diff --git a/test_util/sync_point.cc b/test_util/sync_point.cc
index 4c71fc6bc..067fc8234 100644
--- a/test_util/sync_point.cc
+++ b/test_util/sync_point.cc
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ void SyncPoint::ClearTrace() {
   impl_->ClearTrace();
 }
 
-void SyncPoint::Process(const std::string& point, void* cb_arg) {
+void SyncPoint::Process(const Slice& point, void* cb_arg) {
   impl_->Process(point, cb_arg);
 }
 
diff --git a/test_util/sync_point.h b/test_util/sync_point.h
index 775fd5c36..410176dc8 100644
--- a/test_util/sync_point.h
+++ b/test_util/sync_point.h
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <assert.h>
+
 #include <functional>
 #include <mutex>
 #include <string>
@@ -12,6 +13,7 @@
 #include <vector>
 
 #include "rocksdb/rocksdb_namespace.h"
+#include "rocksdb/slice.h"
 
 #ifdef NDEBUG
 // empty in release build
@@ -117,7 +119,16 @@ class SyncPoint {
   // triggered by TEST_SYNC_POINT, blocking execution until all predecessors
   // are executed.
   // And/or call registered callback function, with argument `cb_arg`
-  void Process(const std::string& point, void* cb_arg = nullptr);
+  void Process(const Slice& point, void* cb_arg = nullptr);
+
+  // template gets length of const string at compile time,
+  //  avoiding strlen() at runtime
+  template <size_t kLen>
+  void Process(const char (&point)[kLen], void* cb_arg = nullptr) {
+    static_assert(kLen > 0, "Must not be empty");
+    assert(point[kLen - 1] == '\0');
+    Process(Slice(point, kLen - 1), cb_arg);
+  }
 
   // TODO: it might be useful to provide a function that blocks until all
   // sync points are cleared.
diff --git a/test_util/sync_point_impl.cc b/test_util/sync_point_impl.cc
index 1d87a05fe..4add49889 100644
--- a/test_util/sync_point_impl.cc
+++ b/test_util/sync_point_impl.cc
@@ -101,19 +101,23 @@ void SyncPoint::Data::ClearAllCallBacks() {
   callbacks_.clear();
 }
 
-void SyncPoint::Data::Process(const std::string& point, void* cb_arg) {
+void SyncPoint::Data::Process(const Slice& point, void* cb_arg) {
   if (!enabled_) {
     return;
   }
+
   // Use a filter to prevent mutex lock if possible.
   if (!point_filter_.MayContain(point)) {
     return;
   }
 
+  // Must convert to std::string for remaining work.  Take
+  //  heap hit.
+  std::string point_string(point.ToString());
   std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(mutex_);
   auto thread_id = std::this_thread::get_id();
 
-  auto marker_iter = markers_.find(point);
+  auto marker_iter = markers_.find(point_string);
   if (marker_iter != markers_.end()) {
     for (auto& marked_point : marker_iter->second) {
       marked_thread_id_.emplace(marked_point, thread_id);
@@ -121,18 +125,18 @@ void SyncPoint::Data::Process(const std::string& point, void* cb_arg) {
     }
   }
 
-  if (DisabledByMarker(point, thread_id)) {
+  if (DisabledByMarker(point_string, thread_id)) {
     return;
   }
 
-  while (!PredecessorsAllCleared(point)) {
+  while (!PredecessorsAllCleared(point_string)) {
     cv_.wait(lock);
-    if (DisabledByMarker(point, thread_id)) {
+    if (DisabledByMarker(point_string, thread_id)) {
       return;
     }
   }
 
-  auto callback_pair = callbacks_.find(point);
+  auto callback_pair = callbacks_.find(point_string);
   if (callback_pair != callbacks_.end()) {
     num_callbacks_running_++;
     mutex_.unlock();
@@ -140,7 +144,7 @@ void SyncPoint::Data::Process(const std::string& point, void* cb_arg) {
     mutex_.lock();
     num_callbacks_running_--;
   }
-  cleared_points_.insert(point);
+  cleared_points_.insert(point_string);
   cv_.notify_all();
 }
 }  // namespace ROCKSDB_NAMESPACE
diff --git a/test_util/sync_point_impl.h b/test_util/sync_point_impl.h
index ba818e381..526018040 100644
--- a/test_util/sync_point_impl.h
+++ b/test_util/sync_point_impl.h
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ struct SyncPoint::Data {
     return marked_point_iter != marked_thread_id_.end() &&
            thread_id != marked_point_iter->second;
   }
-  void Process(const std::string& point, void* cb_arg);
+  void Process(const Slice& point, void* cb_arg);
 };
 }  // namespace ROCKSDB_NAMESPACE
 #endif // NDEBUG