diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/types.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/types.h
index a77a02c95b..922e268e51 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/types.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/types.h
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ namespace ARDOUR {
 	typedef float                       gain_t;
 	typedef uint32_t                    layer_t;
 	typedef uint64_t                    id_t;
+	typedef const std::string &	    stringcr_t;
 
 	enum IOChange {
 		NoChange = 0,