diff --git a/modules/python/src2/cv2.cpp b/modules/python/src2/cv2.cpp
index e16fcbacf2..5a6bf7ef62 100644
--- a/modules/python/src2/cv2.cpp
+++ b/modules/python/src2/cv2.cpp
@@ -916,7 +916,7 @@ bool pyopencv_to(PyObject* obj, String& value, const char* name)
     (void)name;
     if(!obj || obj == Py_None)
         return true;
-    char* str = PyString_AsString(obj);
+    const char* str = PyString_AsString(obj);
     if(!str)
         return false;
     value = String(str);