diff --git a/src/database.c b/src/database.c
index ffcf9c9..addf45c 100644
--- a/src/database.c
+++ b/src/database.c
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ int imdb_open(imdb_db_t *db, const char *path, int write)
     return -1;
   }
   db->write = write;
-  db->path  = path;
+  strncpy(db->path, path, sizeof(db->path));
 
   DB_READ(db, buf, IMDB_REC_LEN, 0);
 
diff --git a/src/database.h b/src/database.h
index 136e35f..337fca1 100644
--- a/src/database.h
+++ b/src/database.h
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 typedef struct {
   int fd;
   int write;
-  const char *path;
+  char path[PATH_MAX];
   const char *errstr;
   unsigned char caps[8];
 } imdb_db_t;