diff --git a/src/emu/emuopts.cpp b/src/emu/emuopts.cpp
index 25c30abf1e4..627b4b0a991 100644
--- a/src/emu/emuopts.cpp
+++ b/src/emu/emuopts.cpp
@@ -278,15 +278,15 @@ void emu_options::update_slot_options()
 	for (device_slot_interface *slot = iter.first(); slot != nullptr; slot = iter.next())
 	{
 		// retrieve info about the device instance
-		const char *name = slot->device().tag().c_str() + 1;
-		if (exists(name) && slot->first_option() != nullptr)
+		std::string name(slot->device().tag().c_str()+1);
+		if (exists(name.c_str()) && slot->first_option() != nullptr)
 		{
 			std::string defvalue = slot->get_default_card_software();
 			if (defvalue.length() > 0)
 			{
-				set_default_value(name, defvalue.c_str());
+				set_default_value(name.c_str(), defvalue.c_str());
 				const device_slot_option *option = slot->option(defvalue.c_str());
-				set_flag(name, ~OPTION_FLAG_INTERNAL, (option != nullptr && !option->selectable()) ? OPTION_FLAG_INTERNAL : 0);
+				set_flag(name.c_str(), ~OPTION_FLAG_INTERNAL, (option != nullptr && !option->selectable()) ? OPTION_FLAG_INTERNAL : 0);
 			}
 		}
 	}