diff --git a/include/wx/msw/control.h b/include/wx/msw/control.h
index c8e1e94644..2549f9b989 100644
--- a/include/wx/msw/control.h
+++ b/include/wx/msw/control.h
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ public:
     virtual bool MSWOnDraw(WXDRAWITEMSTRUCT *WXUNUSED(item)) { return FALSE; };
     virtual bool MSWOnMeasure(WXMEASUREITEMSTRUCT *WXUNUSED(item)) { return FALSE; };
 
-    wxArrayLong GetSubcontrols() { return m_subControls; }
+    const wxArrayLong& GetSubcontrols() const { return m_subControls; }
 
     void OnEraseBackground(wxEraseEvent& event);
 
diff --git a/src/msw/tooltip.cpp b/src/msw/tooltip.cpp
index cec5c0f8ed..0ab90686a8 100644
--- a/src/msw/tooltip.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/tooltip.cpp
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ void wxToolTip::SetWindow(wxWindow *win)
     wxControl *control = wxDynamicCast(m_window, wxControl);
     if ( control )
     {
-        const wxArrayLong subcontrols = control->GetSubcontrols();
+        const wxArrayLong& subcontrols = control->GetSubcontrols();
         size_t count = subcontrols.GetCount();
         for ( size_t n = 0; n < count; n++ )
         {