diff --git a/engines/private/private.cpp b/engines/private/private.cpp
index 34b87a2586c..73adf303e30 100644
--- a/engines/private/private.cpp
+++ b/engines/private/private.cpp
@@ -1005,7 +1005,7 @@ Common::String PrivateEngine::getLeaveSound() {
     return Common::String::format("%sleft%d.wav", _globalAudioPath.c_str(), r);
 }
 
-char *PrivateEngine::getRandomPhoneClip(char *clip, int i, int j) {
+char *PrivateEngine::getRandomPhoneClip(const char *clip, int i, int j) {
     uint r = i + _rnd->getRandomNumber(j - i);
 
     char *f = (char *)malloc((strlen(clip) + 3) * sizeof(char));
diff --git a/engines/private/private.h b/engines/private/private.h
index 1ac930e048b..56c8fcaeade 100644
--- a/engines/private/private.h
+++ b/engines/private/private.h
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ public:
     SoundList _policeRadio;
     PhoneList _phone;
 
-    char *getRandomPhoneClip(char *, int, int);
+    char *getRandomPhoneClip(const char *, int, int);
     void selectAMRadioArea(Common::Point);
     void selectPoliceRadioArea(Common::Point);
     void selectPhoneArea(Common::Point);