diff --git a/tools/pvck.c b/tools/pvck.c
index d81966966..b15158746 100644
--- a/tools/pvck.c
+++ b/tools/pvck.c
@@ -898,7 +898,7 @@ static int _dump_current_text(struct device *dev, struct devicefile *def,
 	int ri = rlocn_index; /* 0 or 1 */
 	int bad = 0;
 
-	if (!(meta_buf = zalloc(meta_size))) {
+	if (!(meta_buf = zalloc(meta_size + 1))) {
 		log_print("CHECK: mda_header_%d.raw_locn[%d] no mem for metadata text size %llu", mn, ri,
 			  (unsigned long long)meta_size);
 		return 0;