diff --git a/dw/fltkui.cc b/dw/fltkui.cc
index 0989467..fb4f839 100644
--- a/dw/fltkui.cc
+++ b/dw/fltkui.cc
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@
  */
 
 
+#include <string>
+#include <string_view>
+#include <optional>
 
 #include "fltkcore.hh"
 #include "fltkflatview.hh"
@@ -56,8 +59,7 @@ static Fl_Color fltkui_dimmed(Fl_Color c, Fl_Color bg)
 class CustInput2 : public Fl_Input {
 public:
    CustInput2 (int x, int y, int w, int h, const char* l=0);
-   ~CustInput2 () { if (placeholder) free(placeholder); };
-   void set_placeholder(const char *str);
+   void set_placeholder(std::string_view str);
    int show_placeholder();
    int show_normal(const char *str);
    void textcolor(Fl_Color c);
@@ -66,7 +68,7 @@ public:
    const char* value();
    int handle(int e);
 private:
-   char *placeholder;
+   std::optional< std::string > placeholder;
    bool showing_placeholder;
    Fl_Color usual_color;
    int usual_type;
@@ -75,7 +77,6 @@ private:
 CustInput2::CustInput2 (int x, int y, int w, int h, const char* l) :
    Fl_Input(x,y,w,h,l)
 {
-   placeholder = NULL;
    showing_placeholder = false;
    usual_color = FL_BLACK;      /* just init until widget style is set */
 }
@@ -101,7 +102,7 @@ int CustInput2::show_placeholder()
    showing_placeholder = true;
    Fl_Input::textcolor(fltkui_dimmed(usual_color, color()));
    Fl_Input::input_type(FL_NORMAL_INPUT);
-   ret = Fl_Input::value(placeholder);
+   ret = Fl_Input::value(placeholder.value().c_str());
    position(0);
    return ret;
 }
@@ -109,11 +110,9 @@ int CustInput2::show_placeholder()
 /*
  * Set the placeholder text.
  */
-void CustInput2::set_placeholder(const char *str)
+void CustInput2::set_placeholder(const std::string_view str)
 {
-   if (placeholder)
-      free(placeholder);
-   placeholder = dStrdup(str);
+   placeholder = str;
 
    if ((Fl::focus() != this) && !*value()) {
       show_placeholder();