diff --git a/tensorflow/compiler/xla/service/hlo_module_config.h b/tensorflow/compiler/xla/service/hlo_module_config.h
index 833d0fe59d0..964f83322a4 100644
--- a/tensorflow/compiler/xla/service/hlo_module_config.h
+++ b/tensorflow/compiler/xla/service/hlo_module_config.h
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ class HloModuleConfig {
 
   std::vector<std::vector<int64>>* mutable_dot_config() { return &dot_config_; }
 
-  absl::Span<const std::vector<std::vector<int64>>> layout_config() const {
+  const std::vector<std::vector<std::vector<int64>>>& layout_config() const {
     return layout_config_;
   }