diff --git a/Lib/python/pyinit.swg b/Lib/python/pyinit.swg
index 516cd628b..4e13ed57a 100644
--- a/Lib/python/pyinit.swg
+++ b/Lib/python/pyinit.swg
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ SWIG_Python_addvarlink(PyObject *p, char *name, PyObject *(*get_attr)(void), int
     size_t size = strlen(name)+1;
     gv->name = (char *)malloc(size);
     if (gv->name) {
-      strncpy(gv->name,name,size);
+      memcpy(gv->name, name, size);
       gv->get_attr = get_attr;
       gv->set_attr = set_attr;
       gv->next = v->vars;