diff --git a/compiler/codegen/CodeGenPrep.cpp b/compiler/codegen/CodeGenPrep.cpp
index 444721df67d..5be23312363 100644
--- a/compiler/codegen/CodeGenPrep.cpp
+++ b/compiler/codegen/CodeGenPrep.cpp
@@ -806,7 +806,7 @@ OMR::CodeGenerator::insertDebugCounters()
             else
                {
                int32_t length;
-               char *className = TR::Compiler->cls.classNameChars(self()->comp(), (TR_OpaqueClassBlock*)classChild->getSymbol()->castToStaticSymbol()->getStaticAddress(), length);
+               const char *className = TR::Compiler->cls.classNameChars(self()->comp(), (TR_OpaqueClassBlock*)classChild->getSymbol()->castToStaticSymbol()->getStaticAddress(), length);
                TR::DebugCounter::prependDebugCounter(self()->comp(), TR::DebugCounter::debugCounterName(self()->comp(),
                   "allocations/%s/(%.*s)", opName, length, className
                   ), tt);
diff --git a/compiler/codegen/OMRCodeGenPhase.cpp b/compiler/codegen/OMRCodeGenPhase.cpp
index 6d266ecf1d0..8bf2997ba2d 100644
--- a/compiler/codegen/OMRCodeGenPhase.cpp
+++ b/compiler/codegen/OMRCodeGenPhase.cpp
@@ -214,11 +214,11 @@ OMR::CodeGenPhase::performProcessRelocationsPhase(TR::CodeGenerator * cg, TR::Co
       {
       if (cg->comp()->target().is64Bit())
          {
-         setDllSlip((char*)cg->getCodeStart(), (char*)cg->getCodeStart() + cg->getCodeLength(), "SLIPDLL64", comp);
+         setDllSlip((const char *)cg->getCodeStart(), (const char *)cg->getCodeStart() + cg->getCodeLength(), "SLIPDLL64", comp);
          }
       else
          {
-         setDllSlip((char*)cg->getCodeStart(), (char*)cg->getCodeStart() + cg->getCodeLength(), "SLIPDLL31", comp);
+         setDllSlip((const char *)cg->getCodeStart(), (const char *)cg->getCodeStart() + cg->getCodeLength(), "SLIPDLL31", comp);
          }
       }
 
diff --git a/compiler/env/FEBase.cpp b/compiler/env/FEBase.cpp
index 9fb9fd6c545..a2a45a18ac3 100644
--- a/compiler/env/FEBase.cpp
+++ b/compiler/env/FEBase.cpp
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ TR::OptionTable OMR::Options::_feOptions[] =
 
 // S390 specific fucntion - FIXME: make this only be a problem when HOST is s390.  Also, use a better
 // name for this
-void setDllSlip(char*CodeStart,char*CodeEnd,char*dllName,  TR::Compilation *comp) { TR_UNIMPLEMENTED(); }
+void setDllSlip(const char *CodeStart, const char *CodeEnd, const char *dllName, TR::Compilation *comp) { TR_UNIMPLEMENTED(); }
 
 // runtime assumptions
 #ifdef J9_PROJECT_SPECIFIC
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ void TR::PatchNOPedGuardSite::compensate(TR_FrontEnd *fe, bool isSMP, uint8_t *l
 void TR_PersistentClassInfo::removeASubClass(TR_PersistentClassInfo *) { TR_UNIMPLEMENTED(); }
 bool isOrderedPair(uint8_t recordType) { TR_UNIMPLEMENTED(); return false; }
 void OMR::RuntimeAssumption::addToRAT(TR_PersistentMemory * persistentMemory, TR_RuntimeAssumptionKind kind, TR_FrontEnd *fe, OMR::RuntimeAssumption** sentinel) { TR_UNIMPLEMENTED(); }
-void OMR::RuntimeAssumption::dumpInfo(char *subclassName) { TR_UNIMPLEMENTED(); }
+void OMR::RuntimeAssumption::dumpInfo(const char *subclassName) { TR_UNIMPLEMENTED(); }
 void TR_PatchJNICallSite::compensate(TR_FrontEnd*, bool, void *) { TR_UNIMPLEMENTED(); }
 void TR_PreXRecompile::compensate(TR_FrontEnd*, bool, void *) { TR_UNIMPLEMENTED(); }
 TR_PatchNOPedGuardSiteOnClassPreInitialize *TR_PatchNOPedGuardSiteOnClassPreInitialize::make(TR_FrontEnd *fe, TR_PersistentMemory *, char*, unsigned int, unsigned char*, unsigned char*, OMR::RuntimeAssumption**) { TR_UNIMPLEMENTED(); return 0; }
diff --git a/compiler/env/FrontEnd.cpp b/compiler/env/FrontEnd.cpp
index f16737f4561..a30bd18ac30 100644
--- a/compiler/env/FrontEnd.cpp
+++ b/compiler/env/FrontEnd.cpp
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ TR_FrontEnd::getFormattedName(
 
 
 TR_OpaqueMethodBlock*
-TR_FrontEnd::getMethodFromName(char * className, char *methodName, char *signature)
+TR_FrontEnd::getMethodFromName(const char *className, const char *methodName, const char *signature)
    {
    TR_UNIMPLEMENTED();
    return 0;
diff --git a/compiler/env/FrontEnd.hpp b/compiler/env/FrontEnd.hpp
index f4d298c5590..1c2731a82ef 100644
--- a/compiler/env/FrontEnd.hpp
+++ b/compiler/env/FrontEnd.hpp
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ class TR_FrontEnd : private TR::Uncopyable
    virtual TR_ResolvedMethod * createResolvedMethod(TR_Memory *, TR_OpaqueMethodBlock *, TR_ResolvedMethod * = 0, TR_OpaqueClassBlock * = 0);
    virtual OMR::MethodMetaDataPOD *createMethodMetaData(TR::Compilation *comp) { return NULL; }
 
-   virtual TR_OpaqueMethodBlock * getMethodFromName(char * className, char *methodName, char *signature);
+   virtual TR_OpaqueMethodBlock * getMethodFromName(const char *className, const char *methodName, const char *signature);
    virtual uint32_t offsetOfIsOverriddenBit();
 
    // Needs VMThread
diff --git a/compiler/env/OMRClassEnv.cpp b/compiler/env/OMRClassEnv.cpp
index 3ec185b1e07..e9a898da381 100644
--- a/compiler/env/OMRClassEnv.cpp
+++ b/compiler/env/OMRClassEnv.cpp
@@ -33,23 +33,23 @@ OMR::ClassEnv::self()
    return static_cast<TR::ClassEnv *>(this);
    }
 
-char *
-OMR::ClassEnv::classNameChars(TR::Compilation *comp, TR::SymbolReference *symRef, int32_t & len)
+const char *
+OMR::ClassEnv::classNameChars(TR::Compilation *comp, TR::SymbolReference *symRef, int32_t &len)
    {
-   char *name = "<no class name>";
+   const char *name = "<no class name>";
    len = static_cast<int32_t>(strlen(name));
    return name;
    }
 
 uintptr_t
-OMR::ClassEnv::getArrayElementWidthInBytes(TR::Compilation *comp, TR_OpaqueClassBlock* arrayClass)
+OMR::ClassEnv::getArrayElementWidthInBytes(TR::Compilation *comp, TR_OpaqueClassBlock *arrayClass)
    {
    TR_UNIMPLEMENTED();
    return 0;
    }
 
 intptr_t
-OMR::ClassEnv::getVFTEntry(TR::Compilation *comp, TR_OpaqueClassBlock* clazz, int32_t offset)
+OMR::ClassEnv::getVFTEntry(TR::Compilation *comp, TR_OpaqueClassBlock *clazz, int32_t offset)
    {
    // There is no project-agnostic way to determine whether or not offset is a
    // valid VFT offset for clazz, so return 0 to be safe. If offset were valid,
diff --git a/compiler/env/OMRClassEnv.hpp b/compiler/env/OMRClassEnv.hpp
index 75f54e2b9eb..a6d1937c76c 100644
--- a/compiler/env/OMRClassEnv.hpp
+++ b/compiler/env/OMRClassEnv.hpp
@@ -156,8 +156,8 @@ class OMR_EXTENSIBLE ClassEnv
    int32_t flagValueForArrayCheck(TR::Compilation *comp) { return 0; }
    int32_t flagValueForFinalizerCheck(TR::Compilation *comp) { return 0; }
 
-   char *classNameChars(TR::Compilation *, TR::SymbolReference *symRef, int32_t & length);
-   char *classNameChars(TR::Compilation *, TR_OpaqueClassBlock * clazz, int32_t & length) { return NULL; }
+   const char *classNameChars(TR::Compilation *, TR::SymbolReference *symRef, int32_t &length);
+   const char *classNameChars(TR::Compilation *, TR_OpaqueClassBlock *clazz, int32_t &length) { return NULL; }
 
    char *classSignature_DEPRECATED(TR::Compilation *comp, TR_OpaqueClassBlock * clazz, int32_t & length, TR_Memory *) { return NULL; }
    char *classSignature(TR::Compilation *comp, TR_OpaqueClassBlock * clazz, TR_Memory *) { return NULL; }
diff --git a/compiler/optimizer/Inliner.cpp b/compiler/optimizer/Inliner.cpp
index d453a6cc6f9..11556845a81 100644
--- a/compiler/optimizer/Inliner.cpp
+++ b/compiler/optimizer/Inliner.cpp
@@ -5729,7 +5729,7 @@ TR_CallSite::calleeClass()
       TR::StackMemoryRegion stackMemoryRegion(*_comp->trMemory());
 
       int32_t len = _interfaceMethod->classNameLength();
-      char * s = TR::Compiler->cls.classNameToSignature(_interfaceMethod->classNameChars(), len, _comp, stackAlloc);
+      char *s = TR::Compiler->cls.classNameToSignature(_interfaceMethod->classNameChars(), len, _comp, stackAlloc);
       TR_OpaqueClassBlock *result = _comp->fe()->getClassFromSignature(s, len, _callerResolvedMethod, true);
 
       return result;
diff --git a/compiler/optimizer/LocalOpts.cpp b/compiler/optimizer/LocalOpts.cpp
index 635142c21f5..fcc1e36f14e 100644
--- a/compiler/optimizer/LocalOpts.cpp
+++ b/compiler/optimizer/LocalOpts.cpp
@@ -8680,7 +8680,7 @@ TR_ColdBlockMarker::hasNotYetRun(TR::Node *node)
           node->getOpCodeValue() == TR::loadaddr)
          {
          int32_t len;
-         char *name = TR::Compiler->cls.classNameChars(comp(), node->getSymbolReference(), len);
+         const char *name = TR::Compiler->cls.classNameChars(comp(), node->getSymbolReference(), len);
          if (name)
             {
             TR::HeuristicRegion heuristicRegion(comp());
diff --git a/compiler/optimizer/VPConstraint.cpp b/compiler/optimizer/VPConstraint.cpp
index 3698c5ad963..a3e5229eafb 100644
--- a/compiler/optimizer/VPConstraint.cpp
+++ b/compiler/optimizer/VPConstraint.cpp
@@ -1247,7 +1247,7 @@ TR::VPClassType *TR::VPClassType::create(OMR::ValuePropagation *vp, TR::SymbolRe
       }
 
    int32_t len;
-   char *name = TR::Compiler->cls.classNameChars(vp->comp(), symRef, len);
+   const char *name = TR::Compiler->cls.classNameChars(vp->comp(), symRef, len);
    TR_ASSERT(name, "can't get class name from symbol reference");
    char *sig = TR::Compiler->cls.classNameToSignature(name, len, vp->comp());
    //return TR::VPUnresolvedClass::create(vp, sig, len, symRef->getOwningMethod(vp->comp()));
diff --git a/compiler/optimizer/ValuePropagationCommon.cpp b/compiler/optimizer/ValuePropagationCommon.cpp
index 3edf3e9a9fb..e8ed7ca9463 100644
--- a/compiler/optimizer/ValuePropagationCommon.cpp
+++ b/compiler/optimizer/ValuePropagationCommon.cpp
@@ -3908,7 +3908,7 @@ void OMR::ValuePropagation::transformObjectCloneCall(TR::TreeTop *callTree, OMR:
 
    TR::DebugCounter::prependDebugCounter(comp(), TR::DebugCounter::debugCounterName(comp(), "inlineClone.location/object/(%s)", comp()->signature()), callTree);
    int32_t classNameLength;
-   char *className = TR::Compiler->cls.classNameChars(comp(), j9class, classNameLength);
+   const char *className = TR::Compiler->cls.classNameChars(comp(), j9class, classNameLength);
    TR::DebugCounter::prependDebugCounter(comp(), TR::DebugCounter::debugCounterName(comp(), "inlineClone.type/(%s)/(%s)/%s", className, comp()->signature(), comp()->getHotnessName(comp()->getMethodHotness())), callTree);
 
     // Preserve children for callNode
@@ -4031,7 +4031,7 @@ void OMR::ValuePropagation::transformArrayCloneCall(TR::TreeTop *callTree, OMR::
 
    TR::DebugCounter::prependDebugCounter(comp(), TR::DebugCounter::debugCounterName(comp(), "inlineClone.location/array/(%s)", comp()->signature()), callTree);
    int32_t classNameLength;
-   char *className = TR::Compiler->cls.classNameChars(comp(), j9arrayClass, classNameLength);
+   const char *className = TR::Compiler->cls.classNameChars(comp(), j9arrayClass, classNameLength);
    TR::DebugCounter::prependDebugCounter(comp(), TR::DebugCounter::debugCounterName(comp(), "inlineClone.type/(%s)/(%s)/%s", className, comp()->signature(), comp()->getHotnessName(comp()->getMethodHotness())), callTree);
    TR::Node *lenNode = TR::Node::create(callNode, TR::arraylength, 1, objNode);
     // Preserve children for callNode
diff --git a/compiler/p/codegen/PPCTableOfConstants.cpp b/compiler/p/codegen/PPCTableOfConstants.cpp
index c280ecf634a..81798c04773 100644
--- a/compiler/p/codegen/PPCTableOfConstants.cpp
+++ b/compiler/p/codegen/PPCTableOfConstants.cpp
@@ -525,7 +525,7 @@ int32_t TR_PPCTableOfConstants::lookUp(TR::SymbolReference *symRef, TR::CodeGene
 
       if (sym->isClassObject())
          {
-         int8_t *className;
+         const char *className;
          if (sym->addressIsCPIndexOfStatic())
             {
             struct TR_tocHashEntry st2cEntry;
@@ -541,16 +541,16 @@ int32_t TR_PPCTableOfConstants::lookUp(TR::SymbolReference *symRef, TR::CodeGene
             }
          else
             {
-            className = (int8_t *)TR::Compiler->cls.classNameChars(comp, symRef, nlen);
+            className = TR::Compiler->cls.classNameChars(comp, symRef, nlen);
             }
 
-         TR_ASSERT(className!=NULL, "Class object name is expected");
+         TR_ASSERT(className != NULL, "Class object name is expected");
 
          if (nlen >= 1024)
             {
             name = (int8_t *)cg->trMemory()->allocateHeapMemory(nlen+1);
             }
-         strncpy((char *)name, (char *)className, nlen);
+         strncpy((char *)name, className, nlen);
          name[nlen] = 0;
          }
       else
diff --git a/compiler/ras/Debug.cpp b/compiler/ras/Debug.cpp
index 891be089d15..f81aaad23fd 100644
--- a/compiler/ras/Debug.cpp
+++ b/compiler/ras/Debug.cpp
@@ -1915,7 +1915,7 @@ TR_Debug::getStaticName(TR::SymbolReference * symRef)
       if (!sym->addressIsCPIndexOfStatic() && staticAddress)
          {
          int32_t len;
-         char * name = TR::Compiler->cls.classNameChars(comp(), symRef, len);
+         const char *name = TR::Compiler->cls.classNameChars(comp(), symRef, len);
          if (name)
             {
             char * s = (char *)_comp->trMemory()->allocateHeapMemory(len+1);
@@ -3624,7 +3624,7 @@ TR_Debug::dump(TR::FILE *pOutFile, TR_CHTable * chTable)
          TR_OpaqueClassBlock * clazz = chTable->_classes->element(i);
          int32_t len;
 
-         char *sig = TR::Compiler->cls.classNameChars(comp(), clazz, len);
+         const char *sig = TR::Compiler->cls.classNameChars(comp(), clazz, len);
 
          if (len>255) len = 255;
          strncpy(buf, sig, len);
diff --git a/compiler/ras/Tree.cpp b/compiler/ras/Tree.cpp
index e7a4273187d..05712e207d2 100644
--- a/compiler/ras/Tree.cpp
+++ b/compiler/ras/Tree.cpp
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ TR_Debug::printLoadConst(TR::Node *node, TR_PrettyPrinterString& output)
          if (node->isClassPointerConstant())
             {
             TR_OpaqueClassBlock *clazz = (TR_OpaqueClassBlock*)node->getAddress();
-            int32_t len; char *sig = TR::Compiler->cls.classNameChars(_comp, clazz, len);
+            int32_t len; const char *sig = TR::Compiler->cls.classNameChars(_comp, clazz, len);
             if (clazz)
                {
                if (TR::Compiler->cls.isInterfaceClass(_comp, clazz))
diff --git a/compiler/runtime/Runtime.hpp b/compiler/runtime/Runtime.hpp
index 2b875327508..4dd85162a4d 100644
--- a/compiler/runtime/Runtime.hpp
+++ b/compiler/runtime/Runtime.hpp
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ void s390zLinux64CodeCacheParameters(int32_t *, void **, int32_t *, int32_t*);
 
 uint32_t getPPCCacheLineSize();
 
-extern void setDllSlip(char* codeStart,char* codeEnd,char* dllName, TR::Compilation *);
+extern void setDllSlip(const char *codeStart, const char *codeEnd, const char *dllName, TR::Compilation *);
 
 void initializeJitRuntimeHelperTable(char jvmpi);