diff --git a/src/scan.l b/src/scan.l
index 198843fe83..5052e7583c 100644
--- a/src/scan.l
+++ b/src/scan.l
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ when	return TOK_WHEN;
 			zeek::reporter->Error("failed to find file associated with @load-sigs %s",
 			                      file);
 		else
-			zeek::detail::sig_files.push_back(zeek::util::copy_string(path.c_str()));
+			zeek::detail::sig_files.push_back(std::move(path));
 		break;
 
 	case 0: