diff --git a/src/ivoc/graph.cpp b/src/ivoc/graph.cpp
index b073a0f350..140b375337 100644
--- a/src/ivoc/graph.cpp
+++ b/src/ivoc/graph.cpp
@@ -2429,7 +2429,7 @@ void Graph::choose_sym() {
         neuron::container::data_handle<double> pd_handle{pd};
 
         if (sc_->selected_vector_count()) {
-            Sprintf(buf, "%s", sc_->selected()->string());
+            Sprintf(buf, "%s", sc_->selected().c_str());
             GraphVector* gv = new GraphVector(buf);
             gv->color(color());
             gv->brush(brush());
@@ -2444,10 +2444,10 @@ void Graph::choose_sym() {
             flush();
             break;
         } else if (pd) {
-            add_var(sc_->selected()->string(), color(), brush(), 1, 2);
+            add_var(sc_->selected().c_str(), color(), brush(), 1, 2);
             break;
         } else {
-            CopyString s(*sc_->selected());
+            CopyString s(sc_->selected().c_str());
             // above required due to bug in mswindows version in which
             // sc_->selected seems volatile under some kinds of hoc
             // executions.
@@ -2475,12 +2475,12 @@ void Graph::family_label_chooser() {
     }
     while (fsc_->post_for_aligned(XYView::current_pick_view()->canvas()->window(), .5, 1.)) {
         char buf[256];
-        Sprintf(buf, "hoc_ac_ = %s\n", fsc_->selected()->string());
+        Sprintf(buf, "hoc_ac_ = %s\n", fsc_->selected().c_str());
         if (oc.run(buf) == 0) {
-            family(fsc_->selected()->string());
+            family(fsc_->selected().c_str());
             break;
         }
-        hoc_warning(sc_->selected()->string(), "is not an expression.");
+        hoc_warning(sc_->selected().c_str(), "is not an expression.");
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/ivoc/symchoos.cpp b/src/ivoc/symchoos.cpp
index f0a1e9abd7..ea9048bf58 100644
--- a/src/ivoc/symchoos.cpp
+++ b/src/ivoc/symchoos.cpp
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ static double text(void* v) {
 #if HAVE_IV
     IFGUI
     SymChooser* sc = (SymChooser*) v;
-    hoc_assign_str(hoc_pgargstr(1), sc->selected()->string());
+    hoc_assign_str(hoc_pgargstr(1), sc->selected().c_str());
     ENDGUI
     return 0.;
 #else
@@ -247,10 +247,8 @@ SymChooser::~SymChooser() {
     delete impl_;
 }
 
-const String* SymChooser::selected() const {
-    static String s;
-    s = impl_->selected_.c_str();
-    return &s;
+const std::string& SymChooser::selected() const {
+    return impl_->selected_;
 }
 
 double* SymChooser::selected_var() {
diff --git a/src/ivoc/symchoos.h b/src/ivoc/symchoos.h
index 2d94449d09..dc465fe355 100644
--- a/src/ivoc/symchoos.h
+++ b/src/ivoc/symchoos.h
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ class SymChooser: public Dialog {
     SymChooser(SymDirectory*, WidgetKit*, Style*, SymChooserAction* = NULL, int nbrowser = 3);
     virtual ~SymChooser();
 
-    virtual const String* selected() const;
+    virtual const std::string& selected() const;
     virtual double* selected_var();
     virtual int selected_vector_count();
     virtual void reread();
diff --git a/src/nrniv/shapeplt.cpp b/src/nrniv/shapeplt.cpp
index 27df1aa624..994cdddb11 100644
--- a/src/nrniv/shapeplt.cpp
+++ b/src/nrniv/shapeplt.cpp
@@ -768,7 +768,7 @@ void ShapePlotImpl::select_variable() {
     sc->ref();
     while (sc->post_for(XYView::current_pick_view()->canvas()->window())) {
         Symbol* s;
-        s = hoc_table_lookup(sc->selected()->string(), hoc_built_in_symlist);
+        s = hoc_table_lookup(sc->selected().c_str(), hoc_built_in_symlist);
         if (s) {
             sp_->variable(s);
             break;