diff --git a/src/gtk/taskbar.cpp b/src/gtk/taskbar.cpp
index 03bee569c7..87af558886 100644
--- a/src/gtk/taskbar.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk/taskbar.cpp
@@ -197,9 +197,9 @@ void wxTaskBarIcon::Private::SetIcon()
         }
     }
 #if wxUSE_TOOLTIPS
-    const char* tip_text = NULL;
+    const char *tip_text = NULL;
     if (!m_tipText.empty())
-        tip_text = m_tipText;
+        tip_text = m_tipText.c_str();
 
 #if GTK_CHECK_VERSION(2,10,0)
     if (m_statusIcon)