diff --git a/KernelConfigParser.cpp b/KernelConfigParser.cpp
index e657a33..1d08fca 100644
--- a/KernelConfigParser.cpp
+++ b/KernelConfigParser.cpp
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@
     return process("\n", 1 /* sizeof "\n" */);
 }
 
-const std::stringstream& KernelConfigParser::error() const {
-    return mError;
+std::stringbuf* KernelConfigParser::error() const {
+    return mError.rdbuf();
 }
 
 std::map<std::string, std::string>& KernelConfigParser::configs() {