diff --git a/src/bin/embryo/embryo_cc_sc1.c b/src/bin/embryo/embryo_cc_sc1.c
index 760bd3c1f6..2e0528cdd4 100644
--- a/src/bin/embryo/embryo_cc_sc1.c
+++ b/src/bin/embryo/embryo_cc_sc1.c
@@ -651,7 +651,7 @@ setopt(int argc, char **argv, char *iname, char *oname,
 static void
 setconfig(char *root)
 {
-   char                path[PATH_MAX];
+   char                path[PATH_MAX - 1];
    char               *ptr;
    int                 len;