diff --git a/dtool/src/interrogate/interfaceMakerPythonNative.cxx b/dtool/src/interrogate/interfaceMakerPythonNative.cxx
index 0242377280..4b2148a74a 100644
--- a/dtool/src/interrogate/interfaceMakerPythonNative.cxx
+++ b/dtool/src/interrogate/interfaceMakerPythonNative.cxx
@@ -6415,8 +6415,9 @@ is_remap_legal(FunctionRemap *remap) {
   }
 
   // We don't currently support returning pointers, but we accept
-  // them as function parameters.
-  if (TypeManager::is_pointer_to_simple(remap->_return_type->get_orig_type())) {
+  // them as function parameters.  But const char * is an exception.
+  if (!remap->_return_type->new_type_is_atomic_string() &&
+      TypeManager::is_pointer_to_simple(remap->_return_type->get_orig_type())) {
     return false;
   }