diff --git a/src/cell.cpp b/src/cell.cpp
index c3877d03b..7cc74ed9f 100644
--- a/src/cell.cpp
+++ b/src/cell.cpp
@@ -1102,8 +1102,7 @@ openmc_cell_set_name(int32_t index, const char* name) {
     return OPENMC_E_OUT_OF_BOUNDS;
   }
 
-  std::string name_str(name);
-  model::cells[index]->set_name(name_str);
+  model::cells[index]->set_name(name);
 
   return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/material.cpp b/src/material.cpp
index 4f3177907..699649d31 100644
--- a/src/material.cpp
+++ b/src/material.cpp
@@ -1400,7 +1400,6 @@ openmc_material_set_name(int32_t index, const char* name) {
     return OPENMC_E_OUT_OF_BOUNDS;
   }
 
-  std::string name_str(name);
   model::materials[index]->set_name(name);
 
   return 0;
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_capi.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_capi.py
index aa140a121..3fdd4db66 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_capi.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_capi.py
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ def test_cell(capi_init):
     cell.fill = openmc.capi.materials[1]
     assert str(cell) == 'Cell[0]'
     assert cell.name == "Fuel"
+    cell.name = "Not fuel"
+    assert cell.name == "Not fuel"
 
 def test_cell_temperature(capi_init):
     cell = openmc.capi.cells[1]
@@ -124,6 +126,8 @@ def test_material(capi_init):
     m.set_density(0.1, 'g/cm3')
     assert m.density == pytest.approx(0.1)
     assert m.name == "Hot borated water"
+    m.name = "Not hot borated water"
+    assert m.name == "Not hot borated water"
 
 def test_material_add_nuclide(capi_init):
     m = openmc.capi.materials[3]