diff --git a/src/search.c b/src/search.c
index f38b626..d12e468 100644
--- a/src/search.c
+++ b/src/search.c
@@ -814,7 +814,7 @@
 			{
 			    /* 'e' offset may put us just below the last line */
 			    if (pos->lnum > buf->b_ml.ml_line_count)
-				ptr = "";
+				ptr = (char_u *)"";
 			    else
 				ptr = ml_get_buf(buf, pos->lnum, FALSE);
 			    pos->col -= (*mb_head_off)(ptr, ptr + pos->col);