diff --git a/python/podio/frame.py b/python/podio/frame.py
index 7436e61d0..d4ea90483 100644
--- a/python/podio/frame.py
+++ b/python/podio/frame.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 """Module for the python bindings of the podio::Frame"""
 
 import cppyy
-from copy import deepcopy
 
 import ROOT
 
@@ -154,7 +153,7 @@ def getName(self, token):
         """
         maybeName = self._frame.getName(token)
         if maybeName.has_value():
-            return deepcopy(maybeName.value())
+            return maybeName.value()
 
         def _get_id(tok):
             if isinstance(tok, int):