diff --git a/version.c b/version.c
index f3c687dedb..e8dd4c7f46 100644
--- a/version.c
+++ b/version.c
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 #endif
 
 #define PRINT(type) puts(ruby_##type)
-#define MKSTR(type) rb_obj_freeze(rb_usascii_str_new(ruby_##type, sizeof(ruby_##type)-1))
+#define MKSTR(type) rb_obj_freeze(rb_usascii_str_new_static(ruby_##type, sizeof(ruby_##type)-1))
 
 const int ruby_api_version[] = {
     RUBY_API_VERSION_MAJOR,