diff --git a/src/console_cmds.cpp b/src/console_cmds.cpp
--- a/src/console_cmds.cpp
+++ b/src/console_cmds.cpp
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ DEF_CONSOLE_CMD(ConClearBuffer)
  * Network Core Console Commands
  **********************************/
 
-static bool ConKickOrBan(const char *argv, bool ban, const char *reason)
+static bool ConKickOrBan(const char *argv, bool ban, const std::string &reason)
 {
 	uint n;
 
@@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ DEF_CONSOLE_CMD(ConKick)
 	if (argc != 2 && argc != 3) return false;
 
 	/* No reason supplied for kicking */
-	if (argc == 2) return ConKickOrBan(argv[1], false, nullptr);
+	if (argc == 2) return ConKickOrBan(argv[1], false, {});
 
 	/* Reason for kicking supplied */
 	size_t kick_message_length = strlen(argv[2]);
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@ DEF_CONSOLE_CMD(ConBan)
 	if (argc != 2 && argc != 3) return false;
 
 	/* No reason supplied for kicking */
-	if (argc == 2) return ConKickOrBan(argv[1], true, nullptr);
+	if (argc == 2) return ConKickOrBan(argv[1], true, {});
 
 	/* Reason for kicking supplied */
 	size_t kick_message_length = strlen(argv[2]);