diff --git a/include/linux/kobject.h b/include/linux/kobject.h
index 765d660..76dc672 100644
--- a/include/linux/kobject.h
+++ b/include/linux/kobject.h
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 extern u64 hotplug_seqnum;
 
 struct kobject {
-	char			* k_name;
+	const char		* k_name;
 	char			name[KOBJ_NAME_LEN];
 	struct kref		kref;
 	struct list_head	entry;
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
 extern int kobject_set_name(struct kobject *, const char *, ...)
 	__attribute__((format(printf,2,3)));
 
-static inline char * kobject_name(struct kobject * kobj)
+static inline const char * kobject_name(const struct kobject * kobj)
 {
 	return kobj->k_name;
 }
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
 extern int kobject_add(struct kobject *);
 extern void kobject_del(struct kobject *);
 
-extern int kobject_rename(struct kobject *, char *new_name);
+extern int kobject_rename(struct kobject *, const char *new_name);
 
 extern int kobject_register(struct kobject *);
 extern void kobject_unregister(struct kobject *);
diff --git a/lib/kobject.c b/lib/kobject.c
index 9404882..dd0917d 100644
--- a/lib/kobject.c
+++ b/lib/kobject.c
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@
  *	@new_name: object's new name
  */
 
-int kobject_rename(struct kobject * kobj, char *new_name)
+int kobject_rename(struct kobject * kobj, const char *new_name)
 {
 	int error = 0;
 
diff --git a/lib/kobject_uevent.c b/lib/kobject_uevent.c
index 1ede5aa..8e49d21 100644
--- a/lib/kobject_uevent.c
+++ b/lib/kobject_uevent.c
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@
 	int i = 0;
 	int retval;
 	char *kobj_path = NULL;
-	char *name = NULL;
+	const char *name = NULL;
 	char *action_string;
 	u64 seq;
 	struct kobject *top_kobj = kobj;
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@
 		name = kobject_name(&kset->kobj);
 
 	argv [0] = hotplug_path;
-	argv [1] = name;
+	argv [1] = (char *)name; /* won't be changed but 'const' has to go */
 	argv [2] = NULL;
 
 	/* minimal command environment */