diff --git a/hw/i386/x86-common.c b/hw/i386/x86-common.c
index c844749900..f77e2e6304 100644
--- a/hw/i386/x86-common.c
+++ b/hw/i386/x86-common.c
@@ -654,7 +654,7 @@ void x86_load_linux(X86MachineState *x86ms,
     uint8_t header[8192], *setup, *kernel;
     hwaddr real_addr, prot_addr, cmdline_addr, initrd_addr = 0;
     FILE *f;
-    char *vmode;
+    const char *vmode;
     MachineState *machine = MACHINE(x86ms);
     struct setup_data *setup_data;
     const char *kernel_filename = machine->kernel_filename;