diff --git a/python/gui/auto_generated/layout/qgslayoutdesignerinterface.sip.in b/python/gui/auto_generated/layout/qgslayoutdesignerinterface.sip.in
index 295a232a60e..9712fdaf7dc 100644
--- a/python/gui/auto_generated/layout/qgslayoutdesignerinterface.sip.in
+++ b/python/gui/auto_generated/layout/qgslayoutdesignerinterface.sip.in
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ Returns the layout view utilized by the designer.
 Returns the designer's message bar.
 %End
 
-    virtual void selectItems( QList< QgsLayoutItem * > items ) = 0;
+    virtual void selectItems( const QList< QgsLayoutItem * > &items ) = 0;
 %Docstring
 Selects the specified ``items``.
 %End
diff --git a/src/app/layout/qgslayoutdesignerdialog.cpp b/src/app/layout/qgslayoutdesignerdialog.cpp
index 48565368073..10cb73b2fdc 100644
--- a/src/app/layout/qgslayoutdesignerdialog.cpp
+++ b/src/app/layout/qgslayoutdesignerdialog.cpp
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ QgsMessageBar *QgsAppLayoutDesignerInterface::messageBar()
   return mDesigner->messageBar();
 }
 
-void QgsAppLayoutDesignerInterface::selectItems( const QList<QgsLayoutItem *> items )
+void QgsAppLayoutDesignerInterface::selectItems( const QList<QgsLayoutItem *> &items )
 {
   mDesigner->selectItems( items );
 }
diff --git a/src/app/layout/qgslayoutdesignerdialog.h b/src/app/layout/qgslayoutdesignerdialog.h
index d1a7ec578b0..89c94ca3f9e 100644
--- a/src/app/layout/qgslayoutdesignerdialog.h
+++ b/src/app/layout/qgslayoutdesignerdialog.h
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class QgsAppLayoutDesignerInterface : public QgsLayoutDesignerInterface
     QgsMasterLayoutInterface *masterLayout() override;
     QgsLayoutView *view() override;
     QgsMessageBar *messageBar() override;
-    void selectItems( QList< QgsLayoutItem * > items ) override;
+    void selectItems( const QList< QgsLayoutItem * > &items ) override;
 
   public slots:
 
diff --git a/src/gui/layout/qgslayoutdesignerinterface.h b/src/gui/layout/qgslayoutdesignerinterface.h
index 0e4cf0b2603..93817b7eb48 100644
--- a/src/gui/layout/qgslayoutdesignerinterface.h
+++ b/src/gui/layout/qgslayoutdesignerinterface.h
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ class GUI_EXPORT QgsLayoutDesignerInterface: public QObject
     /**
      * Selects the specified \a items.
      */
-    virtual void selectItems( QList< QgsLayoutItem * > items ) = 0;
+    virtual void selectItems( const QList< QgsLayoutItem * > &items ) = 0;
 
   public slots: