diff --git a/crypto/conf/conf_def.c b/crypto/conf/conf_def.c
index b4903772e3..1da68f9334 100644
--- a/crypto/conf/conf_def.c
+++ b/crypto/conf/conf_def.c
@@ -223,12 +223,11 @@ static int def_load_bio(CONF *conf, BIO *in, long *line)
         goto err;
     }
 
-    section = OPENSSL_malloc(10);
+    section = BUF_strdup("default");
     if (section == NULL) {
         CONFerr(CONF_F_DEF_LOAD_BIO, ERR_R_MALLOC_FAILURE);
         goto err;
     }
-    BUF_strlcpy(section, "default", 10);
 
     if (_CONF_new_data(conf) == 0) {
         CONFerr(CONF_F_DEF_LOAD_BIO, ERR_R_MALLOC_FAILURE);