diff --git a/libnativebridge/native_bridge.cc b/libnativebridge/native_bridge.cc
index 43e6c0a..eafc53d 100644
--- a/libnativebridge/native_bridge.cc
+++ b/libnativebridge/native_bridge.cc
@@ -551,15 +551,15 @@
   return -1;
 }
 
-char* NativeBridgeGetError() {
+const char* NativeBridgeGetError() {
   if (NativeBridgeInitialized()) {
     if (isCompatibleWith(NAMESPACE_VERSION)) {
       return callbacks->getError();
     } else {
-      ALOGE("not compatible with version %d, cannot get message", NAMESPACE_VERSION);
+      return "native bridge implementation is not compatible with version 3, cannot get message";
     }
   }
-  return nullptr;
+  return "native bridge is not initialized";
 }
 
 bool NativeBridgeIsPathSupported(const char* path) {
diff --git a/libnativebridge/tests/DummyNativeBridge3.cpp b/libnativebridge/tests/DummyNativeBridge3.cpp
index c538fa0..13fce85 100644
--- a/libnativebridge/tests/DummyNativeBridge3.cpp
+++ b/libnativebridge/tests/DummyNativeBridge3.cpp
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
   return 0;
 }
 
-extern "C" char* native_bridge3_getError() {
+extern "C" const char* native_bridge3_getError() {
   return nullptr;
 }