diff --git a/cde/programs/dtdocbook/instant/main.c b/cde/programs/dtdocbook/instant/main.c
index c3833687e..09554a490 100644
--- a/cde/programs/dtdocbook/instant/main.c
+++ b/cde/programs/dtdocbook/instant/main.c
@@ -621,7 +621,7 @@ CmdLineSetVariable(
     int		n;
 
     /* Turn '=' into a space, to isolate the name.  Then set variable. */
-    strcpy(buf, var);
+    snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s", var);
     if ((cp=strchr(buf, '='))) {
 	/* we have "var=value" */
 	*cp = ' ';