diff --git a/src/set.cpp b/src/set.cpp
index bda5c51248..253e9118d3 100644
--- a/src/set.cpp
+++ b/src/set.cpp
@@ -1351,17 +1351,10 @@ void Set::topology(int keyword)
 
 /* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
-void Set::varparse(char *name, int m)
+void Set::varparse(const char *name, int m)
 {
   varflag = 1;
-
-  name = &name[2];
-  int n = strlen(name) + 1;
-  char *str = new char[n];
-  strcpy(str,name);
-
-  int ivar = input->variable->find(str);
-  delete [] str;
+  int ivar = input->variable->find(name+2);
 
   if (ivar < 0)
     error->all(FLERR,"Variable name for set command does not exist");
diff --git a/src/set.h b/src/set.h
index 6788849677..29f1ea526e 100644
--- a/src/set.h
+++ b/src/set.h
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class Set : protected Pointers {
   void set(int);
   void setrandom(int);
   void topology(int);
-  void varparse(char *, int);
+  void varparse(const char *, int);
 };
 
 }