diff --git a/common/os_calls.c b/common/os_calls.c
index 91646423..095359c1 100644
--- a/common/os_calls.c
+++ b/common/os_calls.c
@@ -2565,7 +2565,7 @@ g_get_proc_address(long lib, const char *name)
 /*****************************************************************************/
 /* does not work in win32 */
 int
-g_system(char *aexec)
+g_system(const char *aexec)
 {
 #if defined(_WIN32)
     return 0;
diff --git a/common/os_calls.h b/common/os_calls.h
index eb54aff3..df24cd69 100644
--- a/common/os_calls.h
+++ b/common/os_calls.h
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ int      g_file_get_inode_num(const char *filename);
 long     g_load_library(char *in);
 int      g_free_library(long lib);
 void    *g_get_proc_address(long lib, const char *name);
-int      g_system(char *aexec);
+int      g_system(const char *aexec);
 char    *g_get_strerror(void);
 int      g_get_errno(void);
 int      g_execvp(const char *p1, char *args[]);