diff --git a/tools/perf/ui/tui/helpline.c b/tools/perf/ui/tui/helpline.c
index 88f5143a5981..3c97e27383a9 100644
--- a/tools/perf/ui/tui/helpline.c
+++ b/tools/perf/ui/tui/helpline.c
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ static void tui_helpline__push(const char *msg)
 	SLsmg_set_color(0);
 	SLsmg_write_nstring((char *)msg, SLtt_Screen_Cols);
 	SLsmg_refresh();
-	strncpy(ui_helpline__current, msg, sz)[sz - 1] = '\0';
+	strlcpy(ui_helpline__current, msg, sz);
 }
 
 static int tui_helpline__show(const char *format, va_list ap)