diff --git a/src/libutil/hilite.cc b/src/libutil/hilite.cc
index a5991ca39..e5088230d 100644
--- a/src/libutil/hilite.cc
+++ b/src/libutil/hilite.cc
@@ -8,9 +8,9 @@ std::string hiliteMatches(
     std::string_view prefix,
     std::string_view postfix)
 {
-    // Avoid copy on zero matches
+    // Avoid extra work on zero matches
     if (matches.size() == 0)
-        return (std::string) s;
+        return std::string(s);
 
     std::sort(matches.begin(), matches.end(), [](const auto & a, const auto & b) {
         return a.position() < b.position();