diff --git a/Plugins/org.mitk.gui.qt.common/src/ImporterUtil.h b/Plugins/org.mitk.gui.qt.common/src/ImporterUtil.h
index 0783f8bc63..bb269e9556 100644
--- a/Plugins/org.mitk.gui.qt.common/src/ImporterUtil.h
+++ b/Plugins/org.mitk.gui.qt.common/src/ImporterUtil.h
@@ -1,19 +1,13 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <QString>
 
 class ImporterUtil {
 public:
 	/**
 	* @brief Convert a given QString to a utf-8 encoded string (platform-independently)
 	*/
-	static const char* getUTF8String(const QString& string) {
-#ifdef Q_OS_WIN
-		return string.toLocal8Bit().constData();
-#elif Q_OS_MAC
-		return string.toUtf8().constData();
-#elif BERRY_OS_LINUX
-		return string.toStdString().constDatat(); // needs check/test
-#endif
-}
+	static std::string getUTF8String(const QString& string) {
+		return string.toLocal8Bit().toStdString();
+	}
 };