diff --git a/source/filters/filter-blur.cpp b/source/filters/filter-blur.cpp
index 44b408f3..9bdb63f6 100644
--- a/source/filters/filter-blur.cpp
+++ b/source/filters/filter-blur.cpp
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ void filter::blur::blur_factory::on_list_fill()
 		char* file = obs_module_file("effects/color-conversion.effect");
 		try {
 			color_converter_effect = std::make_shared<gs::effect>(file);
-		} catch (std::runtime_error ex) {
+		} catch (std::runtime_error& ex) {
 			P_LOG_ERROR("<filter-blur> Loading effect '%s' failed with error(s): %s", file, ex.what());
 		}
 		bfree(file);
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ void filter::blur::blur_factory::on_list_fill()
 		char* file = obs_module_file("effects/mask.effect");
 		try {
 			mask_effect = std::make_shared<gs::effect>(file);
-		} catch (std::runtime_error ex) {
+		} catch (std::runtime_error& ex) {
 			P_LOG_ERROR("<filter-blur> Loading effect '%s' failed with error(s): %s", file, ex.what());
 		}
 		bfree(file);
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ filter::blur::blur_instance::blur_instance(obs_data_t* settings, obs_source_t* p
 	try {
 		this->m_source_rt = std::make_shared<gs::rendertarget>(GS_RGBA, GS_ZS_NONE);
 		this->m_output_rt = std::make_shared<gs::rendertarget>(GS_RGBA, GS_ZS_NONE);
-	} catch (std::exception ex) {
+	} catch (std::exception& ex) {
 		P_LOG_ERROR("<filter-blur:%s> Failed to create rendertargets, error %s.", obs_source_get_name(m_self),
 					ex.what());
 	}
diff --git a/source/filters/filter-dynamic-mask.cpp b/source/filters/filter-dynamic-mask.cpp
index 9668c58d..44d35d9b 100644
--- a/source/filters/filter-dynamic-mask.cpp
+++ b/source/filters/filter-dynamic-mask.cpp
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ filter::dynamic_mask::dynamic_mask_instance::dynamic_mask_instance(obs_data_t* d
 		char* file = obs_module_file("effects/channel-mask.effect");
 		try {
 			this->effect = std::make_shared<gs::effect>(file);
-		} catch (std::exception ex) {
+		} catch (std::exception& ex) {
 			P_LOG_ERROR("Loading channel mask effect failed with error(s):\n%s", ex.what());
 		}
 		assert(this->effect != nullptr);