diff --git a/back_end/src/db_handler.rs b/back_end/src/db_handler.rs
index fcb4324..16cc79d 100644
--- a/back_end/src/db_handler.rs
+++ b/back_end/src/db_handler.rs
@@ -857,7 +857,7 @@ impl DBHandler {
         }
 
         // board back to string
-        let (board_string, ended_state_opt) = string_from_board(board, final_pos);
+        let (board_string, ended_state_opt) = string_from_board(&board, final_pos);
 
         // update DB
         let update_result = if ended_state_opt.is_none() {
@@ -1004,7 +1004,7 @@ impl DBHandler {
         });
 
         // get board string from board while checking if game has ended
-        let (board_string, end_state_opt) = string_from_board(board, ai_choice_pos);
+        let (board_string, end_state_opt) = string_from_board(&board, ai_choice_pos);
 
         let state;
         if let Some(board_state) = end_state_opt {
diff --git a/front_end/src/state.rs b/front_end/src/state.rs
index 7554477..242e5e8 100644
--- a/front_end/src/state.rs
+++ b/front_end/src/state.rs
@@ -456,12 +456,12 @@ pub fn board_from_string(board_string: String) -> BoardType {
 
 /// Returns the board as a String, and None if game has not ended, Empty if game
 /// ended in a draw, or a player if that player has won
-pub fn string_from_board(board: BoardType, placed: usize) -> (String, Option<BoardState>) {
+pub fn string_from_board(board: &BoardType, placed: usize) -> (String, Option<BoardState>) {
     let mut board_string = String::with_capacity(56);
 
     // check for winning pieces
     let mut win_set: HashSet<usize> = HashSet::new();
-    let win_opt = check_win_draw(&board);
+    let win_opt = check_win_draw(board);
     if let Some((_board_state, win_type)) = win_opt {
         match win_type {
             WinType::Horizontal(pos) => {