diff --git a/include/qapi/qmp/qlit.h b/include/qapi/qmp/qlit.h
index 35aabbdc9f4d..fc1a2d845df1 100644
--- a/include/qapi/qmp/qlit.h
+++ b/include/qapi/qmp/qlit.h
@@ -44,6 +44,6 @@ struct QLitDictEntry {
 #define QLIT_QLIST(val) \
     { .type = QTYPE_QLIST, .value.qlist = (val) }
 
-bool qlit_equal_qobject(QLitObject *lhs, QObject *rhs);
+bool qlit_equal_qobject(const QLitObject *lhs, const QObject *rhs);
 
 #endif /* QLIT_H */
diff --git a/qobject/qlit.c b/qobject/qlit.c
index a2975bef3fb6..ae2787ef35a9 100644
--- a/qobject/qlit.c
+++ b/qobject/qlit.c
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ static void compare_helper(QObject *obj, void *opaque)
         qlit_equal_qobject(&helper->objs[helper->index++], obj);
 }
 
-bool qlit_equal_qobject(QLitObject *lhs, QObject *rhs)
+bool qlit_equal_qobject(const QLitObject *lhs, const QObject *rhs)
 {
     int64_t val;