diff --git a/lib/netrc.c b/lib/netrc.c
index 78c117512..ac6b5402b 100644
--- a/lib/netrc.c
+++ b/lib/netrc.c
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ enum {
 #define PASSWORDSIZE 64
 
 /* returns -1 on failure, 0 if the host is found, 1 is the host isn't found */
-int Curl_parsenetrc(char *host,
+int Curl_parsenetrc(const char *host,
                     char *login,
                     char *password,
                     char *netrcfile)
diff --git a/lib/netrc.h b/lib/netrc.h
index 939c552df..a82b3fc35 100644
--- a/lib/netrc.h
+++ b/lib/netrc.h
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
  *
  * $Id$
  ***************************************************************************/
-int Curl_parsenetrc(char *host,
+int Curl_parsenetrc(const char *host,
                     char *login,
                     char *password,
                     char *filename);