diff --git a/examples/save-load-state/save-load-state.cpp b/examples/save-load-state/save-load-state.cpp
index a48ad0f32..14e9501ca 100644
--- a/examples/save-load-state/save-load-state.cpp
+++ b/examples/save-load-state/save-load-state.cpp
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ int main(int argc, char ** argv) {
         llama_free_model(model);
         return 1;
     }
-    auto tokens = llama_tokenize(ctx, params.prompt.c_str(), true);
+    auto tokens = llama_tokenize(ctx, params.prompt, true);
     auto n_prompt_tokens = tokens.size();
     if (n_prompt_tokens < 1) {
         fprintf(stderr, "%s : failed to tokenize prompt\n", __func__);