diff --git a/NmapOps.cc b/NmapOps.cc
index fc4cb1bdd..a3f1dab4f 100644
--- a/NmapOps.cc
+++ b/NmapOps.cc
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@ void NmapOps::ValidateOptions() {
 
   /* Make sure nmap.registry.args is available (even if it's empty) */
   if (!scriptargs)
-    scriptargs = strdup("");
+    scriptargs = "";
 }
 
 void NmapOps::setMaxOSTries(int mot) {
diff --git a/NmapOps.h b/NmapOps.h
index 9bc5ea05e..c85ccc26b 100644
--- a/NmapOps.h
+++ b/NmapOps.h
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ class NmapOps {
 
 #ifndef NOLUA
   int script;
-  char *scriptargs;
+  const char *scriptargs;
   int scriptversion;
   int scripttrace;
   int scriptupdatedb;