diff --git a/Source/cmDocumentation.cxx b/Source/cmDocumentation.cxx
index 9c27fc111..96b5f0449 100644
--- a/Source/cmDocumentation.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmDocumentation.cxx
@@ -477,9 +477,9 @@ bool cmDocumentation::CheckOptions(int argc, const char* const* argv,
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void cmDocumentation::SetName(const char* name)
+void cmDocumentation::SetName(const std::string& name)
 {
-  this->NameString = name?name:"";
+  this->NameString = name;
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/Source/cmDocumentation.h b/Source/cmDocumentation.h
index d5a7dd5eb..56a4151bd 100644
--- a/Source/cmDocumentation.h
+++ b/Source/cmDocumentation.h
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ public:
   void SetShowGenerators(bool showGen) { this->ShowGenerators = showGen; }
 
   /** Set the program name for standard document generation.  */
-  void SetName(const char* name);
+  void SetName(const std::string& name);
 
   /** Set a section of the documentation. Typical sections include Name,
       Usage, Description, Options */