diff --git a/maxscale-system-test/maxscales.cpp b/maxscale-system-test/maxscales.cpp
index 12f6f28da..0ba8cab02 100644
--- a/maxscale-system-test/maxscales.cpp
+++ b/maxscale-system-test/maxscales.cpp
@@ -226,11 +226,11 @@ int Maxscales::stop_maxscale(int m)
 }
 
 
-int Maxscales::execute_maxadmin_command(int m, char * cmd)
+int Maxscales::execute_maxadmin_command(int m, const char * cmd)
 {
     return ssh_node_f(m, true, "maxadmin %s", cmd);
 }
-int Maxscales::execute_maxadmin_command_print(int m, char * cmd)
+int Maxscales::execute_maxadmin_command_print(int m, const char * cmd)
 {
     int exit_code;
     printf("%s\n", ssh_node_output_f(m, true, &exit_code,  "maxadmin %s", cmd));
diff --git a/maxscale-system-test/maxscales.h b/maxscale-system-test/maxscales.h
index 61edcf39e..44bd1faf6 100644
--- a/maxscale-system-test/maxscales.h
+++ b/maxscale-system-test/maxscales.h
@@ -215,8 +215,8 @@ public:
         return stop_maxscale(m);
     }
 
-    int execute_maxadmin_command(int m, char * cmd);
-    int execute_maxadmin_command_print(int m, char * cmd);
+    int execute_maxadmin_command(int m, const char * cmd);
+    int execute_maxadmin_command_print(int m, const char * cmd);
     int check_maxadmin_param(int m, const char *command, const  char *param, const  char *value);
     int get_maxadmin_param(int m, const char *command, const char *param, char *result);