diff --git a/include/wx/textbuf.h b/include/wx/textbuf.h
index f768a56324..fae3b12095 100644
--- a/include/wx/textbuf.h
+++ b/include/wx/textbuf.h
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ public:
     wxTextFileType GuessType() const;
 
     // get the name of the buffer
-    const wxChar *GetName() const { return m_strBufferName.c_str(); }
+    const wxString& GetName() const { return m_strBufferName; }
 
     // add/remove lines
     // ----------------