diff --git a/src/generic/datectlg.cpp b/src/generic/datectlg.cpp
index 7ee0b66c88..869ef3aad8 100644
--- a/src/generic/datectlg.cpp
+++ b/src/generic/datectlg.cpp
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ public:
 
         if ( !s.empty() )
         {
-            pDt->ParseFormat(s.c_str(), m_format);
+            pDt->ParseFormat(s, m_format);
             if ( !pDt->IsValid() )
                 return false;
         }