diff --git a/src/common/QskGradient.cpp b/src/common/QskGradient.cpp
index 5ac0554f..20f52daf 100644
--- a/src/common/QskGradient.cpp
+++ b/src/common/QskGradient.cpp
@@ -317,8 +317,17 @@ void QskGradient::setStops( const QskGradientStops& stops )
     m_isDirty = true;
 }
 
-QskGradientStops QskGradient::stops() const
+const QskGradientStops& QskGradient::stops() const
 {
+#if 1
+    /*
+        Returning a const& so that it is possible to write:
+            for ( const auto& stop : qAsConst( gradient.stops() ) )
+
+        Once we have changed QskGradientStop from QColor to QRgb
+        we should check if there is a better solution possible
+     */
+#endif
     return m_stops;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/common/QskGradient.h b/src/common/QskGradient.h
index c0544bfd..de97db9c 100644
--- a/src/common/QskGradient.h
+++ b/src/common/QskGradient.h
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ class QSK_EXPORT QskGradient
     Q_INVOKABLE QColor endColor() const;
 
     Q_INVOKABLE void setStops( const QVector< QskGradientStop >& );
-    Q_INVOKABLE QVector< QskGradientStop > stops() const;
+    Q_INVOKABLE const QVector< QskGradientStop >& stops() const;
 
     Q_INVOKABLE bool hasStopAt( qreal value ) const;
 
diff --git a/src/nodes/QskArcNode.cpp b/src/nodes/QskArcNode.cpp
index c57f6f40..532375a7 100644
--- a/src/nodes/QskArcNode.cpp
+++ b/src/nodes/QskArcNode.cpp
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ uint QskArcNode::hash() const
 {
     uint h = m_metrics.hash();
 
-    for( const auto& stop : m_gradient.stops() )
+    for( const auto& stop : qAsConst( m_gradient.stops() ) )
         h = stop.hash( h );
 
     return h;
diff --git a/src/nodes/QskArcRenderer.cpp b/src/nodes/QskArcRenderer.cpp
index 28c96580..5cc21283 100644
--- a/src/nodes/QskArcRenderer.cpp
+++ b/src/nodes/QskArcRenderer.cpp
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ void QskArcRenderer::renderArc(const QRectF& rect,
 
     QGradientStops stops;
 
-    for( const QskGradientStop& stop : gradient.stops() )
+    for( const QskGradientStop& stop : qAsConst( gradient.stops() ) )
     {
         QGradientStop s( stop.position(), stop.color() );
         stops.append( s );
diff --git a/src/nodes/QskBoxRendererRect.cpp b/src/nodes/QskBoxRendererRect.cpp
index 13d22cd8..63c82034 100644
--- a/src/nodes/QskBoxRendererRect.cpp
+++ b/src/nodes/QskBoxRendererRect.cpp
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ static inline void qskCreateBorder(
     const qreal dy1 = in.top - in.bottom;
     const qreal dy2 = out.top - out.bottom;
 
-    for( const auto& stop : gradientBottom.stops() )
+    for( const auto& stop : qAsConst( gradientBottom.stops() ) )
     {
         const Color c( stop.color() );
         const qreal x1 = in.right - stop.position() * dx1;
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ static inline void qskCreateBorder(
         ( line++ )->setLine( x1, y1, x2, y2, c );
     }
 
-    for( const auto& stop : gradientLeft.stops() )
+    for( const auto& stop : qAsConst( gradientLeft.stops() ) )
     {
         const Color c( stop.color() );
         const qreal x1 = in.left;
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ static inline void qskCreateBorder(
         ( line++ )->setLine( x1, y1, x2, y2, c );
     }
 
-    for( const auto& stop : gradientTop.stops() )
+    for( const auto& stop : qAsConst( gradientTop.stops() ) )
     {
         const Color c( stop.color() );
         const qreal x1 = in.left + stop.position() * dx1;
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@ static inline void qskCreateBorder(
         ( line++ )->setLine( x1, y1, x2, y2, c );
     }
 
-    for( const auto& stop : gradientRight.stops() )
+    for( const auto& stop : qAsConst( gradientRight.stops() ) )
     {
         const Color c( stop.color() );
         const qreal x1 = in.right;