diff --git a/basis/alien/arrays/arrays.factor b/basis/alien/arrays/arrays.factor
index c62800df36..4fddba1de6 100644
--- a/basis/alien/arrays/arrays.factor
+++ b/basis/alien/arrays/arrays.factor
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ M: string-type c-type-setter
     drop [ set-alien-cell ] ;
 
 { char* utf8 } char <pointer> typedef
+{ char* utf8 } char* typedef
 { char* utf8 } uchar <pointer> typedef
 { char* binary } byte <pointer> typedef
 { char* binary } ubyte <pointer> typedef