diff --git a/axl_string_test.c b/axl_string_test.c
index 492b4b8..6019c7d 100644
--- a/axl_string_test.c
+++ b/axl_string_test.c
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ KOAN(strcpy_basic)
     
     i8* result = axl_strcpy(dst, src);
     ASSERT_PTR_EQ(dst, result);
-    ASSERT_STR_EQ("test", (const char*)dst);
+    ASSERT_STR_EQ("test", dst);
     
     axl_free(dst);
 }
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ KOAN(strcpy_empty)
     
     i8* result = axl_strcpy(dst, src);
     ASSERT_PTR_EQ(dst, result);
-    ASSERT_STR_EQ("", (const char*)dst);
+    ASSERT_STR_EQ("", dst);
     
     axl_free(dst);
 }
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ KOAN(strcpy_null_dst)
 
 KOAN(strcpy_null_src)
 {
-    ASSERT_NULL(axl_strcpy(NULL, (const i8*)"test"));
+    ASSERT_NULL(axl_strcpy(NULL, "test"));
 }
 
 KOAN(strncpy_exact)
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ KOAN(strcat_basic)
     
     i8* result = axl_strcat(dst, (i8*)"world");
     ASSERT_PTR_EQ(dst, result);
-    ASSERT_STR_EQ("hello world", (const char*)dst);
+    ASSERT_STR_EQ("hello world", dst);
     
     axl_free(dst);
 }
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ KOAN(strcat_to_empty)
     
     i8* result = axl_strcat(dst, (i8*)"test");
     ASSERT_PTR_EQ(dst, result);
-    ASSERT_STR_EQ("test", (const char*)dst);
+    ASSERT_STR_EQ("test", dst);
     
     axl_free(dst);
 }
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ KOAN(strncat_full)
     
     i8* result = axl_strncat(dst, (i8*)"world", 5);
     ASSERT_PTR_EQ(dst, result);
-    ASSERT_STR_EQ("hello world", (const char*)dst);
+    ASSERT_STR_EQ("hello world", dst);
     
     axl_free(dst);
 }
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ KOAN(strncat_partial)
     
     i8* result = axl_strncat(dst, (i8*)"worldwide", 5);
     ASSERT_PTR_EQ(dst, result);
-    ASSERT_STR_EQ("hello world", (const char*)dst);
+    ASSERT_STR_EQ("hello world", dst);
     
     axl_free(dst);
 }
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ KOAN(strncat_always_null_terminates)
     
     i8* result = axl_strncat(dst, (i8*)"123456789", 3);
     ASSERT_PTR_EQ(dst, result);
-    ASSERT_STR_EQ("test123", (const char*)dst);
+    ASSERT_STR_EQ("test123", dst);
     ASSERT_INT_EQ(0, (int)dst[7]);
     
     axl_free(dst);
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ KOAN(strncat_zero_n)
 {
     i8 dst[10] = "hi";
     axl_strncat(dst, (const i8*)"world", 0);
-    ASSERT_STR_EQ("hi", (char*)dst);
+    ASSERT_STR_EQ("hi", dst);
 }
 
 KOAN(strcmp_equal)
diff --git a/axl_types.h b/axl_types.h
index 1275cc7..9f37a54 100644
--- a/axl_types.h
+++ b/axl_types.h
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #ifndef AXL_TYPES_H
 #define AXL_TYPES_H
 
-typedef signed char         i8;
+typedef char                i8;
 typedef unsigned char       u8;
 typedef unsigned char       b8;
 typedef signed short        i16;