diff --git a/libraries/Ethernet/Udp.h b/libraries/Ethernet/Udp.h
index 3970a9662..8cd3b065a 100644
--- a/libraries/Ethernet/Udp.h
+++ b/libraries/Ethernet/Udp.h
@@ -80,6 +80,9 @@ public:
   // Read up to len bytes from the current packet and place them into buffer
   // Returns the number of bytes read, or 0 if none are available
   virtual int read(unsigned char* buffer, size_t len);
+  // Read up to len characters from the current packet and place them into buffer
+  // Returns the number of characters read, or 0 if none are available
+  virtual int read(char* buffer, size_t len) { return read((unsigned char*)buffer, len); };
   // Return the next byte from the current packet without moving on to the next byte
   virtual int peek();
   virtual void flush();	// Finish reading the current packet
diff --git a/libraries/Ethernet/examples/UDPSendReceiveString/UDPSendReceiveString.pde b/libraries/Ethernet/examples/UDPSendReceiveString/UDPSendReceiveString.pde
index e23410139..081d69114 100644
--- a/libraries/Ethernet/examples/UDPSendReceiveString/UDPSendReceiveString.pde
+++ b/libraries/Ethernet/examples/UDPSendReceiveString/UDPSendReceiveString.pde
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ void loop() {
     Serial.println(Udp.remotePort());
 
     // read the packet into packetBufffer
-    Udp.read((byte*)packetBuffer,UDP_TX_PACKET_MAX_SIZE);
+    Udp.read(packetBuffer,UDP_TX_PACKET_MAX_SIZE);
     Serial.println("Contents:");
     Serial.println(packetBuffer);