diff --git a/source/api_cc/include/DataModifier.h b/source/api_cc/include/DataModifier.h
index 1e611a3930..6d443d9b9c 100644
--- a/source/api_cc/include/DataModifier.h
+++ b/source/api_cc/include/DataModifier.h
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ class DipoleChargeModifierBase {
    * @brief Get the list of sel types.
    * @return The list of sel types.
    */
-  virtual std::vector<int> sel_types() const = 0;
+  virtual const std::vector<int>& sel_types() const = 0;
 };
 
 /**
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ class DipoleChargeModifier {
    * @brief Get the list of sel types.
    * @return The list of sel types.
    */
-  std::vector<int> sel_types() const;
+  const std::vector<int>& sel_types() const;
 
  private:
   bool inited;
diff --git a/source/api_cc/include/DataModifierTF.h b/source/api_cc/include/DataModifierTF.h
index c0021c6947..cd1d696c3c 100644
--- a/source/api_cc/include/DataModifierTF.h
+++ b/source/api_cc/include/DataModifierTF.h
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ class DipoleChargeModifierTF : public DipoleChargeModifierBase {
    * @brief Get the list of sel types.
    * @return The list of sel types.
    */
-  std::vector<int> sel_types() const {
+  const std::vector<int>& sel_types() const {
     assert(inited);
     return sel_type;
   };
diff --git a/source/api_cc/src/DataModifier.cc b/source/api_cc/src/DataModifier.cc
index 38d1fc879a..bac2e13da5 100644
--- a/source/api_cc/src/DataModifier.cc
+++ b/source/api_cc/src/DataModifier.cc
@@ -92,6 +92,6 @@ double DipoleChargeModifier::cutoff() const { return dcm->cutoff(); }
 
 int DipoleChargeModifier::numb_types() const { return dcm->numb_types(); }
 
-std::vector<int> DipoleChargeModifier::sel_types() const {
+const std::vector<int>& DipoleChargeModifier::sel_types() const {
   return dcm->sel_types();
 }