diff --git a/src/buffer.c b/src/buffer.c
index 8bd3a35..6d44fa7 100644
--- a/src/buffer.c
+++ b/src/buffer.c
@@ -4860,7 +4860,7 @@
 	     */
 	    for (e = s; *e != ':' && *e != NUL; ++e)
 		if (e[0] == '\\' && e[1] == ':')
-		    STRCPY(e, e + 1);
+		    mch_memmove(e, e + 1, STRLEN(e));
 	    if (*e == NUL)
 		end = TRUE;