diff --git a/hashsum/hashsum.rs b/hashsum/hashsum.rs
index 18197cc66..d89540891 100644
--- a/hashsum/hashsum.rs
+++ b/hashsum/hashsum.rs
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ fn get_algo_opts(program: &str) -> Vec<getopts::OptGroup> {
     }
 }
 
-fn detect_algo(program: &str, matches: &getopts::Matches) -> (&str, Box<Digest>) {
+fn detect_algo(program: &str, matches: &getopts::Matches) -> (&'static str, Box<Digest>) {
     let mut alg: Option<Box<Digest>> = None;
     let mut name: &'static str = "";
     match program {