diff --git a/headers/modsecurity/rules_exceptions.h b/headers/modsecurity/rules_exceptions.h
index 8d513e76..8395048d 100644
--- a/headers/modsecurity/rules_exceptions.h
+++ b/headers/modsecurity/rules_exceptions.h
@@ -53,8 +53,8 @@ class RulesExceptions {
     bool contains(int a);
     bool merge(RulesExceptions *from);
 
-    bool loadRemoveRuleByMsg(const std::string &msg, std::string *error);
-    bool loadRemoveRuleByTag(const std::string &msg, std::string *error);
+    bool loadRemoveRuleByMsg(const std::string &msg, const std::string *error);
+    bool loadRemoveRuleByTag(const std::string &msg, const std::string *error);
 
     bool loadUpdateTargetByMsg(const std::string &msg,
         std::unique_ptr<std::vector<std::unique_ptr<variables::Variable> > > v,
diff --git a/src/rules_exceptions.cc b/src/rules_exceptions.cc
index 1545571c..2fb0cf85 100644
--- a/src/rules_exceptions.cc
+++ b/src/rules_exceptions.cc
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ bool RulesExceptions::loadUpdateActionById(double id,
 
 
 bool RulesExceptions::loadRemoveRuleByMsg(const std::string &msg,
-    std::string *error) {
+    const std::string *error) {
     m_remove_rule_by_msg.push_back(msg);
 
     return true;
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ bool RulesExceptions::loadRemoveRuleByMsg(const std::string &msg,
 
 
 bool RulesExceptions::loadRemoveRuleByTag(const std::string &msg,
-    std::string *error) {
+    const std::string *error) {
     m_remove_rule_by_tag.push_back(msg);
 
     return true;