diff --git a/fs/file_table.c b/fs/file_table.c
index ad17e05ebf95..6d982b57de92 100644
--- a/fs/file_table.c
+++ b/fs/file_table.c
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ over:
  * @mode: the mode with which the new file will be opened
  * @fop: the 'struct file_operations' for the new file
  */
-struct file *alloc_file(struct path *path, fmode_t mode,
+struct file *alloc_file(const struct path *path, fmode_t mode,
 		const struct file_operations *fop)
 {
 	struct file *file;
diff --git a/include/linux/file.h b/include/linux/file.h
index 7444f5feda12..61eb82cbafba 100644
--- a/include/linux/file.h
+++ b/include/linux/file.h
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ struct file_operations;
 struct vfsmount;
 struct dentry;
 struct path;
-extern struct file *alloc_file(struct path *, fmode_t mode,
+extern struct file *alloc_file(const struct path *, fmode_t mode,
 	const struct file_operations *fop);
 
 static inline void fput_light(struct file *file, int fput_needed)