diff --git a/sbin/ifconfig/ifconfig.c b/sbin/ifconfig/ifconfig.c
index 6cd8d69a09f3..daa31f3e9a6c 100644
--- a/sbin/ifconfig/ifconfig.c
+++ b/sbin/ifconfig/ifconfig.c
@@ -887,7 +887,8 @@ ifmaybeload(const char *name)
 {
 	struct module_stat mstat;
 	int fileid, modid;
-	char ifkind[35], *cp, *dp;
+	char ifkind[35], *dp;
+	const char *cp;
 
 	/* turn interface and unit into module name */
 	strcpy(ifkind, "if_");