diff --git a/src/protocol/nntp/connection.c b/src/protocol/nntp/connection.c
index bc3fb12e2..66af676fa 100644
--- a/src/protocol/nntp/connection.c
+++ b/src/protocol/nntp/connection.c
@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@ nntp_protocol_handler(struct connection *conn)
 void
 news_protocol_handler(struct connection *conn)
 {
-	char *protocol;
+	const char *protocol;
 	char *server = get_nntp_server();
 	struct string location;