diff --git a/drivers/base/class.c b/drivers/base/class.c
index 75057aaab809..e078bc21d52e 100644
--- a/drivers/base/class.c
+++ b/drivers/base/class.c
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ static int class_device_create_uevent(struct class_device *class_dev,
  * Note, the pointer created here is to be destroyed when finished by
  * making a call to class_destroy().
  */
-struct class *class_create(struct module *owner, char *name)
+struct class *class_create(struct module *owner, const char *name)
 {
 	struct class *cls;
 	int retval;
diff --git a/include/linux/device.h b/include/linux/device.h
index 8d92013f9ce1..8a648cd94fa9 100644
--- a/include/linux/device.h
+++ b/include/linux/device.h
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ struct class_interface {
 extern int class_interface_register(struct class_interface *);
 extern void class_interface_unregister(struct class_interface *);
 
-extern struct class *class_create(struct module *owner, char *name);
+extern struct class *class_create(struct module *owner, const char *name);
 extern void class_destroy(struct class *cls);
 extern struct class_device *class_device_create(struct class *cls,
 						struct class_device *parent,