diff --git a/src/libexpr/eval.cc b/src/libexpr/eval.cc
index 4fe9e9e3a..f855dc67e 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/eval.cc
+++ b/src/libexpr/eval.cc
@@ -284,11 +284,6 @@ EvalState::EvalState(
 
     static_assert(sizeof(Env) <= 16, "environment must be <= 16 bytes");
 
-    vStringRegular.mkStringNoCopy("regular");
-    vStringDirectory.mkStringNoCopy("directory");
-    vStringSymlink.mkStringNoCopy("symlink");
-    vStringUnknown.mkStringNoCopy("unknown");
-
     /* Construct the Nix expression search path. */
     assert(lookupPath.elements.empty());
     if (!settings.pureEval) {
diff --git a/src/libexpr/include/nix/expr/eval.hh b/src/libexpr/include/nix/expr/eval.hh
index 9e0638de8..3639eab15 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/include/nix/expr/eval.hh
+++ b/src/libexpr/include/nix/expr/eval.hh
@@ -315,15 +315,6 @@ public:
      */
     RepairFlag repair;
 
-    /** `"regular"` */
-    Value vStringRegular;
-    /** `"directory"` */
-    Value vStringDirectory;
-    /** `"symlink"` */
-    Value vStringSymlink;
-    /** `"unknown"` */
-    Value vStringUnknown;
-
     /**
      * The accessor corresponding to `store`.
      */
diff --git a/src/libexpr/primops.cc b/src/libexpr/primops.cc
index 47909af3b..0d5eb23ae 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/primops.cc
+++ b/src/libexpr/primops.cc
@@ -2243,19 +2243,45 @@ static RegisterPrimOp primop_hashFile({
     .fun = prim_hashFile,
 });
 
-static Value * fileTypeToString(EvalState & state, SourceAccessor::Type type)
+static const Value & fileTypeToString(EvalState & state, SourceAccessor::Type type)
 {
-    return type == SourceAccessor::Type::tRegular     ? &state.vStringRegular
-           : type == SourceAccessor::Type::tDirectory ? &state.vStringDirectory
-           : type == SourceAccessor::Type::tSymlink   ? &state.vStringSymlink
-                                                      : &state.vStringUnknown;
+    struct Constants
+    {
+        Value regular;
+        Value directory;
+        Value symlink;
+        Value unknown;
+    };
+
+    static const Constants stringValues = []() {
+        Constants res;
+        res.regular.mkStringNoCopy("regular");
+        res.directory.mkStringNoCopy("directory");
+        res.symlink.mkStringNoCopy("symlink");
+        res.unknown.mkStringNoCopy("unknown");
+        return res;
+    }();
+
+#pragma GCC diagnostic push
+#pragma GCC diagnostic ignored "-Wswitch-enum"
+    using enum SourceAccessor::Type;
+    switch (type) {
+    case tRegular:
+        return stringValues.regular;
+    case tDirectory:
+        return stringValues.directory;
+    case tSymlink:
+        return stringValues.symlink;
+    default:
+        return stringValues.unknown;
+    }
 }
 
 static void prim_readFileType(EvalState & state, const PosIdx pos, Value ** args, Value & v)
 {
     auto path = realisePath(state, pos, *args[0], std::nullopt);
     /* Retrieve the directory entry type and stringize it. */
-    v = *fileTypeToString(state, path.lstat().type);
+    v = fileTypeToString(state, path.lstat().type);
 }
 
 static RegisterPrimOp primop_readFileType({
@@ -2299,7 +2325,9 @@ static void prim_readDir(EvalState & state, const PosIdx pos, Value ** args, Val
         } else {
             // This branch of the conditional is much more likely.
             // Here we just stringize the directory entry type.
-            attrs.insert(state.symbols.create(name), fileTypeToString(state, *type));
+            // N.B. const_cast here is ok, because these values will never be modified, since
+            // only thunks are mutable - other types do not change once constructed.
+            attrs.insert(state.symbols.create(name), const_cast<Value *>(&fileTypeToString(state, *type)));
         }
     }
 
@@ -2674,7 +2702,7 @@ bool EvalState::callPathFilter(Value * filterFun, const SourcePath & path, PosId
     arg1.mkString(path.path.abs());
 
     // assert that type is not "unknown"
-    Value * args[]{&arg1, fileTypeToString(*this, st.type)};
+    Value * args[]{&arg1, const_cast<Value *>(&fileTypeToString(*this, st.type))};
     Value res;
     callFunction(*filterFun, args, res, pos);