diff --git a/base/modules/psb_timers_mod.f90 b/base/modules/psb_timers_mod.f90
index 5b2a8054..2b2ae6ed 100644
--- a/base/modules/psb_timers_mod.f90
+++ b/base/modules/psb_timers_mod.f90
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ module psb_timers_mod
 
   ! The data itself 
   type psb_string_item
-    character(len=:), allocatable :: data
+    character(len=40), allocatable :: data
   end type psb_string_item
   integer(psb_ipk_), allocatable  :: nsamples(:) 
   real(psb_dpk_), allocatable     :: timers(:,:)