A semiconductor laser including two laterally coupled waveguides, in which one of the waveguides includes a partially reflecting surface (an internal mirror) between its facets, is analyzed. The internal mirror inserts longitudinal coupling into the system. The spectrum of the Fabry-Perot modes exhibits modulation in the gain required for lasing threshold, with a periodicity that depends on the longitudinal position of the internal mirror. The combined coupled-cavity effect may explain the observed gain spectrum in GaN lasers.