diff --git a/src/libCom/osi/os/default/osdWireFormat.h b/src/libCom/osi/os/default/osdWireFormat.h
index 888cbab75..8e18c29b2 100644
--- a/src/libCom/osi/os/default/osdWireFormat.h
+++ b/src/libCom/osi/os/default/osdWireFormat.h
@@ -148,6 +148,7 @@ inline void WireSet < epicsFloat64 > (
 #   endif
 }
 
+// workaround for problems in visual C++ 8.0
 template <>
 inline void WireSet < const epicsOldString > ( 
     const epicsOldString & src, epicsUInt8 * pWireDst )
@@ -155,6 +156,13 @@ inline void WireSet < const epicsOldString > (
     memcpy ( pWireDst, src, sizeof ( src ) );
 }
 
+template <>
+inline void WireSet < epicsOldString > ( 
+    const epicsOldString & src, epicsUInt8 * pWireDst )
+{
+    memcpy ( pWireDst, src, sizeof ( src ) );
+}
+
 template <>
 inline void AlignedWireGet < epicsUInt16 > ( 
     const epicsUInt16 & src, epicsUInt16 & dst )