diff --git a/buffer.h b/buffer.h
index 84de9d1..878df4f 100644
--- a/buffer.h
+++ b/buffer.h
@@ -4,12 +4,14 @@
 #include "crypt.h"
 #include "line.h"
 
-#define NPAT    128		/* # of bytes, pattern          */
-
-typedef char fname_t[ 80] ;	/* file name */
-typedef char bname_t[ 16] ;	/* buffer name */
+typedef char fname_t[ 80] ;	/* file name type */
+typedef char bname_t[ 16] ;	/* buffer name type */
 #define NBUFN sizeof( bname_t)
 
+#if CRYPT
+typedef char ekey_t[ 128] ; /* encryption key type */
+#endif
+
 /*
  * Text is kept in buffers. A buffer header, described below, exists for every
  * buffer in the system. The buffers are kept in a big list, so that commands
@@ -35,7 +37,7 @@ struct buffer {
 	fname_t b_fname ;	/* File name                    */
 	bname_t b_bname ;	/* Buffer name                  */
 #if CRYPT
-	char b_key[NPAT];	/* current encrypted key        */
+	ekey_t	b_key ;		/* current encrypted key        */
 #endif
 };
 
diff --git a/file.c b/file.c
index 25c8466..9594553 100644
--- a/file.c
+++ b/file.c
@@ -153,14 +153,14 @@ int set_encryption_key(int f, int n)
 {
 	int status;	/* return status */
 	int odisinp;		/* original vlaue of disinp */
-	char key[NPAT];		/* new encryption string */
+	ekey_t	key ;	/* new encryption string */
 
 	/* turn command input echo off */
 	odisinp = disinp;
 	disinp = FALSE;
 
 	/* get the string to use as an encrytion string */
-	status = mlreply("Encryption String: ", key, NPAT - 1);
+	status = mlreply("Encryption String: ", key, sizeof key - 1);
 	disinp = odisinp;
 	if (status != TRUE)
 		return status;
diff --git a/main.c b/main.c
index 78b91b5..6c0ee7b 100644
--- a/main.c
+++ b/main.c
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	bname_t bname ;	/* buffer name of file to read */
 #if	CRYPT
 	int cryptflag;		/* encrypting on the way in? */
-	char ekey[NPAT];	/* startup encryption key */
+	ekey_t	ekey ;	/* startup encryption key */
 #endif
 	int newc;
 
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 			case 'k':	/* -k<key> for code key */
 			case 'K':
 				cryptflag = TRUE;
-				strncpy( ekey, &argv[ carg][ 2], sizeof ekey - 1) ; /* max encryption pattern limited to NPAT - 1 */
+				strncpy( ekey, &argv[ carg][ 2], sizeof ekey - 1) ;
 				ekey[ sizeof ekey - 1] = 0 ;
 				break;
 #endif
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 #if	CRYPT
 			if (cryptflag) {
 				bp->b_mode |= MDCRYPT;
-				strncpy( bp->b_key, ekey, NPAT) ;
+				strncpy( bp->b_key, ekey, sizeof ekey) ;
 				cryptbufferkey( bp) ;
 			}
 #endif