diff --git a/src/lagrangian/intermediate/submodels/Reacting/CompositionModel/CompositionModel/CompositionModel.C b/src/lagrangian/intermediate/submodels/Reacting/CompositionModel/CompositionModel/CompositionModel.C
index 4154dcf06c..9ae0111604 100644
--- a/src/lagrangian/intermediate/submodels/Reacting/CompositionModel/CompositionModel/CompositionModel.C
+++ b/src/lagrangian/intermediate/submodels/Reacting/CompositionModel/CompositionModel/CompositionModel.C
@@ -186,7 +186,8 @@ Foam::label Foam::CompositionModel<CloudType>::globalCarrierId
 {
     forAll(carrierThermo_.composition().species(), i)
     {
-        word carrierSpecieName = carrierThermo_.composition().species()[i];
+        const word& carrierSpecieName =
+            carrierThermo_.composition().species()[i];
         if (cmptName == carrierSpecieName)
         {
             return i;