diff --git a/libs/openFrameworks/utils/ofFileUtils.h b/libs/openFrameworks/utils/ofFileUtils.h
index 74aaa509002..bde0d243f72 100644
--- a/libs/openFrameworks/utils/ofFileUtils.h
+++ b/libs/openFrameworks/utils/ofFileUtils.h
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ class ofBuffer{
 	/// get the contents of the buffer as a string.
 	///
 	/// \returns buffer contents as a string
-	std::string getText() const;
+	[[deprecated("use string() operator")]] std::string getText() const;
 	
 	/// Use buffer as a string via cast.
 	///