diff --git a/src/conf.c b/src/conf.c
index 4906aaf63..571ad7a32 100644
--- a/src/conf.c
+++ b/src/conf.c
@@ -11,12 +11,12 @@
 #define BUG_ADDRESS		"ngspice-bugs@lists.sourceforge.net"
 #endif
 
-char	*Spice_Version = PACKAGE_VERSION;
-char	*Spice_Notice = "Please submit bug-reports to: " BUG_ADDRESS;
+char	Spice_Version[] = PACKAGE_VERSION;
+char	Spice_Notice[] = "Please submit bug-reports to: " BUG_ADDRESS;
 #ifndef _MSC_VER
-char	*Spice_Build_Date = NGSPICEBUILDDATE;
+char	Spice_Build_Date[] = NGSPICEBUILDDATE;
 #else
-char	*Spice_Build_Date = __DATE__"   "__TIME__;
+char	Spice_Build_Date[] = __DATE__"   "__TIME__;
 #endif
 
 char	*Spice_Exec_Dir	= NGSPICEBINDIR;
diff --git a/src/conf.h b/src/conf.h
index 4e6f59489..31619949f 100644
--- a/src/conf.h
+++ b/src/conf.h
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 #ifndef __CONF_H
 #define __CONF_H
 
-extern char *Spice_Version;
-extern char *Spice_Notice;
-extern char *Spice_Build_Date;
+extern char Spice_Version[];
+extern char Spice_Notice[];
+extern char Spice_Build_Date[];
 extern char *Spice_Exec_Dir;
 extern char *Spice_Lib_Dir;
 extern char *Def_Editor;