diff --git a/gtsam/linear/JacobianFactor.cpp b/gtsam/linear/JacobianFactor.cpp
index e2a582d9b..417548ed5 100644
--- a/gtsam/linear/JacobianFactor.cpp
+++ b/gtsam/linear/JacobianFactor.cpp
@@ -572,7 +572,7 @@ namespace gtsam {
 	}
 
   /* ************************************************************************* */
-  const char* JacobianFactor::InvalidNoiseModel::what() throw() {
+  const char* JacobianFactor::InvalidNoiseModel::what() const throw() {
     if(description_.empty())
       description_ = (boost::format(
         "A JacobianFactor was attempted to be constructed or modified to use a\n"
diff --git a/gtsam/linear/JacobianFactor.h b/gtsam/linear/JacobianFactor.h
index 7e1381f38..7fb4211fb 100644
--- a/gtsam/linear/JacobianFactor.h
+++ b/gtsam/linear/JacobianFactor.h
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ namespace gtsam {
           factorDims(factorDims), noiseModelDims(noiseModelDims) {}
       virtual ~InvalidNoiseModel() throw() {}
 
-      virtual const char* what() throw();
+      virtual const char* what() const throw();
 
     private:
       mutable std::string description_;