diff --git a/include/kernel.h b/include/kernel.h
index b4153ff5f9c..9ea145afe86 100644
--- a/include/kernel.h
+++ b/include/kernel.h
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ enum k_objects {
 /* Table generated by gperf, these objects are retrieved via
  * z_object_find() */
 struct _k_object {
-	char *name;
+	void *name;
 	u8_t perms[CONFIG_MAX_THREAD_BYTES];
 	u8_t type;
 	u8_t flags;