diff --git a/arbor/cable_cell.cpp b/arbor/cable_cell.cpp
index 55bdb9392f483743c30256274e8d4fd7f61b7246..affac000ba94f30a01317cbd23a21eaecd3c661d 100644
--- a/arbor/cable_cell.cpp
+++ b/arbor/cable_cell.cpp
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ void cable_cell::paint(const std::string& target, mechanism_desc desc) {
                 "cable_cell does not support regions with partial branches: \"{}\": {}",
                 target, c));
         }
-        segment(c.branch)->add_mechanism(std::move(desc));
+        segment(c.branch)->add_mechanism(desc);
     }
 }