diff --git a/src/Services/TargetControllerService.cpp b/src/Services/TargetControllerService.cpp
index 6b613ce5..abd75505 100644
--- a/src/Services/TargetControllerService.cpp
+++ b/src/Services/TargetControllerService.cpp
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ namespace Services
         )->targetDescriptor;
     }
 
-    TargetState TargetControllerService::getTargetState() const {
+    const TargetState& TargetControllerService::getTargetState() const {
         return this->commandManager.sendCommandAndWaitForResponse(
             std::make_unique<GetTargetState>(),
             this->defaultTimeout,
diff --git a/src/Services/TargetControllerService.hpp b/src/Services/TargetControllerService.hpp
index ac11272b..b3996047 100644
--- a/src/Services/TargetControllerService.hpp
+++ b/src/Services/TargetControllerService.hpp
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ namespace Services
          *
          * @return
          */
-        Targets::TargetState getTargetState() const;
+        const Targets::TargetState& getTargetState() const;
 
         /**
          * Requests the TargetController to halt execution on the target.