diff --git a/srcbmi/mf6bmi.f90 b/srcbmi/mf6bmi.f90
index 62a396ddf3d..eb64b13be5e 100644
--- a/srcbmi/mf6bmi.f90
+++ b/srcbmi/mf6bmi.f90
@@ -46,9 +46,8 @@ function bmi_get_component_name(name) result(bmi_status) &
     ! -- dummy variables
     character(kind=c_char), intent(out) :: name(BMI_LENCOMPONENTNAME)
     integer(kind=c_int) :: bmi_status !< BMI status code
-    ! -- local variables
 
-    name = 'MODFLOW 6'//c_null_char
+    name = string_to_char_array('MODFLOW 6')
     bmi_status = BMI_SUCCESS
 
   end function bmi_get_component_name
diff --git a/srcbmi/mf6bmiUtil.f90 b/srcbmi/mf6bmiUtil.f90
index 0ec6a243c7a..b6420ee613e 100644
--- a/srcbmi/mf6bmiUtil.f90
+++ b/srcbmi/mf6bmiUtil.f90
@@ -143,6 +143,17 @@ pure function char_array_to_string(char_array, length) result(f_string)
 
   end function char_array_to_string
 
+  !> @brief Convert Fortran string to C-style character string
+  !<
+  pure function string_to_char_array(string) result(c_array)
+    ! -- dummy variables
+    character(len=*), intent(in) :: string !< string to convert
+    character(kind=c_char, len=1) :: c_array(len(string) + 1) !< C-style character string
+
+    c_array = trim(string)//c_null_char
+
+  end function string_to_char_array
+
   !> @brief Extract the model name from a memory address string
   !<
   function extract_model_name(var_address, success) result(model_name)