diff --git a/drivers/tty/tty_io.c b/drivers/tty/tty_io.c
index e5695467598f..5a49a4a80ebd 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/tty_io.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/tty_io.c
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ static void tty_del_file(struct file *file)
  *	Locking: none
  */
 
-char *tty_name(struct tty_struct *tty, char *buf)
+const char *tty_name(const struct tty_struct *tty, char *buf)
 {
 	if (!tty) /* Hmm.  NULL pointer.  That's fun. */
 		strcpy(buf, "NULL tty");
diff --git a/include/linux/tty.h b/include/linux/tty.h
index fe5623c9af71..4cbecfc7b3c9 100644
--- a/include/linux/tty.h
+++ b/include/linux/tty.h
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ static inline struct tty_struct *tty_kref_get(struct tty_struct *tty)
 
 extern int tty_paranoia_check(struct tty_struct *tty, struct inode *inode,
 			      const char *routine);
-extern char *tty_name(struct tty_struct *tty, char *buf);
+extern const char *tty_name(const struct tty_struct *tty, char *buf);
 extern void tty_wait_until_sent(struct tty_struct *tty, long timeout);
 extern int tty_check_change(struct tty_struct *tty);
 extern void __stop_tty(struct tty_struct *tty);