmdevents.cpp b/src/wx/cmdevents.cpp
index 6bc7123f..c31b83df 100644
--- a/src/wx/cmdevents.cpp
+++ b/src/wx/cmdevents.cpp
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ static void toggleBitVar(bool *menuValue, int *globalVar, int mask)
 EVT_HANDLER(wxID_OPEN, "Open ROM...")
 {
     static int open_ft = 0;
-    const wxString& gba_rom_dir = OPTION(kGBAROMDir);
+    const wxString gba_rom_dir = OPTION(kGBAROMDir);
 
     // FIXME: ignore if non-existent or not a dir
     wxString pats = _(
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ EVT_HANDLER(wxID_OPEN, "Open ROM...")
 EVT_HANDLER(OpenGB, "Open GB...")
 {
     static int open_ft = 0;
-    const wxString& gb_rom_dir = OPTION(kGBROMDir);
+    const wxString gb_rom_dir = OPTION(kGBROMDir);
 
     // FIXME: ignore if non-existent or not a dir
     wxString pats = _(
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ EVT_HANDLER(OpenGB, "Open GB...")
 EVT_HANDLER(OpenGBC, "Open GBC...")
 {
     static int open_ft = 0;
-    const wxString& gbc_rom_dir = OPTION(kGBGBCROMDir);
+    const wxString gbc_rom_dir = OPTION(kGBGBCROMDir);
 
     // FIXME: ignore if non-existent or not a dir
     wxString pats = _(
diff --git a/src/wx/dialogs/display-config.cpp b/src/wx/dialogs/display-config.cpp
index c8453b8c..75cdf558 100644
--- a/src/wx/dialogs/display-config.cpp
+++ b/src/wx/dialogs/display-config.cpp
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ void DisplayConfig::PopulatePluginOptions() {
     plugin_selector_->Clear();
     plugin_selector_->Append(_("None"), new wxStringClientData());
 
-    const wxString& selected_plugin = OPTION(kDispFilterPlugin);
+    const wxString selected_plugin = OPTION(kDispFilterPlugin);
     bool is_plugin_selected = false;
 
     for (const wxString& plugin : plugins) {
diff --git a/src/wx/dialogs/speedup-config.cpp b/src/wx/dialogs/speedup-config.cpp
index 92d5c3de..c7706781 100644
--- a/src/wx/dialogs/speedup-config.cpp
+++ b/src/wx/dialogs/speedup-config.cpp
@@ -56,11 +56,8 @@ bool SpeedupConfigValidator::TransferToWindow() {
 
 bool SpeedupConfigValidator::TransferFromWindow() {
     auto dialog = static_cast<SpeedupConfig*>(GetWindow());
-
     uint32_t val = dialog->speedup_throttle_spin_->GetValue();
 
-    VBAM_CHECK(val >= 0);
-
     if (val == 0) {
         OPTION(kPrefSpeedupThrottle)          = 0;
         OPTION(kPrefSpeedupFrameSkip)         = 0;
@@ -116,11 +113,8 @@ SpeedupConfig::SpeedupConfig(wxWindow* parent)
 void SpeedupConfig::SetSpeedupThrottle(wxCommandEvent& evt)
 {
     VBAM_CHECK(evt.GetEventObject() == speedup_throttle_spin_);
-
     uint32_t val = speedup_throttle_spin_->GetValue();
 
-    VBAM_CHECK(val >= 0);
-
     if (val == 0) {
         frame_skip_cb_->SetValue(false);
         frame_skip_cb_->Disable();
diff --git a/src/wx/panel.cpp b/src/wx/panel.cpp
index bb9e7874..29d7f7b3 100644
--- a/src/wx/panel.cpp
+++ b/src/wx/panel.cpp
@@ -189,19 +189,19 @@ void GameArea::LoadGame(const wxString& name)
         wxString rp = fnfn.GetPath();
 
         // can't really decide which dir to use, so try GBA first, then GB
-        const wxString& gba_rom_dir = OPTION(kGBAROMDir);
+        const wxString gba_rom_dir = OPTION(kGBAROMDir);
         if (!wxGetApp().GetAbsolutePath(gba_rom_dir).empty()) {
             fnfn.SetPath(wxGetApp().GetAbsolutePath(gba_rom_dir) + '/' + rp);
             badfile = !fnfn.IsFileReadable();
         }
 
-        const wxString& gb_rom_dir = OPTION(kGBROMDir);
+        const wxString gb_rom_dir = OPTION(kGBROMDir);
         if (badfile && !wxGetApp().GetAbsolutePath(gb_rom_dir).empty()) {
             fnfn.SetPath(wxGetApp().GetAbsolutePath(gb_rom_dir) + '/' + rp);
             badfile = !fnfn.IsFileReadable();
         }
 
-        const wxString& gbc_rom_dir = OPTION(kGBGBCROMDir);
+        const wxString gbc_rom_dir = OPTION(kGBGBCROMDir);
         if (badfile && !wxGetApp().GetAbsolutePath(gbc_rom_dir).empty()) {
             fnfn.SetPath(wxGetApp().GetAbsolutePath(gbc_rom_dir) + '/' + rp);
             badfile = !fnfn.IsFileReadable();