diff --git a/src/lib/commands/chan.c b/src/lib/commands/chan.c
index 85820fa6..6f8011d3 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/chan.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/chan.c
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ chan(void)
 	if ((p = getstarg(player->argp[2],
 			  "New representative name -- ", buf)) == 0)
 	    return RET_SYN;
-	p[8] = 0;
+	p[sizeof(us->nat_pnam) - 1] = 0;
 	strcpy(us->nat_pnam, p);
 	putnat(us);
 	break;