diff --git a/ve/velib02.cpp b/ve/velib02.cpp
index d2a909446..8e5d52537 100755
--- a/ve/velib02.cpp
+++ b/ve/velib02.cpp
@@ -19,10 +19,9 @@ TCodice_numerazione::~TCodice_numerazione()
 {                    
 }
 
-const TString& TCodice_numerazione::complete_num(long num)
+const char * TCodice_numerazione::complete_num(long num)
 {
   TString codnum;
-  codnum.format("%ld");
   codnum << prefisso();
   codnum << num;
   codnum << postfisso();
diff --git a/ve/velib02.h b/ve/velib02.h
index c9872e48c..4a59f50b9 100755
--- a/ve/velib02.h
+++ b/ve/velib02.h
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ public:
   const TString& tipo_doc4() { return get("S2").mid(12,4);}
   const TString& tipo_doc5() { return get("S2").mid(16,4);}
   
-  const TString& complete_num (long num);
+  const char * complete_num (long num);
   int status() { return _status; }
   TCodice_numerazione(const char* codnum = NULL);
   TCodice_numerazione(const TRectype& rec);