diff --git a/tools/perf/util/header.c b/tools/perf/util/header.c
index a11f6760cce8..de9b369d2d2e 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/header.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/header.c
@@ -3027,7 +3027,7 @@ perf_event__synthesize_event_update_name(struct perf_tool *tool,
 	if (ev == NULL)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
-	strncpy(ev->data, evsel->name, len);
+	strlcpy(ev->data, evsel->name, len + 1);
 	err = process(tool, (union perf_event*) ev, NULL, NULL);
 	free(ev);
 	return err;