--- a/Swift/Controllers/Roster/ContactRosterItem.cpp
+++ b/Swift/Controllers/Roster/ContactRosterItem.cpp
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@
 	onDataChanged();
 }
 
-const std::vector<std::string> ContactRosterItem::getGroups() const {
+const std::vector<std::string>& ContactRosterItem::getGroups() const {
 	return groups_;
 }
 
--- a/Swift/Controllers/Roster/ContactRosterItem.h
+++ b/Swift/Controllers/Roster/ContactRosterItem.h
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 		void applyPresence(const std::string& resource, boost::shared_ptr<Presence> presence);
 		void clearPresence();
 		void calculateShownPresence();
-		const std::vector<std::string> getGroups() const;
+		const std::vector<std::string>& getGroups() const;
 		/** Only used so a contact can know about the groups it's in*/
 		void addGroup(const std::string& group);
 		void removeGroup(const std::string& group);