diff --git a/Code/Tools/ProjectManager/Source/DownloadController.h b/Code/Tools/ProjectManager/Source/DownloadController.h
index 385ceb4772..608d9b1a2b 100644
--- a/Code/Tools/ProjectManager/Source/DownloadController.h
+++ b/Code/Tools/ProjectManager/Source/DownloadController.h
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ namespace O3DE::ProjectManager
             }
             else
             {
-                return QString();
+                static const QString emptyString;
+                return emptyString;
             }
         }
     public slots: