diff --git a/appl/telnet/telnetd/ext.h b/appl/telnet/telnetd/ext.h
index 8bc76ebeb..c423caede 100644
--- a/appl/telnet/telnetd/ext.h
+++ b/appl/telnet/telnetd/ext.h
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ extern int	require_otp;
 #ifdef AUTHENTICATION
 extern int	auth_level;
 #endif
-extern char *new_login;
+extern const char *new_login;
 
 extern slcfun	slctab[NSLC + 1];	/* slc mapping table */