diff --git a/src/grpc/qgrpccalloptions.cpp b/src/grpc/qgrpccalloptions.cpp
index e30a98b9..44b3c51e 100644
--- a/src/grpc/qgrpccalloptions.cpp
+++ b/src/grpc/qgrpccalloptions.cpp
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ std::optional<std::chrono::milliseconds> QGrpcCallOptions::deadline() const
 
     If value was not set returns empty QGrpcMetadata.
 */
-QGrpcMetadata QGrpcCallOptions::metadata() const
+const QGrpcMetadata &QGrpcCallOptions::metadata() const
 {
     return dPtr->metadata;
 }
diff --git a/src/grpc/qgrpccalloptions.h b/src/grpc/qgrpccalloptions.h
index d4e6f168..0e204b3b 100644
--- a/src/grpc/qgrpccalloptions.h
+++ b/src/grpc/qgrpccalloptions.h
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ public:
     QGrpcCallOptions &withMetadata(const QGrpcMetadata &metadata);
 
     std::optional<std::chrono::milliseconds> deadline() const;
-    QGrpcMetadata metadata() const;
+    const QGrpcMetadata &metadata() const;
 
 private:
     std::unique_ptr<QGrpcCallOptionsPrivate> dPtr;