diff --git a/lib/symboldatabase.cpp b/lib/symboldatabase.cpp
index f5ffa4e1604..332f47eb0d6 100644
--- a/lib/symboldatabase.cpp
+++ b/lib/symboldatabase.cpp
@@ -6510,7 +6510,7 @@ Type* Scope::findType(const std::string& name)
 
 //---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-Scope *Scope::findInNestedListRecursive(const std::string & name)
+const Scope *Scope::findInNestedListRecursive(const std::string & name) const
 {
     auto it = std::find_if(nestedList.cbegin(), nestedList.cend(), [&](const Scope* s) {
         return s->className == name;
@@ -6518,8 +6518,8 @@ Scope *Scope::findInNestedListRecursive(const std::string & name)
     if (it != nestedList.end())
         return *it;
 
-    for (Scope* scope: nestedList) {
-        Scope *child = scope->findInNestedListRecursive(name);
+    for (const Scope* scope: nestedList) {
+        const Scope *child = scope->findInNestedListRecursive(name);
         if (child)
             return child;
     }
diff --git a/lib/symboldatabase.h b/lib/symboldatabase.h
index 954b31cc05b..0eaa0aab9ee 100644
--- a/lib/symboldatabase.h
+++ b/lib/symboldatabase.h
@@ -1157,7 +1157,7 @@ class CPPCHECKLIB Scope {
      * @brief find if name is in nested list
      * @param name name of nested scope
      */
-    Scope *findInNestedListRecursive(const std::string & name);
+    const Scope *findInNestedListRecursive(const std::string & name) const;
 
     void addVariable(const Token *token_, const Token *start_,
                      const Token *end_, AccessControl access_, const Type *type_,