diff --git a/runtime/runtime.c b/runtime/runtime.c
index 02994d790..9134853f8 100644
--- a/runtime/runtime.c
+++ b/runtime/runtime.c
@@ -20,13 +20,13 @@ extern size_t __gc_stack_top, __gc_stack_bottom;
 #define POST_GC()                                                                                  \
   if (flag) { __gc_stack_top = 0; }
 
-_Noreturn static void vfailure (char *s, va_list args) {
+static void vfailure (const char *s, va_list args) {
   fprintf(stderr, "*** FAILURE: ");
   vfprintf(stderr, s, args);   // vprintf (char *, va_list) <-> printf (char *, ...)
   exit(255);
 }
 
-_Noreturn void failure (char *s, ...) {
+void failure (const char *s, ...) {
   va_list args;
 
   va_start(args, s);
diff --git a/runtime/runtime.h b/runtime/runtime.h
index 1cf9ad714..3c7af86d8 100644
--- a/runtime/runtime.h
+++ b/runtime/runtime.h
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #define __LAMA_RUNTIME__
 
 #include "runtime_common.h"
+
 #include <assert.h>
 #include <ctype.h>
 #include <errno.h>
@@ -16,6 +17,6 @@
 
 #define WORD_SIZE (CHAR_BIT * sizeof(ptrt))
 
-_Noreturn void failure (char *s, ...);
+void failure (const char *s, ...);
 
 #endif