diff --git a/llvm/tools/llvm-exegesis/lib/BenchmarkRunner.cpp b/llvm/tools/llvm-exegesis/lib/BenchmarkRunner.cpp
--- a/llvm/tools/llvm-exegesis/lib/BenchmarkRunner.cpp
+++ b/llvm/tools/llvm-exegesis/lib/BenchmarkRunner.cpp
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
     for (auto &CounterName : CounterNames) {
       CounterName = CounterName.trim();
       auto CounterOrError =
-          State.getExegesisTarget().createCounter(CounterName.data(), State);
+          State.getExegesisTarget().createCounter(CounterName, State);
 
       if (!CounterOrError)
         return CounterOrError.takeError();
diff --git a/llvm/tools/llvm-exegesis/lib/Target.h b/llvm/tools/llvm-exegesis/lib/Target.h
--- a/llvm/tools/llvm-exegesis/lib/Target.h
+++ b/llvm/tools/llvm-exegesis/lib/Target.h
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@
 
   // Targets can use this to create target-specific perf counters.
   virtual Expected<std::unique_ptr<pfm::Counter>>
-  createCounter(const char *CounterName, const LLVMState &State) const;
+  createCounter(StringRef CounterName, const LLVMState &State) const;
 
   // Targets can use this to add target-specific passes in assembleToStream();
   virtual void addTargetSpecificPasses(PassManagerBase &PM) const {}
diff --git a/llvm/tools/llvm-exegesis/lib/Target.cpp b/llvm/tools/llvm-exegesis/lib/Target.cpp
--- a/llvm/tools/llvm-exegesis/lib/Target.cpp
+++ b/llvm/tools/llvm-exegesis/lib/Target.cpp
@@ -30,8 +30,7 @@
 }
 
 Expected<std::unique_ptr<pfm::Counter>>
-ExegesisTarget::createCounter(const char *CounterName,
-                              const LLVMState &) const {
+ExegesisTarget::createCounter(StringRef CounterName, const LLVMState &) const {
   pfm::PerfEvent Event(CounterName);
   if (!Event.valid())
     return llvm::make_error<Failure>(