diff --git a/src/c/all_symbols.d b/src/c/all_symbols.d
index 924df69a5..f4b312bcc 100644
--- a/src/c/all_symbols.d
+++ b/src/c/all_symbols.d
@@ -96,17 +96,17 @@ mangle_name(cl_object output, unsigned char *source, int l)
   if (is_symbol) {
     cl_fixnum p;
     if (symbol == ECL_NIL) {
-      @(return ECL_T ecl_make_constant_base_string("ECL_NIL",-1) minarg maxarg);
+      @(return ECL_T @"ECL_NIL" minarg maxarg);
     }
     else if (symbol == ECL_T) {
-      @(return ECL_T ecl_make_constant_base_string("ECL_T",-1) minarg maxarg);
+      @(return ECL_T @"ECL_T" minarg maxarg);
     }
 
     p  = (cl_symbol_initializer*)symbol - cl_symbols;
     if (p >= 0 && p <= cl_num_symbols_in_core) {
       found = ECL_T;
       output = cl_format(4, ECL_NIL,
-                         ecl_make_constant_base_string("ECL_SYM(~S,~D)",-1),
+                         @"ECL_SYM(~S,~D)",
                          name, ecl_make_fixnum(p));
 #ifndef ECL_FINAL
       /* XXX to allow the Lisp compiler to check that the narg
@@ -161,11 +161,11 @@ mangle_name(cl_object output, unsigned char *source, int l)
     ;
   }
   else if (package == cl_core.lisp_package)
-    package = ecl_make_constant_base_string("cl",-1);
+    package = @"cl";
   else if (package == cl_core.system_package)
-    package = ecl_make_constant_base_string("si",-1);
+    package = @"si";
   else if (package == cl_core.ext_package)
-    package = ecl_make_constant_base_string("si",-1);
+    package = @"si";
   else if (package == cl_core.keyword_package)
     package = ECL_NIL;
   else
diff --git a/src/c/alloc_2.d b/src/c/alloc_2.d
index 093072dee..c6c62c015 100644
--- a/src/c/alloc_2.d
+++ b/src/c/alloc_2.d
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ out_of_memory(size_t requested_bytes)
   switch (method) {
   case 0: cl_error(1, @'ext::storage-exhausted');
     break;
-  case 1: cl_cerror(2, ecl_make_constant_base_string("Extend heap size",-1),
+  case 1: cl_cerror(2, @"Extend heap size",
                     @'ext::storage-exhausted');
     break;
   case 2:
diff --git a/src/c/cfun.d b/src/c/cfun.d
index 1d34b069c..2013d2bb2 100644
--- a/src/c/cfun.d
+++ b/src/c/cfun.d
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ ecl_make_cfun(cl_objectfn_fixed c_function, cl_object name, cl_object cblock, in
   if (ecl_unlikely(narg < 0 || narg > ECL_C_ARGUMENTS_LIMIT)) {
     FEprogram_error("ecl_make_cfun: ~a", 1,
                     (narg < 0)
-                    ? ecl_make_constant_base_string("number of arguments must be greater than 0.",-1)
-                    : ecl_make_constant_base_string("function requires too many arguments.",-1));
+                    ? @"number of arguments must be greater than 0."
+                    : @"function requires too many arguments.");
   }
 
   cf = ecl_alloc_object(t_cfunfixed);
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ ecl_make_cfun_va(cl_objectfn c_function, cl_object name, cl_object cblock, int n
   if (ecl_unlikely(narg_fixed < 0 || narg_fixed > ECL_C_ARGUMENTS_LIMIT)) {
     FEprogram_error("ecl_make_cfun_va: ~a", 1,
                     (narg_fixed < 0)
-                    ? ecl_make_constant_base_string("number of arguments must be greater than 0.",-1)
-                    : ecl_make_constant_base_string("function requires too many arguments.",-1));
+                    ? @"number of arguments must be greater than 0."
+                    : @"function requires too many arguments.");
   }
 
   cf = ecl_alloc_object(t_cfun);
@@ -75,8 +75,8 @@ ecl_make_cclosure_va(cl_objectfn c_function, cl_object env, cl_object block, int
   if (ecl_unlikely(narg_fixed < 0 || narg_fixed > ECL_C_ARGUMENTS_LIMIT)) {
     FEprogram_error("ecl_make_cclosure_va: ~a", 1,
                     (narg_fixed < 0)
-                    ? ecl_make_constant_base_string("number of arguments must be greater than 0.",-1)
-                    : ecl_make_constant_base_string("function requires too many arguments.",-1));
+                    ? @"number of arguments must be greater than 0."
+                    : @"function requires too many arguments.");
   }
 
   cc = ecl_alloc_object(t_cclosure);
diff --git a/src/c/disassembler.d b/src/c/disassembler.d
index 46c782597..0f4655076 100644
--- a/src/c/disassembler.d
+++ b/src/c/disassembler.d
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ disassemble(cl_object bytecodes, cl_opcode *vector) {
   cl_object line_no;
 
   if (cl_fboundp(@'si::formatter-aux') != ECL_NIL)
-    line_format = ecl_make_constant_base_string("~%~4d\t",-1);
+    line_format = @"~%~4d\t";
   else
     line_format = ECL_NIL;
  BEGIN:
diff --git a/src/c/error.d b/src/c/error.d
index 4ed815b1e..bf97b8fca 100644
--- a/src/c/error.d
+++ b/src/c/error.d
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ FEprogram_error(const char *s, int narg, ...)
     cl_object stmt = ecl_symbol_value(@'si::*current-form*');
     if (stmt != ECL_NIL) {
       real_args = @list(3, stmt, text, real_args);
-      text = ecl_make_constant_base_string("In form~%~S~%~?",-1);
+      text = @"In form~%~S~%~?";
     }
   }
   si_signal_simple_error(4, 
@@ -217,8 +217,7 @@ FEreader_error(const char *s, cl_object stream, int narg, ...)
                            args_list);
   } else {
     /* Actual reader error */
-    cl_object prefix = ecl_make_constant_base_string("Reader error in file ~S, "
-                                                     "position ~D:~%",-1);
+    cl_object prefix = @"Reader error in file ~S, position ~D:~%";
     cl_object position = cl_file_position(1, stream);
     message = si_base_string_concatenate(2, prefix, message);
     args_list = cl_listX(3, stream, position, args_list);
@@ -240,7 +239,7 @@ FEcannot_open(cl_object file)
   si_signal_simple_error
     (6, @'file-error', /* condition */
      ECL_NIL, /* continuable */
-     ecl_make_constant_base_string("Cannot open ~S.~%C library error: ~A",-1), /* format */
+     @"Cannot open ~S.~%C library error: ~A", /* format */
      cl_list(2, file, c_error), /* format args */
      @':pathname', /* file-error options */
      file);
@@ -458,7 +457,7 @@ void
 FEinvalid_function_name(cl_object fname)
 {
   cl_error(9, @'simple-type-error', @':format-control',
-           ecl_make_constant_base_string("Not a valid function name ~D.",-1),
+           @"Not a valid function name ~D.",
            @':format-arguments', cl_list(1, fname),
            @':expected-type', cl_list(2, @'satisfies', @'si::valid-function-name-p'),
            @':datum', fname);
diff --git a/src/c/ffi/backtrace.d b/src/c/ffi/backtrace.d
index 891b0455e..d1b72a310 100644
--- a/src/c/ffi/backtrace.d
+++ b/src/c/ffi/backtrace.d
@@ -97,20 +97,20 @@ si_dump_c_backtrace(cl_object size)
     pSymbol->MaxNameLen = MAX_SYMBOL_LENGTH;
 # endif
     int i;
-    cl_format(2, ECL_T, ecl_make_constant_base_string("~&C Backtrace:~%",-1));
+    cl_format(2, ECL_T, @"~&C Backtrace:~%");
     for (i = 0; i < nframes; i++) {
 # if defined(ECL_UNIX_BACKTRACE)
-      cl_format(3, ECL_T, ecl_make_constant_base_string("  > ~a~%",-1),
+      cl_format(3, ECL_T, @"  > ~a~%",
                 ecl_make_constant_base_string(names[i],-1));
 # elif defined(ECL_WINDOWS_BACKTRACE)
       DWORD64 displacement;
       if (SymFromAddr(process, (DWORD64) pointers[i], &displacement, pSymbol)) {
-        cl_format(5, ECL_T, ecl_make_constant_base_string("  > (~a+0x~x) [0x~x]~%",-1),
+        cl_format(5, ECL_T, @"  > (~a+0x~x) [0x~x]~%",
                   ecl_make_constant_base_string(pSymbol->Name,-1),
                   ecl_make_unsigned_integer(displacement),
                   ecl_make_unsigned_integer((cl_index)pointers[i]));
       } else {
-        cl_format(3, ECL_T, ecl_make_constant_base_string("  > (unknown) [0x~x]~%",-1),
+        cl_format(3, ECL_T, @"  > (unknown) [0x~x]~%",
                   ecl_make_unsigned_integer((cl_index)pointers[i]));
       }
 # endif
diff --git a/src/c/ffi/libraries.d b/src/c/ffi/libraries.d
index 562098894..57fa4650d 100644
--- a/src/c/ffi/libraries.d
+++ b/src/c/ffi/libraries.d
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ static cl_object
 copy_object_file(cl_object original)
 {
   int err;
-  cl_object copy = ecl_make_constant_base_string("TMP:ECL",-1);
+  cl_object copy = @"TMP:ECL";
   copy = si_coerce_to_filename(si_mkstemp(copy));
   /*
    * We either have to make a full copy to convince the loader to load this object
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ copy_object_file(cl_object original)
 #endif
 #ifdef cygwin
   {
-    cl_object new_copy = ecl_make_constant_base_string(".dll",-1);
+    cl_object new_copy = @".dll";
     new_copy = si_base_string_concatenate(2, copy, new_copy);
     cl_rename_file(2, copy, new_copy);
     copy = new_copy;
diff --git a/src/c/file.d b/src/c/file.d
index 3f72dba91..e818203d1 100755
--- a/src/c/file.d
+++ b/src/c/file.d
@@ -5654,7 +5654,7 @@ static cl_object
 not_a_file_stream(cl_object strm)
 {
   cl_error(9, @'simple-type-error', @':format-control',
-           ecl_make_constant_base_string("~A is not an file stream",-1),
+           @"~A is not an file stream",
            @':format-arguments', cl_list(1, strm),
            @':expected-type', @'file-stream',
            @':datum', strm);
@@ -5664,7 +5664,7 @@ static void
 not_an_input_stream(cl_object strm)
 {
   cl_error(9, @'simple-type-error', @':format-control',
-           ecl_make_constant_base_string("~A is not an input stream",-1),
+           @"~A is not an input stream",
            @':format-arguments', cl_list(1, strm),
            @':expected-type',
            cl_list(2, @'satisfies', @'input-stream-p'),
@@ -5675,7 +5675,7 @@ static void
 not_an_output_stream(cl_object strm)
 {
   cl_error(9, @'simple-type-error', @':format-control',
-           ecl_make_constant_base_string("~A is not an output stream",-1),
+           @"~A is not an output stream",
            @':format-arguments', cl_list(1, strm),
            @':expected-type', cl_list(2, @'satisfies', @'output-stream-p'),
            @':datum', strm);
@@ -5685,7 +5685,7 @@ static void
 not_a_character_stream(cl_object s)
 {
   cl_error(9, @'simple-type-error', @':format-control',
-           ecl_make_constant_base_string("~A is not a character stream",-1),
+           @"~A is not a character stream",
            @':format-arguments', cl_list(1, s),
            @':expected-type', @'character',
            @':datum', cl_stream_element_type(s));
@@ -5695,7 +5695,7 @@ static void
 not_a_binary_stream(cl_object s)
 {
   cl_error(9, @'simple-type-error', @':format-control',
-           ecl_make_constant_base_string("~A is not a binary stream",-1),
+           @"~A is not a binary stream",
            @':format-arguments', cl_list(1, s),
            @':expected-type', @'integer',
            @':datum', cl_stream_element_type(s));
@@ -5719,7 +5719,7 @@ file_libc_error(cl_object error_type, cl_object stream,
   ecl_va_end(args);
 
   si_signal_simple_error(4, (cl_object)(cl_symbols + ecl_fixnum(error_type)), ECL_NIL,
-                         ecl_make_constant_base_string("~?~%C library explanation: ~A.",-1),
+                         @"~?~%C library explanation: ~A.",
                          cl_list(3, ecl_make_constant_base_string(msg,-1), rest,
                                  error));
   _ecl_unexpected_return();
@@ -5862,7 +5862,7 @@ init_file(void)
   flags = ECL_STREAM_DEFAULT_FORMAT;
 #endif
 
-  null_stream = ecl_make_stream_from_FILE(ecl_make_constant_base_string("/dev/null",-1),
+  null_stream = ecl_make_stream_from_FILE(@"/dev/null",
                                           NULL, ecl_smm_io, 8, flags, external_format);
   generic_close(null_stream);
   null_stream = cl_make_two_way_stream(null_stream, cl_make_broadcast_stream(0));
@@ -5871,20 +5871,20 @@ init_file(void)
   /* We choose C streams by default only when _not_ using threads.
    * The reason is that C streams block on I/O operations. */
 #if !defined(ECL_THREADS)
-  standard_input = maybe_make_windows_console_FILE(ecl_make_constant_base_string("stdin",-1),
+  standard_input = maybe_make_windows_console_FILE(@"stdin",
                                                    stdin, ecl_smm_input, 8, flags, external_format);
-  standard_output = maybe_make_windows_console_FILE(ecl_make_constant_base_string("stdout",-1),
+  standard_output = maybe_make_windows_console_FILE(@"stdout",
                                                     stdout, ecl_smm_output, 8, flags, external_format);
-  error_output = maybe_make_windows_console_FILE(ecl_make_constant_base_string("stderr",-1),
+  error_output = maybe_make_windows_console_FILE(@"stderr",
                                                  stderr, ecl_smm_output, 8, flags, external_format);
 #else
-  standard_input = maybe_make_windows_console_fd(ecl_make_constant_base_string("stdin",-1),
+  standard_input = maybe_make_windows_console_fd(@"stdin",
                                                  STDIN_FILENO, ecl_smm_input_file, 8, flags,
                                                  external_format);
-  standard_output = maybe_make_windows_console_fd(ecl_make_constant_base_string("stdout",-1),
+  standard_output = maybe_make_windows_console_fd(@"stdout",
                                                   STDOUT_FILENO, ecl_smm_output_file, 8, flags,
                                                   external_format);
-  error_output = maybe_make_windows_console_fd(ecl_make_constant_base_string("stderr",-1),
+  error_output = maybe_make_windows_console_fd(@"stderr",
                                                STDERR_FILENO, ecl_smm_output_file, 8, flags,
                                                external_format);
 #endif
diff --git a/src/c/format.d b/src/c/format.d
index 6bbef5a21..013a3f0c8 100644
--- a/src/c/format.d
+++ b/src/c/format.d
@@ -2201,7 +2201,7 @@ format(format_stack fmt, cl_index start, cl_index end)
     if (!ECL_ARRAY_HAS_FILL_POINTER_P(output)) {
       cl_error(7, @'si::format-error',
                @':format-control',
-               ecl_make_constant_base_string("Cannot output to a non adjustable string.",-1),
+               @"Cannot output to a non adjustable string.",
                @':control-string', string,
                @':offset', ecl_make_fixnum(0));
     }
diff --git a/src/c/load.d b/src/c/load.d
index c20197004..97264ad51 100644
--- a/src/c/load.d
+++ b/src/c/load.d
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ si_load_binary(cl_object filename, cl_object verbose,
     prefix = @si::base-string-concatenate(3,
                                           init_prefix,
                                           prefix,
-                                          ecl_make_constant_base_string("_",-1));
+                                          @"_");
   }
   basename = cl_pathname_name(1,filename);
   basename = @si::base-string-concatenate(2, prefix, @string-upcase(1, funcall(4, @'nsubstitute', ECL_CODE_CHAR('_'), ECL_CODE_CHAR('-'), basename)));
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ si_load_bytecodes(cl_object source, cl_object verbose, cl_object print, cl_objec
   }
  NOT_A_FILENAME:
   if (verbose != ECL_NIL) {
-    cl_format(3, ECL_T, ecl_make_constant_base_string("~&;;; Loading ~s~%",-1),
+    cl_format(3, ECL_T, @"~&;;; Loading ~s~%",
               filename);
   }
   ecl_bds_bind(the_env, @'*package*', ecl_symbol_value(@'*package*'));
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ si_load_bytecodes(cl_object source, cl_object verbose, cl_object print, cl_objec
     FEerror("LOAD: Could not load file ~S (Error: ~S)",
             2, filename, ok);
   if (print != ECL_NIL) {
-    cl_format(3, ECL_T, ecl_make_constant_base_string("~&;;; Loading ~s~%",-1),
+    cl_format(3, ECL_T, @"~&;;; Loading ~s~%",
               filename);
   }
   @(return filename);
diff --git a/src/c/main.d b/src/c/main.d
index 9e02d687f..8f1f221bb 100755
--- a/src/c/main.d
+++ b/src/c/main.d
@@ -887,7 +887,7 @@ si_setenv(cl_object var, cl_object value)
     ret_val = setenv((char*)var->base_string.self,
                      (char*)value->base_string.self, 1);
 #else
-    value = cl_format(4, ECL_NIL, ecl_make_constant_base_string("~A=~A",-1), var,
+    value = cl_format(4, ECL_NIL, @"~A=~A", var,
                       value);
     value = si_copy_to_simple_base_string(value);
     putenv((char*)value->base_string.self);
diff --git a/src/c/pathname.d b/src/c/pathname.d
index 9c73eefd3..32dd2f1db 100644
--- a/src/c/pathname.d
+++ b/src/c/pathname.d
@@ -777,7 +777,7 @@ cl_logical_pathname(cl_object x)
   x = cl_pathname(x);
   if (!x->pathname.logical) {
     cl_error(9, @'simple-type-error', @':format-control',
-             ecl_make_constant_base_string("~S cannot be coerced to a logical pathname.",-1),
+             @"~S cannot be coerced to a logical pathname.",
              @':format-arguments', cl_list(1, x),
              @':expected-type', @'logical-pathname',
              @':datum', x);
diff --git a/src/c/read.d b/src/c/read.d
index c928f5475..0895ea3ff 100644
--- a/src/c/read.d
+++ b/src/c/read.d
@@ -1791,7 +1791,7 @@ static void
 error_locked_readtable(cl_object r)
 {
   cl_error(2,
-           ecl_make_constant_base_string("Cannot modify locked readtable ~A.",-1),
+           @"Cannot modify locked readtable ~A.",
            r);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/c/stacks.d b/src/c/stacks.d
index 98572784f..8852abdad 100644
--- a/src/c/stacks.d
+++ b/src/c/stacks.d
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ ecl_cs_overflow(void)
     ecl_unrecoverable_error(env, stack_overflow_msg);
 
   if (env->cs_max_size == (cl_index)0 || env->cs_size < env->cs_max_size)
-    si_serror(6, ecl_make_constant_base_string("Extend stack size",-1),
+    si_serror(6, @"Extend stack size",
               @'ext::stack-overflow',
               @':size', ecl_make_fixnum(size),
               @':type', @'ext::c-stack');
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ ecl_bds_overflow(void)
     ecl_unrecoverable_error(env, stack_overflow_msg);
   }
   env->bds_limit += margin;
-  si_serror(6, ecl_make_constant_base_string("Extend stack size",-1),
+  si_serror(6, @"Extend stack size",
             @'ext::stack-overflow', @':size', ecl_make_fixnum(size),
             @':type', @'ext::binding-stack');
   ecl_bds_set_size(env, size + (size / 2));
@@ -528,7 +528,7 @@ frs_overflow(void)              /* used as condition in list.d */
     ecl_unrecoverable_error(env, stack_overflow_msg);
   }
   env->frs_limit += margin;
-  si_serror(6, ecl_make_constant_base_string("Extend stack size",-1),
+  si_serror(6, @"Extend stack size",
             @'ext::stack-overflow', @':size', ecl_make_fixnum(size),
             @':type', @'ext::frame-stack');
   frs_set_size(env, size + size / 2);
diff --git a/src/c/symbol.d b/src/c/symbol.d
index 0edd081d6..300ef357d 100644
--- a/src/c/symbol.d
+++ b/src/c/symbol.d
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ static void
 FEtype_error_plist(cl_object x)
 {
   cl_error(9, @'simple-type-error', @':format-control',
-           ecl_make_constant_base_string("Not a valid property list ~D",-1),
+           @"Not a valid property list ~D",
            @':format-arguments', cl_list(1, x),
            @':expected-type', @'si::property-list',
            @':datum', x);
diff --git a/src/c/time.d b/src/c/time.d
index d458f70f2..aba7272a0 100644
--- a/src/c/time.d
+++ b/src/c/time.d
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ cl_sleep(cl_object z)
   /* INV: ecl_minusp() makes sure `z' is real */
   if (ecl_minusp(z))
     cl_error(9, @'simple-type-error', @':format-control',
-             ecl_make_constant_base_string("Not a non-negative number ~S",-1),
+             @"Not a non-negative number ~S",
              @':format-arguments', cl_list(1, z),
              @':expected-type', @'real', @':datum', z);
   /* Compute time without overflows */
diff --git a/src/c/typespec.d b/src/c/typespec.d
index 21b2686c3..19e89538d 100644
--- a/src/c/typespec.d
+++ b/src/c/typespec.d
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ FEtype_error_list(cl_object x) {
 void
 FEtype_error_proper_list(cl_object x) {
   cl_error(9, @'simple-type-error', @':format-control',
-           ecl_make_constant_base_string("Not a proper list ~D",-1),
+           @"Not a proper list ~D",
            @':format-arguments', cl_list(1, x),
            @':expected-type', ecl_read_from_cstring("si::proper-list"),
            @':datum', x);
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ FEcircular_list(cl_object x)
   /* FIXME: Is this the right way to rebind it? */
   ecl_bds_bind(ecl_process_env(), @'*print-circle*', ECL_T);
   cl_error(9, @'simple-type-error', @':format-control',
-           ecl_make_constant_base_string("Circular list ~D",-1),
+           @"Circular list ~D",
            @':format-arguments', cl_list(1, x),
            @':expected-type', @'list',
            @':datum', x);
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ FEtype_error_index(cl_object seq, cl_fixnum ndx)
   cl_object n = ecl_make_fixnum(ndx);
   cl_index l = ECL_INSTANCEP(seq)? seq->instance.length : ecl_length(seq);
   cl_error(9, @'simple-type-error', @':format-control',
-           ecl_make_constant_base_string("~S is not a valid index into the object ~S",-1),
+           @"~S is not a valid index into the object ~S",
            @':format-arguments', cl_list(2, n, seq),
            @':expected-type', cl_list(3, @'integer', ecl_make_fixnum(0), ecl_make_fixnum(l-1)),
            @':datum', n);
diff --git a/src/c/unixfsys.d b/src/c/unixfsys.d
index 3d169db33..8abdc4a0a 100644
--- a/src/c/unixfsys.d
+++ b/src/c/unixfsys.d
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ enter_directory(cl_object base_dir, cl_object subdir, bool ignore_if_failure)
     /* Nothing to do */
     return base_dir;
   } else if (subdir == @':up') {
-    aux = ecl_make_constant_base_string("..",-1);
+    aux = @"..";
   } else if (!ECL_BASE_STRING_P(subdir)) {
     unlikely_if (!ecl_fits_in_base_string(subdir))
       FEerror("Directory component ~S found in pathname~&  ~S"
@@ -369,8 +369,7 @@ file_truename(cl_object pathname, cl_object filename, int flags)
     if (pathname->pathname.name != ECL_NIL ||
         pathname->pathname.type != ECL_NIL) {
       pathname = si_base_string_concatenate
-        (2, filename,
-         ecl_make_constant_base_string("/",-1));
+        (2, filename, @"/");
       pathname = cl_truename(pathname);
     }
   }
@@ -664,7 +663,7 @@ cl_file_author(cl_object file)
     output = ecl_make_simple_base_string(pwent->pw_name,-1);
   }
 #else
-  output = ecl_make_constant_base_string("UNKNOWN",-1);
+  output = @"UNKNOWN";
 #endif
   @(return output);
 }
@@ -711,7 +710,7 @@ ecl_homedir_pathname(cl_object user)
                                  ecl_make_constant_base_string(h,-1));
 #endif
   } else {
-    namestring = ecl_make_constant_base_string("/",-1);
+    namestring = @"/";
   }
   if (namestring->base_string.self[0] == '~') {
     FEerror("Not a valid home pathname ~S", 1, namestring);
@@ -804,7 +803,7 @@ list_directory(cl_object base_dir, cl_object text_mask, cl_object pathname_mask,
   ecl_disable_interrupts();
   for (;;) {
     if (hFind == NULL) {
-      cl_object aux = ecl_make_constant_base_string(".\\*",-1);
+      cl_object aux = @".\\*";
       cl_object mask = si_base_string_concatenate(2, prefix, aux);
       hFind = FindFirstFile((char*)mask->base_string.self, &fd);
       if (hFind == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE) {
diff --git a/src/c/unixsys.d b/src/c/unixsys.d
index e4d6162b3..07f43e801 100644
--- a/src/c/unixsys.d
+++ b/src/c/unixsys.d
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ create_descriptor(cl_object stream, cl_object direction,
     HANDLE stream_handle = ecl_stream_to_HANDLE
       (stream, direction != @':input');
     if (stream_handle == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE) {
-      CEerror(ecl_make_constant_base_string("Create a new stream.",-1),
+      CEerror(@"Create a new stream.",
               "~S argument to RUN-PROGRAM does not have a file handle:~%~S",
               2, direction, stream);
       create_descriptor(@':stream', direction, child, parent);
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ create_descriptor(cl_object stream, cl_object direction,
     if (*child >= 0) {
       *child = dup(*child);
     } else {
-      CEerror(ecl_make_constant_base_string("Create a new stream.",-1),
+      CEerror(@"Create a new stream.",
               "~S argument to RUN-PROGRAM does not have a file handle:~%~S",
               2, direction, stream);
       create_descriptor(@':stream', direction, child, parent);
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ si_run_program_inner(cl_object command, cl_object argv, cl_object environ, cl_ob
 
 #if defined(ECL_MS_WINDOWS_HOST)
   argv = cl_format(4, ECL_NIL,
-                   ecl_make_constant_base_string("~A~{ ~A~}",-1),
+                   @"~A~{ ~A~}",
                    command, argv);
   argv = si_copy_to_simple_base_string(argv);
 #else