diff --git a/Cantera/matlab/src/ctmatutils.h b/Cantera/matlab/src/ctmatutils.h
index 5ad3e6c55..bfef2bb1c 100755
--- a/Cantera/matlab/src/ctmatutils.h
+++ b/Cantera/matlab/src/ctmatutils.h
@@ -23,13 +23,13 @@ inline char* getString(const mxArray* p) {
     size_t m = mxGetM(p);
     size_t n = mxGetN(p);
     mwSize buflen = (mwSize) (m*n + 1);
-    string msg;
+    std::string msg;
 
     if (m == 1) {
         input_buf = (char*)mxCalloc(buflen, sizeof(char));
         status = mxGetString(p, input_buf, buflen);
         if(status != 0) {
-            msg = string(input_buf) 
+            msg = std::string(input_buf)
                   + "\nNot enough space. String is truncated.";
             mexWarnMsgTxt(msg.c_str());
         }