diff --git a/include/cxxopts.hpp b/include/cxxopts.hpp
index 45fea09..94b81ef 100644
--- a/include/cxxopts.hpp
+++ b/include/cxxopts.hpp
@@ -1089,7 +1089,8 @@ namespace cxxopts
       return m_key;
     }
 
-    const std::string
+    const
+    std::string&
     value() const
     {
       return m_value;