diff --git a/code/nel/include/nel/misc/string_common.h b/code/nel/include/nel/misc/string_common.h
index d21b75d43..431b517d7 100644
--- a/code/nel/include/nel/misc/string_common.h
+++ b/code/nel/include/nel/misc/string_common.h
@@ -357,6 +357,9 @@ inline tstring mbcsToTStr(const std::string &str) { return (const tstring &)str;
 #define nlMbcsToTStr(str) ((const tchar *)NLMISC::asCStr(str))
 #endif
 
+inline const tchar* asCStr(const tchar *str) { return str; }
+inline const tchar* asCStr(const tstring &str) { return str.c_str(); }
+
 } // NLMISC
 
 #endif	// NL_STRING_COMMON_H