diff --git a/flight/PiOS/STM32F10x/pios_debug.c b/flight/PiOS/STM32F10x/pios_debug.c
index 8b4268f55..ecc93fad8 100644
--- a/flight/PiOS/STM32F10x/pios_debug.c
+++ b/flight/PiOS/STM32F10x/pios_debug.c
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 #include "pios.h"
 
 // Global variables
-const uint8_t* PIOS_DEBUG_AssertMsg = (uint8_t*)"ASSERT FAILED";
+const char* PIOS_DEBUG_AssertMsg = "ASSERT FAILED";
 
 /* Private Function Prototypes */
 
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ void PIOS_DEBUG_PinLow(uint8_t Pin)
 /**
  * Report a serious error and halt
  */
-void PIOS_DEBUG_Panic(const uint8_t* msg)
+void PIOS_DEBUG_Panic(const char* msg)
 {
 	register int *lr asm ("lr");	// Link-register holds the PC of the caller
 
diff --git a/flight/PiOS/inc/pios_debug.h b/flight/PiOS/inc/pios_debug.h
index fc2fd70f9..d66395837 100644
--- a/flight/PiOS/inc/pios_debug.h
+++ b/flight/PiOS/inc/pios_debug.h
@@ -26,12 +26,12 @@
 #ifndef PIOS_DEBUG_H
 #define PIOS_DEBUG_H
 
-extern const uint8_t* PIOS_DEBUG_AssertMsg;
+extern const char* PIOS_DEBUG_AssertMsg;
 
 void PIOS_DEBUG_Init(void);
 void PIOS_DEBUG_PinHigh(uint8_t pin);
 void PIOS_DEBUG_PinLow(uint8_t pin);
-void PIOS_DEBUG_Panic(const uint8_t* msg);
+void PIOS_DEBUG_Panic(const char* msg);
 
 #ifdef DEBUG
 	#define PIOS_DEBUG_Assert(test) if (!(test)) PIOS_DEBUG_Panic(PIOS_DEBUG_AssertMsg);