diff --git a/src/ntfs-3g.c b/src/ntfs-3g.c
index 155dcb1e..0ec870ed 100644
--- a/src/ntfs-3g.c
+++ b/src/ntfs-3g.c
@@ -1898,7 +1898,10 @@ static int strappend(char **dest, const char *append)
 		return -1;
 	}
 	
-	strcat(p, append);
+	if (*dest)
+		strcat(p, append);
+	else
+		strcpy(p, append);
 	*dest = p;
 	
 	return 0;