diff --git a/clippy_lints/src/format_args.rs b/clippy_lints/src/format_args.rs
index 0cd000915ed5..61f550ce0beb 100644
--- a/clippy_lints/src/format_args.rs
+++ b/clippy_lints/src/format_args.rs
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ fn check_expr(&mut self, cx: &LateContext<'tcx>, expr: &'tcx Expr<'tcx>) {
             let linter = FormatArgsExpr {
                 cx,
                 expr,
-                macro_call,
+                macro_call: &macro_call,
                 format_args: &format_args,
                 ignore_mixed: self.ignore_mixed,
             };
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ fn check_expr(&mut self, cx: &LateContext<'tcx>, expr: &'tcx Expr<'tcx>) {
 struct FormatArgsExpr<'a, 'tcx> {
     cx: &'a LateContext<'tcx>,
     expr: &'tcx Expr<'tcx>,
-    macro_call: MacroCall,
+    macro_call: &'a MacroCall,
     format_args: &'a rustc_ast::FormatArgs,
     ignore_mixed: bool,
 }