diff --git a/libs/renderengine/gl/GLExtensions.cpp b/libs/renderengine/gl/GLExtensions.cpp
index 3dd534e..b479400 100644
--- a/libs/renderengine/gl/GLExtensions.cpp
+++ b/libs/renderengine/gl/GLExtensions.cpp
@@ -68,19 +68,19 @@
 }
 
 char const* GLExtensions::getVendor() const {
-    return mVendor.string();
+    return mVendor.c_str();
 }
 
 char const* GLExtensions::getRenderer() const {
-    return mRenderer.string();
+    return mRenderer.c_str();
 }
 
 char const* GLExtensions::getVersion() const {
-    return mVersion.string();
+    return mVersion.c_str();
 }
 
 char const* GLExtensions::getExtensions() const {
-    return mExtensions.string();
+    return mExtensions.c_str();
 }
 
 void GLExtensions::initWithEGLStrings(char const* eglVersion, char const* eglExtensions) {
@@ -127,11 +127,11 @@
 }
 
 char const* GLExtensions::getEGLVersion() const {
-    return mEGLVersion.string();
+    return mEGLVersion.c_str();
 }
 
 char const* GLExtensions::getEGLExtensions() const {
-    return mEGLExtensions.string();
+    return mEGLExtensions.c_str();
 }
 
 } // namespace gl
diff --git a/libs/renderengine/gl/ProgramCache.cpp b/libs/renderengine/gl/ProgramCache.cpp
index f7f2d54..422b070 100644
--- a/libs/renderengine/gl/ProgramCache.cpp
+++ b/libs/renderengine/gl/ProgramCache.cpp
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
         return out;
     }
     friend inline Formatter& operator<<(Formatter& out, const String8& in) {
-        return operator<<(out, in.string());
+        return operator<<(out, in.c_str());
     }
     friend inline Formatter& operator<<(Formatter& to, FormaterManipFunc func) {
         return (*func)(to);
@@ -797,7 +797,7 @@
     // fragment shader
     String8 fs = generateFragmentShader(needs);
 
-    return std::make_unique<Program>(needs, vs.string(), fs.string());
+    return std::make_unique<Program>(needs, vs.c_str(), fs.c_str());
 }
 
 void ProgramCache::useProgram(EGLContext context, const Description& description) {