diff --git a/libs/define.c b/libs/define.c
index 03bc275..da6035d 100644
--- a/libs/define.c
+++ b/libs/define.c
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@
 #define NUMBERSMAXDIGITS      100
 #define NUMBERSBUFSIZE        (NUMBERSMAXDIGITS * 2) + 1
 
+// item
+#define MAXITEMLENGTH         1024
+
 // user friendly names for all the modifiers
 #define CONTROL ControlMask
 #define SHIFT ShiftMask
diff --git a/libs/draw.c b/libs/draw.c
index ca53151..277eeaf 100644
--- a/libs/draw.c
+++ b/libs/draw.c
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ drawhighlights(struct item *item, int x, int y, int w)
 int
 drawitem(struct item *item, int x, int y, int w)
 {
-    char buffer[sizeof(item->text) + lrpad / 2];
+    char buffer[MAXITEMLENGTH];
     Clr scm[3];
     int lp = lrpad / 2; // padding
     int wr, rd;