diff --git a/usr.sbin/pwd_mkdb/pwd_mkdb.c b/usr.sbin/pwd_mkdb/pwd_mkdb.c
index eec546c97c9c..880447117449 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/pwd_mkdb/pwd_mkdb.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/pwd_mkdb/pwd_mkdb.c
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ main(argc, argv)
 			cflag = 1;
 			break;
 		case 'd':
-			strcpy(prefix, optarg);
+			strncpy(prefix, optarg, sizeof prefix - 1);
 			break;
 		case 'p':			/* create V7 "file.orig" */
 			makeold = 1;