diff --git a/ext/divx/gstdivxdec.c b/ext/divx/gstdivxdec.c
index 2e9543c41e..2b6625616a 100644
--- a/ext/divx/gstdivxdec.c
+++ b/ext/divx/gstdivxdec.c
@@ -71,10 +71,10 @@ static GstElementClass *parent_class = NULL;
 /* static guint gst_divxdec_signals[LAST_SIGNAL] = { 0 }; */
 
 
-static gchar *
+static const gchar *
 gst_divxdec_error (int errorcode)
 {
-  gchar *error;
+  const gchar *error;
 
   switch (errorcode) {
     case DEC_OK:
diff --git a/ext/divx/gstdivxenc.c b/ext/divx/gstdivxenc.c
index 0fab155013..0fa43f45e1 100644
--- a/ext/divx/gstdivxenc.c
+++ b/ext/divx/gstdivxenc.c
@@ -78,10 +78,10 @@ static GstElementClass *parent_class = NULL;
 static guint gst_divxenc_signals[LAST_SIGNAL] = { 0 };
 
 
-static gchar *
+static const gchar *
 gst_divxenc_error (int errorcode)
 {
-  gchar *error;
+  const gchar *error;
 
   switch (errorcode) {
     case ENC_BUFFER: