diff --git a/src/conf/domain_conf.c b/src/conf/domain_conf.c
index c7d215fc57..4fa4313687 100644
--- a/src/conf/domain_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/domain_conf.c
@@ -13064,7 +13064,7 @@ virDomainNetGetActualType(virDomainNetDefPtr iface)
     return iface->data.network.actual->type;
 }
 
-char *
+const char *
 virDomainNetGetActualBridgeName(virDomainNetDefPtr iface)
 {
     if (iface->type == VIR_DOMAIN_NET_TYPE_BRIDGE)
@@ -13076,7 +13076,7 @@ virDomainNetGetActualBridgeName(virDomainNetDefPtr iface)
     return iface->data.network.actual->data.bridge.brname;
 }
 
-char *
+const char *
 virDomainNetGetActualDirectDev(virDomainNetDefPtr iface)
 {
     if (iface->type == VIR_DOMAIN_NET_TYPE_DIRECT)
diff --git a/src/conf/domain_conf.h b/src/conf/domain_conf.h
index 9528199bfb..4e86d30eab 100644
--- a/src/conf/domain_conf.h
+++ b/src/conf/domain_conf.h
@@ -1794,8 +1794,8 @@ int virDomainGraphicsListenSetNetwork(virDomainGraphicsDefPtr def,
             ATTRIBUTE_NONNULL(1);
 
 int virDomainNetGetActualType(virDomainNetDefPtr iface);
-char *virDomainNetGetActualBridgeName(virDomainNetDefPtr iface);
-char *virDomainNetGetActualDirectDev(virDomainNetDefPtr iface);
+const char *virDomainNetGetActualBridgeName(virDomainNetDefPtr iface);
+const char *virDomainNetGetActualDirectDev(virDomainNetDefPtr iface);
 int virDomainNetGetActualDirectMode(virDomainNetDefPtr iface);
 virNetDevVPortProfilePtr
 virDomainNetGetActualDirectVirtPortProfile(virDomainNetDefPtr iface);
diff --git a/src/network/bridge_driver.c b/src/network/bridge_driver.c
index 7bea465bfc..c49c25b844 100644
--- a/src/network/bridge_driver.c
+++ b/src/network/bridge_driver.c
@@ -2899,7 +2899,7 @@ networkNotifyActualDevice(virDomainNetDefPtr iface)
     struct network_driver *driver = driverState;
     virNetworkObjPtr network;
     virNetworkDefPtr netdef;
-    char *actualDev;
+    const char *actualDev;
     int ret = -1;
 
     if (iface->type != VIR_DOMAIN_NET_TYPE_NETWORK)
@@ -2925,8 +2925,8 @@ networkNotifyActualDevice(virDomainNetDefPtr iface)
     if (!actualDev) {
         networkReportError(VIR_ERR_INTERNAL_ERROR,
                            "%s", _("the interface uses a direct mode, but has no source dev"));
-            goto cleanup;
-        }
+        goto cleanup;
+    }
 
     netdef = network->def;
     if (netdef->nForwardIfs == 0) {
@@ -2999,7 +2999,7 @@ networkReleaseActualDevice(virDomainNetDefPtr iface)
     struct network_driver *driver = driverState;
     virNetworkObjPtr network = NULL;
     virNetworkDefPtr netdef;
-    char *actualDev;
+    const char *actualDev;
     int ret = -1;
 
     if (iface->type != VIR_DOMAIN_NET_TYPE_NETWORK)
@@ -3026,8 +3026,8 @@ networkReleaseActualDevice(virDomainNetDefPtr iface)
     if (!actualDev) {
         networkReportError(VIR_ERR_INTERNAL_ERROR,
                            "%s", _("the interface uses a direct mode, but has no source dev"));
-            goto cleanup;
-        }
+        goto cleanup;
+    }
 
     netdef = network->def;
     if (netdef->nForwardIfs == 0) {