diff --git a/lib/shared_memory.cpp b/lib/shared_memory.cpp
index a3e7de33..e595d246 100644
--- a/lib/shared_memory.cpp
+++ b/lib/shared_memory.cpp
@@ -56,7 +56,6 @@ namespace IPC {
 #else
     mySem = SEM_FAILED;
 #endif
-    myName = 0;
   }
 
   ///\brief Constructs a named semaphore
@@ -177,11 +176,11 @@ namespace IPC {
   void semaphore::unlink() {
     close();
 #ifndef __CYGWIN__
-    if (myName) {
-      sem_unlink(myName);
+    if (myName.size()) {
+      sem_unlink(myName.c_str());
     }
 #endif
-    myName = 0;
+    myName.clear();
   }
 
 
diff --git a/lib/shared_memory.h b/lib/shared_memory.h
index 2c58f4d7..744bd60d 100644
--- a/lib/shared_memory.h
+++ b/lib/shared_memory.h
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ namespace IPC {
 #else
       sem_t * mySem;
 #endif
-      char * myName;
+      std::string myName;
   };
 
   ///\brief A class used as a semaphore guard