diff --git a/libs/binder/ndk/ibinder.cpp b/libs/binder/ndk/ibinder.cpp
index d7075b2..54868be 100644
--- a/libs/binder/ndk/ibinder.cpp
+++ b/libs/binder/ndk/ibinder.cpp
@@ -74,12 +74,12 @@
 AIBinder::~AIBinder() {}
 
 std::optional<bool> AIBinder::associateClassInternal(const AIBinder_Class* clazz,
-                                                     const String8& newDescriptor, bool set) {
+                                                     const String16& newDescriptor, bool set) {
     std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(mClazzMutex);
     if (mClazz == clazz) return true;
 
     if (mClazz != nullptr) {
-        String8 currentDescriptor(mClazz->getInterfaceDescriptor());
+        const String16& currentDescriptor = mClazz->getInterfaceDescriptor();
         if (newDescriptor == currentDescriptor) {
             LOG(ERROR) << __func__ << ": Class descriptors '" << currentDescriptor
                        << "' match during associateClass, but they are different class objects. "
@@ -88,8 +88,7 @@
             LOG(ERROR) << __func__
                        << ": Class cannot be associated on object which already has a class. "
                           "Trying to associate to '"
-                       << newDescriptor.c_str() << "' but already set to '"
-                       << currentDescriptor.c_str() << "'.";
+                       << newDescriptor << "' but already set to '" << currentDescriptor << "'.";
         }
 
         // always a failure because we know mClazz != clazz
@@ -107,21 +106,21 @@
 bool AIBinder::associateClass(const AIBinder_Class* clazz) {
     if (clazz == nullptr) return false;
 
-    String8 newDescriptor(clazz->getInterfaceDescriptor());
+    const String16& newDescriptor = clazz->getInterfaceDescriptor();
 
     auto result = associateClassInternal(clazz, newDescriptor, false);
     if (result.has_value()) return *result;
 
     CHECK(asABpBinder() != nullptr);  // ABBinder always has a descriptor
 
-    String8 descriptor(getBinder()->getInterfaceDescriptor());
+    const String16& descriptor = getBinder()->getInterfaceDescriptor();
     if (descriptor != newDescriptor) {
         if (getBinder()->isBinderAlive()) {
-            LOG(ERROR) << __func__ << ": Expecting binder to have class '" << newDescriptor.c_str()
-                       << "' but descriptor is actually '" << descriptor.c_str() << "'.";
+            LOG(ERROR) << __func__ << ": Expecting binder to have class '" << newDescriptor
+                       << "' but descriptor is actually '" << descriptor << "'.";
         } else {
             // b/155793159
-            LOG(ERROR) << __func__ << ": Cannot associate class '" << newDescriptor.c_str()
+            LOG(ERROR) << __func__ << ": Cannot associate class '" << newDescriptor
                        << "' to dead binder.";
         }
         return false;
diff --git a/libs/binder/ndk/ibinder_internal.h b/libs/binder/ndk/ibinder_internal.h
index f4e2704..f601127 100644
--- a/libs/binder/ndk/ibinder_internal.h
+++ b/libs/binder/ndk/ibinder_internal.h
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@
 
    private:
     std::optional<bool> associateClassInternal(const AIBinder_Class* clazz,
-                                               const ::android::String8& newDescriptor, bool set);
+                                               const ::android::String16& newDescriptor, bool set);
 
     // AIBinder instance is instance of this class for a local object. In order to transact on a
     // remote object, this also must be set for simplicity (although right now, only the