diff --git a/libexec/bootpd/getether.c b/libexec/bootpd/getether.c
index e894e53dc7e8..3a658266891e 100644
--- a/libexec/bootpd/getether.c
+++ b/libexec/bootpd/getether.c
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ getether(ifname, eap)
 	int nit;
 
 	bzero((char *) &ifrnit, sizeof(ifrnit));
-	strncpy(&ifrnit.ifr_name[0], ifname, IFNAMSIZ);
+	strlcpy(&ifrnit.ifr_name[0], ifname, IFNAMSIZ);
 
 	nit = open("/dev/nit", 0);
 	if (nit < 0) {