diff --git a/uv-common.c b/uv-common.c
index 921ac20d..c5d04ecf 100644
--- a/uv-common.c
+++ b/uv-common.c
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 static uv_counters_t counters;
 
 
-uv_counters_t* const uv_counters() {
+uv_counters_t* uv_counters() {
   return &counters;
 }
 
diff --git a/uv.h b/uv.h
index cd48fde6..fd7b7312 100644
--- a/uv.h
+++ b/uv.h
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ typedef struct {
   uint64_t timer_init;
 } uv_counters_t;
 
-uv_counters_t* const uv_counters();
+uv_counters_t* uv_counters();
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }