diff --git a/src/tests/test_utils/unit_test_utils/mocks/openvino/runtime/mock_ivariable_state.hpp b/src/tests/test_utils/unit_test_utils/mocks/openvino/runtime/mock_ivariable_state.hpp
index 8d8f9f18a201a0..c106881086f3d2 100644
--- a/src/tests/test_utils/unit_test_utils/mocks/openvino/runtime/mock_ivariable_state.hpp
+++ b/src/tests/test_utils/unit_test_utils/mocks/openvino/runtime/mock_ivariable_state.hpp
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ class MockIVariableState : public ov::IVariableState {
     MOCK_METHOD(const std::string&, get_name, (), (const));
     MOCK_METHOD(void, reset, ());
     MOCK_METHOD(void, set_state, (const ov::SoPtr<ov::ITensor>&));
-    MOCK_METHOD(const ov::SoPtr<ov::ITensor>&, get_state, (), (const));
+    MOCK_METHOD(ov::SoPtr<ov::ITensor>, get_state, (), (const));
 };
 
 }  // namespace ov