diff --git a/src/message.c b/src/message.c
index 2fc6cef..83c8b4f 100644
--- a/src/message.c
+++ b/src/message.c
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@
     else
     {
 	// can't fit in the "...", just truncate it
-	buf[e - 1] = NUL;
+	buf[buflen - 1] = NUL;
     }
 }