diff --git a/compiler/hlcgobj.pas b/compiler/hlcgobj.pas
index 8d609e4950..848dc1987b 100644
--- a/compiler/hlcgobj.pas
+++ b/compiler/hlcgobj.pas
@@ -5497,8 +5497,13 @@ implementation
         alt:=al_pure_assembler;
       { add the procedure to the al_procedures }
       maybe_new_object_file(current_asmdata.asmlists[alt]);
+{$ifdef symansistr}
       if pd.section<>'' then
         new_proc_section(current_asmdata.asmlists[alt],sec_user,lower(pd.section),getprocalign)
+{$else symansistr}
+      if assigned(pd.section) then
+        new_proc_section(current_asmdata.asmlists[alt],sec_user,lower(pd.section^),getprocalign)
+{$endif symansistr}
       else
         new_section(current_asmdata.asmlists[alt],sec_code,lower(pd.mangledname),getprocalign);
       current_asmdata.asmlists[alt].concatlist(code);
diff --git a/compiler/pdecsub.pas b/compiler/pdecsub.pas
index 94d8628e22..61c262ee35 100644
--- a/compiler/pdecsub.pas
+++ b/compiler/pdecsub.pas
@@ -2422,7 +2422,11 @@ begin
     internalerror(2021032801);
   if not (target_info.system in systems_allow_section) then
     Comment(V_Error,'Directive section not allowed for this target.');
+{$ifdef symansistr}
   tprocdef(pd).section:=get_stringconst;
+{$else symansistr}
+  tprocdef(pd).section:=stringdup(get_stringconst);
+{$endif}
 end;
 
 type
diff --git a/compiler/symdef.pas b/compiler/symdef.pas
index e5ee55e487..79a19e1c85 100644
--- a/compiler/symdef.pas
+++ b/compiler/symdef.pas
@@ -695,7 +695,6 @@ interface
           { number of user visible parameters }
           maxparacount,
           minparacount    : byte;
-          section : ansistring;
           constructor create(dt:tdeftyp;level:byte;doregister:boolean);
           constructor ppuload(dt:tdeftyp;ppufile:tcompilerppufile);
           destructor destroy;override;
@@ -866,6 +865,11 @@ interface
           visibility   : tvisibility;
 {$ifndef DISABLE_FAST_OVERLOAD_PATCH}
           seenmarker : pointer; // used for filtering in tcandidate
+{$endif}
+{$ifdef symansistr}
+         section: ansistring;
+{$else symansistr}
+         section: pshortstring;
 {$endif}
           constructor create(level:byte;doregister:boolean);virtual;
           constructor ppuload(ppufile:tcompilerppufile);