diff --git a/src/rgw/rgw_sync.cc b/src/rgw/rgw_sync.cc
index c44305edf33..0e5a6e10597 100644
--- a/src/rgw/rgw_sync.cc
+++ b/src/rgw/rgw_sync.cc
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ int RGWRemoteMetaLog::read_log_info(rgw_mdlog_info *log_info)
   return 0;
 }
 
-int RGWRemoteMetaLog::read_master_log_shards_info(string *master_period, map<int, RGWMetadataLogInfo> *shards_info)
+int RGWRemoteMetaLog::read_master_log_shards_info(const string &master_period, map<int, RGWMetadataLogInfo> *shards_info)
 {
   if (store->is_meta_master()) {
     return 0;
@@ -256,9 +256,7 @@ int RGWRemoteMetaLog::read_master_log_shards_info(string *master_period, map<int
     return ret;
   }
 
-  *master_period = log_info.period;
-
-  return run(new RGWReadRemoteMDLogInfoCR(&sync_env, log_info.period, log_info.num_shards, shards_info));
+  return run(new RGWReadRemoteMDLogInfoCR(&sync_env, master_period, log_info.num_shards, shards_info));
 }
 
 int RGWRemoteMetaLog::read_master_log_shards_next(const string& period, map<int, string> shard_markers, map<int, rgw_mdlog_shard_data> *result)
diff --git a/src/rgw/rgw_sync.h b/src/rgw/rgw_sync.h
index 298cd4ed4b5..5ae136f85ca 100644
--- a/src/rgw/rgw_sync.h
+++ b/src/rgw/rgw_sync.h
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ public:
   void finish();
 
   int read_log_info(rgw_mdlog_info *log_info);
-  int read_master_log_shards_info(string *master_period, map<int, RGWMetadataLogInfo> *shards_info);
+  int read_master_log_shards_info(const string& master_period, map<int, RGWMetadataLogInfo> *shards_info);
   int read_master_log_shards_next(const string& period, map<int, string> shard_markers, map<int, rgw_mdlog_shard_data> *result);
   int read_sync_status();
   int init_sync_status();
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ public:
   int read_log_info(rgw_mdlog_info *log_info) {
     return master_log.read_log_info(log_info);
   }
-  int read_master_log_shards_info(string *master_period, map<int, RGWMetadataLogInfo> *shards_info) {
+  int read_master_log_shards_info(const string& master_period, map<int, RGWMetadataLogInfo> *shards_info) {
     return master_log.read_master_log_shards_info(master_period, shards_info);
   }
   int read_master_log_shards_next(const string& period, map<int, string> shard_markers, map<int, rgw_mdlog_shard_data> *result) {