diff --git a/src/lib/subs/aircombat.c b/src/lib/subs/aircombat.c
index 400ddcdb..2c6c0f76 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/aircombat.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/aircombat.c
@@ -82,8 +82,6 @@ ac_encounter(struct emp_qelem *bomb_list, struct emp_qelem *esc_list,
     int overfly[MAXNOC];
     int flags;
     struct emp_qelem ilist[MAXNOC];
-    char mypath[1024];
-    int myp;
     int civ, mil;
     natid plane_owner;
     struct sctstr sect;
@@ -103,9 +101,6 @@ ac_encounter(struct emp_qelem *bomb_list, struct emp_qelem *esc_list,
     plp = (struct plist *)bomb_list->q_forw;
     plane_owner = plp->plane.pln_own;
 
-    strncpy(mypath, path, sizeof(mypath));
-    myp = 0;
-
     memset(overfly, 0, sizeof(overfly));
     memset(gotilist, 0, sizeof(gotilist));
     memset(unfriendly, 0, sizeof(unfriendly));
@@ -133,7 +128,7 @@ ac_encounter(struct emp_qelem *bomb_list, struct emp_qelem *esc_list,
 	}
     }
 
-    while ((dir = mypath[myp++]) && !QEMPTY(bomb_list)) {
+    while ((dir = *path++) && !QEMPTY(bomb_list)) {
 	if ((val = diridx(dir)) == DIR_STOP)
 	    break;
 	/* XXX using xnorm is probably bad */