diff --git a/fs/coda/upcall.c b/fs/coda/upcall.c
index 9b1ffaa0572e..f6c6c8adbc01 100644
--- a/fs/coda/upcall.c
+++ b/fs/coda/upcall.c
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ int venus_readlink(struct super_block *sb, struct CodaFid *fid,
         char *result;
         
 	insize = max_t(unsigned int,
-		     INSIZE(readlink), OUTSIZE(readlink)+ *length + 1);
+		     INSIZE(readlink), OUTSIZE(readlink)+ *length);
 	UPARG(CODA_READLINK);
 
         inp->coda_readlink.VFid = *fid;
@@ -361,8 +361,8 @@ int venus_readlink(struct super_block *sb, struct CodaFid *fid,
 	error = coda_upcall(coda_vcp(sb), insize, &outsize, inp);
 	if (!error) {
 		retlen = outp->coda_readlink.count;
-		if ( retlen > *length )
-			retlen = *length;
+		if (retlen >= *length)
+			retlen = *length - 1;
 		*length = retlen;
 		result =  (char *)outp + (long)outp->coda_readlink.data;
 		memcpy(buffer, result, retlen);