diff --git a/sbe-tool/src/main/java/uk/co/real_logic/sbe/generation/cpp/CppGenerator.java b/sbe-tool/src/main/java/uk/co/real_logic/sbe/generation/cpp/CppGenerator.java
index fe3a52e28..a4b30f074 100755
--- a/sbe-tool/src/main/java/uk/co/real_logic/sbe/generation/cpp/CppGenerator.java
+++ b/sbe-tool/src/main/java/uk/co/real_logic/sbe/generation/cpp/CppGenerator.java
@@ -1994,7 +1994,7 @@ private CharSequence generateMessageFlyweightCode(final String className, final
             "    static const %3$s SBE_TEMPLATE_ID = %4$s;\n" +
             "    static const %5$s SBE_SCHEMA_ID = %6$s;\n" +
             "    static const %7$s SBE_SCHEMA_VERSION = %8$s;\n" +
-            "    static const std::string SBE_SEMANTIC_VERSION = \"%13$s\";\n\n" +
+            "    static constexpr const char* SBE_SEMANTIC_VERSION = \"%13$s\";\n\n" +
 
             "    enum MetaAttribute\n" +
             "    {\n" +