diff --git a/ares_version.c b/ares_version.c
index 04b269e2..2dbbc07e 100644
--- a/ares_version.c
+++ b/ares_version.c
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 #include "ares_version.h"
 
-char *ares_version(int *version)
+const char *ares_version(int *version)
 {
   if(version)
     *version = ARES_VERSION;
diff --git a/ares_version.h b/ares_version.h
index b99fa1b2..0850f9ad 100644
--- a/ares_version.h
+++ b/ares_version.h
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
                        (ARES_VERSION_PATCH))
 #define ARES_VERSION_STR "1.0.0"
 
-char *ares_version(int *version);
+const char *ares_version(int *version);
 
 #endif