diff --git a/preprocessor/DataTree.cc b/preprocessor/DataTree.cc
index 6eba15a0f..c38d16ac4 100644
--- a/preprocessor/DataTree.cc
+++ b/preprocessor/DataTree.cc
@@ -457,18 +457,16 @@ DataTree::AddEqual(NodeID iArg1, NodeID iArg2)
 }
 
 void
-DataTree::AddLocalVariable(const string &name, NodeID value) throw (LocalVariableException)
+DataTree::AddLocalVariable(int symb_id, NodeID value) throw (LocalVariableException)
 {
-  int id = symbol_table.getID(name);
-
-  assert(symbol_table.getType(id) == eModelLocalVariable);
+  assert(symbol_table.getType(symb_id) == eModelLocalVariable);
 
   // Throw an exception if symbol already declared
-  map<int, NodeID>::iterator it = local_variables_table.find(id);
+  map<int, NodeID>::iterator it = local_variables_table.find(symb_id);
   if (it != local_variables_table.end())
-    throw LocalVariableException(name);
+    throw LocalVariableException(symbol_table.getName(symb_id));
 
-  local_variables_table[id] = value;
+  local_variables_table[symb_id] = value;
 }
 
 NodeID
diff --git a/preprocessor/DataTree.hh b/preprocessor/DataTree.hh
index 8072ba59e..de50a52b7 100644
--- a/preprocessor/DataTree.hh
+++ b/preprocessor/DataTree.hh
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ public:
   //! Adds "arg1=arg2" to model tree
   NodeID AddEqual(NodeID iArg1, NodeID iArg2);
   //! Adds a model local variable with its value
-  void AddLocalVariable(const string &name, NodeID value) throw (LocalVariableException);
+  void AddLocalVariable(int symb_id, NodeID value) throw (LocalVariableException);
   //! Adds an external function node
   NodeID AddExternalFunction(const string &function_name, const vector<NodeID> &arguments);
   //! Adds an external function node
diff --git a/preprocessor/DynamicModel.cc b/preprocessor/DynamicModel.cc
index 28812b20e..7bd7795c9 100644
--- a/preprocessor/DynamicModel.cc
+++ b/preprocessor/DynamicModel.cc
@@ -2455,7 +2455,7 @@ DynamicModel::toStatic(StaticModel &static_model) const
   // Convert model local variables (need to be done first)
   for (map<int, NodeID>::const_iterator it = local_variables_table.begin();
        it != local_variables_table.end(); it++)
-    static_model.AddLocalVariable(symbol_table.getName(it->first), it->second->toStatic(static_model));
+    static_model.AddLocalVariable(it->first, it->second->toStatic(static_model));
 
   // Convert equations
   for (vector<BinaryOpNode *>::const_iterator it = equations.begin();
diff --git a/preprocessor/ParsingDriver.cc b/preprocessor/ParsingDriver.cc
index 33cd1e765..0582eba3d 100644
--- a/preprocessor/ParsingDriver.cc
+++ b/preprocessor/ParsingDriver.cc
@@ -1399,7 +1399,8 @@ ParsingDriver::declare_and_init_model_local_variable(string *name, NodeID rhs)
       error("Local model variable " + *name + " declared twice.");
     }
 
-  model_tree->AddLocalVariable(*name, rhs);
+  int symb_id = mod_file->symbol_table.getID(*name);
+  model_tree->AddLocalVariable(symb_id, rhs);
   delete name;
 }