diff --git a/simgear/structure/subsystem_mgr.cxx b/simgear/structure/subsystem_mgr.cxx
index 799457f4..bd990546 100644
--- a/simgear/structure/subsystem_mgr.cxx
+++ b/simgear/structure/subsystem_mgr.cxx
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ public:
 
 
 
-SGSubsystemGroup::SGSubsystemGroup(const std::string &name) :
+SGSubsystemGroup::SGSubsystemGroup(const char *name) :
     _fixedUpdateTime(-1.0),
     _updateTimeRemainder(0.0),
     _initPosition(-1)
@@ -837,7 +837,7 @@ namespace {
     
 } // end of anonymous namespace
 
-SGSubsystemMgr::SGSubsystemMgr (const std::string &name) :
+SGSubsystemMgr::SGSubsystemMgr (const char *name) :
   _groups(MAX_GROUPS)
 {
     if (global_defaultSubsystemManager == nullptr) {
diff --git a/simgear/structure/subsystem_mgr.hxx b/simgear/structure/subsystem_mgr.hxx
index 3a5c4013..b991a9ef 100644
--- a/simgear/structure/subsystem_mgr.hxx
+++ b/simgear/structure/subsystem_mgr.hxx
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ typedef SGSharedPtr<SGSubsystem> SGSubsystemRef;
 class SGSubsystemGroup : public SGSubsystem
 {
 public:
-    SGSubsystemGroup (const std::string &name);
+    SGSubsystemGroup (const char *name);
     virtual ~SGSubsystemGroup ();
 
     void init() override;
@@ -501,7 +501,7 @@ public:
         MAX_GROUPS
     };
 
-    SGSubsystemMgr (const std::string &name);
+    SGSubsystemMgr (const char *name);
     virtual ~SGSubsystemMgr ();
 
     void init () override;