diff --git a/libs/libc/net/lib_nametoindex.c b/libs/libc/net/lib_nametoindex.c
index 1dcc0284f5..8adc63817b 100644
--- a/libs/libc/net/lib_nametoindex.c
+++ b/libs/libc/net/lib_nametoindex.c
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ unsigned int if_nametoindex(FAR const char *ifname)
   if (sockfd >= 0)
     {
       struct ifreq req;
-      strncpy(req.ifr_name, ifname, IF_NAMESIZE);
+      strlcpy(req.ifr_name, ifname, IF_NAMESIZE);
       if (ioctl(sockfd, SIOCGIFINDEX, (unsigned long)&req) >= 0)
         {
           close(sockfd);