diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core.tests/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/core/parser/tests/ast2/AST2Tests.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core.tests/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/core/parser/tests/ast2/AST2Tests.java
index c5243f9abe1..2f5abef4832 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core.tests/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/core/parser/tests/ast2/AST2Tests.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core.tests/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/core/parser/tests/ast2/AST2Tests.java
@@ -3640,9 +3640,9 @@ public class AST2Tests extends AST2BaseTest {
     }
     
     // void test() {
-	//    const char d= *"b";
+	//    char d= *"b";
     // }
-    public void _testBug181942() throws Exception {
+    public void testBug181942() throws Exception {
     	StringBuffer buffer = getContents(1)[0];
     	for (int i = 0; i < LANGUAGES.length; i++)
     		parse( buffer.toString(), LANGUAGES[i], true, true );
diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/c/GNUCSourceParser.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/c/GNUCSourceParser.java
index c0319d45e1b..b64e22d7a2d 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/c/GNUCSourceParser.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/c/GNUCSourceParser.java
@@ -2910,10 +2910,14 @@ public class GNUCSourceParser extends AbstractGNUSourceCodeParser {
         IToken mark = mark();
         int offset = consume().getOffset();
         IASTExpression castExpression = castExpression();
-        if( castExpression instanceof IASTLiteralExpression && ( operator == IASTUnaryExpression.op_amper || operator == IASTUnaryExpression.op_star ) )
-        {
-            backup( mark );
-            throwBacktrack( mark );
+        if( castExpression instanceof IASTLiteralExpression ) {
+        	IASTLiteralExpression lit= (IASTLiteralExpression) castExpression;
+        	if ( operator == IASTUnaryExpression.op_amper || 
+        			(operator == IASTUnaryExpression.op_star && lit.getKind() != IASTLiteralExpression.lk_string_literal) )
+        	{
+        		backup( mark );
+        		throwBacktrack( mark );
+        	}
         }
         return buildUnaryExpression(operator, castExpression, offset,
                 calculateEndOffset(castExpression));
diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/GNUCPPSourceParser.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/GNUCPPSourceParser.java
index 1a9ba2b9ca2..ce1fd0e802b 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/GNUCPPSourceParser.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/GNUCPPSourceParser.java
@@ -5460,13 +5460,15 @@ public class GNUCPPSourceParser extends AbstractGNUSourceCodeParser {
         IToken mark = mark();
         int offset = consume().getOffset();
         IASTExpression castExpression = castExpression();
-        if( castExpression instanceof IASTLiteralExpression && ( operator == IASTUnaryExpression.op_amper || operator == IASTUnaryExpression.op_star ) )
-        {
-            IASTLiteralExpression literal = (IASTLiteralExpression) castExpression;
-            if( literal.getKind() != ICPPASTLiteralExpression.lk_this )
-            {
-                backup( mark );
-                throwBacktrack( mark );
+        if (castExpression instanceof IASTLiteralExpression) {
+        	IASTLiteralExpression literal = (IASTLiteralExpression) castExpression;
+            if( literal.getKind() != ICPPASTLiteralExpression.lk_this ) {
+            	if ( operator == IASTUnaryExpression.op_amper || 
+            			(operator == IASTUnaryExpression.op_star && 
+            					literal.getKind() != IASTLiteralExpression.lk_string_literal) ) {
+            		backup( mark );
+            		throwBacktrack( mark );
+            	}
             }
         }
         return buildUnaryExpression(operator, castExpression, offset,