diff --git a/src/corelib/kernel/qobject.h b/src/corelib/kernel/qobject.h
index 6f5d574f705..6a8088ef129 100644
--- a/src/corelib/kernel/qobject.h
+++ b/src/corelib/kernel/qobject.h
@@ -285,7 +285,10 @@ public:
 
     //connect to a functor
     template <typename Func1, typename Func2>
-    static inline typename std::enable_if<QtPrivate::FunctionPointer<Func2>::ArgumentCount == -1, QMetaObject::Connection>::type
+    static inline typename std::enable_if<
+        QtPrivate::FunctionPointer<Func2>::ArgumentCount == -1 &&
+        !std::is_convertible_v<Func2, const char*>, // don't match old-style connect
+    QMetaObject::Connection>::type
             connect(const typename QtPrivate::FunctionPointer<Func1>::Object *sender, Func1 signal, Func2 slot)
     {
         return connect(sender, signal, sender, std::move(slot), Qt::DirectConnection);
@@ -293,7 +296,10 @@ public:
 
     //connect to a functor, with a "context" object defining in which event loop is going to be executed
     template <typename Func1, typename Func2>
-    static inline typename std::enable_if<QtPrivate::FunctionPointer<Func2>::ArgumentCount == -1, QMetaObject::Connection>::type
+    static inline typename std::enable_if<
+        QtPrivate::FunctionPointer<Func2>::ArgumentCount == -1 &&
+        !std::is_convertible_v<Func2, const char*>, // don't match old-style connect
+    QMetaObject::Connection>::type
             connect(const typename QtPrivate::FunctionPointer<Func1>::Object *sender, Func1 signal, const QObject *context, Func2 slot,
                     Qt::ConnectionType type = Qt::AutoConnection)
     {