diff --git a/tests/gem_pread.c b/tests/gem_pread.c
index d1ef384c..afa072d3 100644
--- a/tests/gem_pread.c
+++ b/tests/gem_pread.c
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	int object_size = 0;
 	double usecs;
 	char buf[100];
-	char* bps;
+	const char* bps;
 	const struct {
 		int level;
 		const char *name;
diff --git a/tests/gem_pwrite.c b/tests/gem_pwrite.c
index 6e298204..cbb7b032 100644
--- a/tests/gem_pwrite.c
+++ b/tests/gem_pwrite.c
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
 	int object_size = 0;
 	double usecs;
-	char* bps;
+	const char* bps;
 	char buf[100];
 	int count;
 	const struct {