diff --git a/netlist.cc b/netlist.cc
index d59be9650..d5c8fc55c 100644
--- a/netlist.cc
+++ b/netlist.cc
@@ -1876,6 +1876,7 @@ NetConst::NetConst(NetScope*s, perm_string n, verinum::V v)
       pin(0).set_dir(Link::OUTPUT);
       value_ = new verinum::V[1];
       value_[0] = v;
+      is_string_ = false;
 }
 
 NetConst::NetConst(NetScope*s, perm_string n, const verinum&val)
@@ -1886,6 +1887,7 @@ NetConst::NetConst(NetScope*s, perm_string n, const verinum&val)
       for (unsigned idx = 0 ;  idx < width_ ;  idx += 1) {
 	    value_[idx] = val.get(idx);
       }
+      is_string_ = val.is_string();
 }
 
 NetConst::~NetConst()
@@ -1904,6 +1906,11 @@ unsigned NetConst::width() const
       return width_;
 }
 
+bool NetConst::is_string() const
+{
+      return is_string_;
+}
+
 NetFuncDef::NetFuncDef(NetScope*s, NetNet*result, const svector<NetNet*>&po)
 : scope_(s), statement_(0), result_sig_(result), ports_(po)
 {
diff --git a/netlist.h b/netlist.h
index 2a9a3e06f..50e376d99 100644
--- a/netlist.h
+++ b/netlist.h
@@ -1969,6 +1969,7 @@ class NetConst  : public NetNode {
 
       verinum::V value(unsigned idx) const;
       unsigned width() const;
+      bool is_string() const;
 
       virtual bool emit_node(struct target_t*) const;
       virtual void functor_node(Design*, functor_t*);
@@ -1977,6 +1978,7 @@ class NetConst  : public NetNode {
     private:
       unsigned width_;
       verinum::V*value_;
+      bool is_string_;
 };
 
 /*
diff --git a/t-dll-api.cc b/t-dll-api.cc
index 179a42a62..d86a67a6b 100644
--- a/t-dll-api.cc
+++ b/t-dll-api.cc
@@ -170,6 +170,7 @@ extern "C" const char*ivl_const_bits(ivl_net_const_t net)
 
 	  case IVL_VT_BOOL:
 	  case IVL_VT_LOGIC:
+	  case IVL_VT_STRING:
 	    if (net->width_ <= sizeof(net->b.bit_))
 		  return net->b.bit_;
 	    else
diff --git a/t-dll.cc b/t-dll.cc
index e45c70d20..e50c8fca9 100644
--- a/t-dll.cc
+++ b/t-dll.cc
@@ -2164,7 +2164,10 @@ bool dll_target::net_const(const NetConst*net)
 
       struct ivl_net_const_s *obj = new struct ivl_net_const_s;
 
-      obj->type = IVL_VT_BOOL;
+      if (net->is_string()) {
+	    obj->type = IVL_VT_STRING;
+	    assert((net->width() % 8) == 0);
+      } else obj->type = IVL_VT_BOOL;
       assert(net->scope());
       obj->scope = find_scope(des_, net->scope());
       FILE_NAME(obj, net);
@@ -2197,11 +2200,13 @@ bool dll_target::net_const(const NetConst*net)
 		  if (obj->type == IVL_VT_BOOL)
 			obj->type = IVL_VT_LOGIC;
 		  bits[idx] = 'x';
+		  assert(! net->is_string());
 		  break;
 		case verinum::Vz:
 		  if (obj->type == IVL_VT_BOOL)
 			obj->type = IVL_VT_LOGIC;
 		  bits[idx] = 'z';
+		  assert(! net->is_string());
 		  break;
 	    }
 
diff --git a/tgt-vvp/draw_net_input.c b/tgt-vvp/draw_net_input.c
index 44d6840ae..dc719972b 100644
--- a/tgt-vvp/draw_net_input.c
+++ b/tgt-vvp/draw_net_input.c
@@ -385,6 +385,7 @@ static char* draw_net_input_drive(ivl_nexus_t nex, ivl_nexus_ptr_t nptr)
 	    switch (ivl_const_type(cptr)) {
 		case IVL_VT_LOGIC:
 		case IVL_VT_BOOL:
+		case IVL_VT_STRING:
 		  if ((ivl_nexus_ptr_drive0(nptr) == IVL_DR_STRONG)
 		      && (ivl_nexus_ptr_drive1(nptr) == IVL_DR_STRONG)) {