diff --git a/tools/libxl/libxl_dm.c b/tools/libxl/libxl_dm.c
index 7a81cbfe26..1ba7fe5b5e 100644
--- a/tools/libxl/libxl_dm.c
+++ b/tools/libxl/libxl_dm.c
@@ -68,12 +68,12 @@ const char *libxl__domain_device_model(libxl__gc *gc,
     return dm;
 }
 
-static char *libxl__domain_bios(libxl__gc *gc,
+static const char *libxl__domain_bios(libxl__gc *gc,
                                 libxl_device_model_info *info)
 {
     switch (info->device_model_version) {
-    case 1: return libxl__strdup(gc, "rombios");
-    case 2: return libxl__strdup(gc, "seabios");
+    case 1: return "rombios";
+    case 2: return "seabios";
     default:return NULL;
     }
 }
diff --git a/tools/libxl/libxl_internal.h b/tools/libxl/libxl_internal.h
index 8d25ef48a2..b032e7fa8e 100644
--- a/tools/libxl/libxl_internal.h
+++ b/tools/libxl/libxl_internal.h
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ _hidden char **libxl__xs_kvs_of_flexarray(libxl__gc *gc, flexarray_t *array, int
 _hidden int libxl__xs_writev(libxl__gc *gc, xs_transaction_t t,
                     char *dir, char **kvs);
 _hidden int libxl__xs_write(libxl__gc *gc, xs_transaction_t t,
-                   char *path, char *fmt, ...) PRINTF_ATTRIBUTE(4, 5);
+                   char *path, const char *fmt, ...) PRINTF_ATTRIBUTE(4, 5);
    /* Each fn returns 0 on success.
     * On error: returns -1, sets errno (no logging) */
 
diff --git a/tools/libxl/libxl_xshelp.c b/tools/libxl/libxl_xshelp.c
index 3dc9239bcb..1df377c707 100644
--- a/tools/libxl/libxl_xshelp.c
+++ b/tools/libxl/libxl_xshelp.c
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ int libxl__xs_writev(libxl__gc *gc, xs_transaction_t t,
 }
 
 int libxl__xs_write(libxl__gc *gc, xs_transaction_t t,
-                   char *path, char *fmt, ...)
+                   char *path, const char *fmt, ...)
 {
     libxl_ctx *ctx = libxl__gc_owner(gc);
     char *s;