diff --git a/Source/cmGeneratedFileStream.cxx b/Source/cmGeneratedFileStream.cxx
index 34efc159b..78ad4b2e5 100644
--- a/Source/cmGeneratedFileStream.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGeneratedFileStream.cxx
@@ -249,12 +249,7 @@ int cmGeneratedFileStreamBase::RenameFile(const char* oldname,
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void cmGeneratedFileStream::SetName(const char* fname)
+void cmGeneratedFileStream::SetName(const std::string& fname)
 {
-  if ( !fname )
-    {
-    this->Name = "";
-    return;
-    }
   this->Name = fname;
 }
diff --git a/Source/cmGeneratedFileStream.h b/Source/cmGeneratedFileStream.h
index 99f3b476d..7adee7b7d 100644
--- a/Source/cmGeneratedFileStream.h
+++ b/Source/cmGeneratedFileStream.h
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ public:
    * Set name of the file that will hold the actual output. This method allows
    * the output file to be changed during the use of cmGeneratedFileStream.
    */
-  void SetName(const char* fname);
+  void SetName(const std::string& fname);
 
 private:
   cmGeneratedFileStream(cmGeneratedFileStream const&); // not implemented