diff --git a/main.c b/main.c
index 63eb40c..812ce14 100644
--- a/main.c
+++ b/main.c
@@ -245,7 +245,8 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 			case 's':	/* -s for initial search string */
 			case 'S':
 				searchflag = TRUE;
-				strncpy(pat, &argv[carg][2], NPAT);
+				strncpy( pat, &argv[ carg][ 2], NPAT - 1) ;
+				pat[ NPAT -1] = 0 ;
 				break;
 			case 'v':	/* -v for View File */
 			case 'V':