diff --git a/code/parse/parselo.cpp b/code/parse/parselo.cpp
index 9f2f7be6fb..3544902a1f 100644
--- a/code/parse/parselo.cpp
+++ b/code/parse/parselo.cpp
@@ -519,7 +519,7 @@ int check_for_eoln()
 
 // similar to optional_string, but just checks if next token is a match.
 // It doesn't advance Mp except to skip past white space.
-int check_for_string(char *pstr)
+int check_for_string(const char *pstr)
 {
 	ignore_white_space();
 
@@ -530,11 +530,10 @@ int check_for_string(char *pstr)
 }
 
 // like check for string, but doesn't skip past any whitespace
-int check_for_string_raw(char *pstr)
+int check_for_string_raw(const char *pstr)
 {
-	if (!strnicmp(pstr, Mp, strlen(pstr))){
+	if (!strnicmp(pstr, Mp, strlen(pstr)))
 		return 1;
-	}
 
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/code/parse/parselo.h b/code/parse/parselo.h
index 23a1b5d92d..955381764c 100644
--- a/code/parse/parselo.h
+++ b/code/parse/parselo.h
@@ -164,8 +164,8 @@ extern void stuff_parenthesized_vec3d(vec3d *vp);
 extern void stuff_boolean(int *i, bool a_to_eol=true);
 extern void stuff_boolean(bool *b, bool a_to_eol=true);
 extern void stuff_boolean_flag(int *i, int flag, bool a_to_eol=true);
-extern int check_for_string(char *pstr);
-extern int check_for_string_raw(char *pstr);
+extern int check_for_string(const char *pstr);
+extern int check_for_string_raw(const char *pstr);
 extern int check_for_eof();
 extern int check_for_eoln();