diff --git a/python/src/deltachat/account.py b/python/src/deltachat/account.py
index e6749c7ba..b1b08b43b 100644
--- a/python/src/deltachat/account.py
+++ b/python/src/deltachat/account.py
@@ -284,9 +284,9 @@ class Account:
         :returns: :class:`deltachat.contact.Contact` instance.
         """
         (name, addr) = self.get_contact_addr_and_name(obj, name)
-        name = as_dc_charpointer(name)
-        addr = as_dc_charpointer(addr)
-        contact_id = lib.dc_create_contact(self._dc_context, name, addr)
+        name_c = as_dc_charpointer(name)
+        addr_c = as_dc_charpointer(addr)
+        contact_id = lib.dc_create_contact(self._dc_context, name_c, addr_c)
         return Contact(self, contact_id)
 
     def get_contact(self, obj) -> Optional[Contact]:
diff --git a/python/src/deltachat/chat.py b/python/src/deltachat/chat.py
index 77fac073d..e666b6cd4 100644
--- a/python/src/deltachat/chat.py
+++ b/python/src/deltachat/chat.py
@@ -162,8 +162,8 @@ class Chat:
         :param name: as a unicode string.
         :returns: True on success, False otherwise
         """
-        name = as_dc_charpointer(name)
-        return bool(lib.dc_set_chat_name(self.account._dc_context, self.id, name))
+        name_c = as_dc_charpointer(name)
+        return bool(lib.dc_set_chat_name(self.account._dc_context, self.id, name_c))
 
     def get_color(self):
         """return the color of the chat.