diff --git a/src/h5core/h5_mpi.c b/src/h5core/h5_mpi.c
index d1d5dcc..11f2f9b 100644
--- a/src/h5core/h5_mpi.c
+++ b/src/h5core/h5_mpi.c
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@
 
 #ifdef PARALLEL_IO
 
-const char* ERR_GATHER = "Cannot gather data.";
-const char* ERR_COMM_SIZE = "Cannot get number of processes in my group.";
-const char* ERR_COMM_RANK = "Cannot get rank of the calling process.";
+#define ERR_GATHER "Cannot gather data."
+#define ERR_COMM_SIZE "Cannot get number of processes in my group."
+#define ERR_COMM_RANK "Cannot get rank of the calling process."
 
 h5_err_t
 h5priv_mpi_allgather (