diff --git a/plugins/experimental/fq_pacing/fq_pacing.cc b/plugins/experimental/fq_pacing/fq_pacing.cc
index 68663485f9b..c91cea4b83a 100644
--- a/plugins/experimental/fq_pacing/fq_pacing.cc
+++ b/plugins/experimental/fq_pacing/fq_pacing.cc
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ fq_is_default_qdisc()
     return 0;
   }
 
-  s = TSfread(f, buffer, sizeof(buffer));
+  s = TSfread(f, buffer, sizeof(buffer) - 1);
   if (s > 0) {
     buffer[s] = 0;
   } else {