diff --git a/src/util/virhash.c b/src/util/virhash.c
index 3cfcc696af..77196c927c 100644
--- a/src/util/virhash.c
+++ b/src/util/virhash.c
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ virHashAddOrUpdateEntry(virHashTablePtr table, const void *name,
 {
     size_t key, len = 0;
     virHashEntryPtr entry;
-    char *new_name;
+    void *new_name;
 
     if ((table == NULL) || (name == NULL))
         return -1;