diff --git a/src/driver.c b/src/driver.c
index d4e91c03..ea84d5ab 100644
--- a/src/driver.c
+++ b/src/driver.c
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
  */
 
 #include <sys/types.h>
-
 #include <inttypes.h>
 
 #include "nvml.h"
@@ -89,6 +88,10 @@ driver_init(struct error *err, struct dxcore_context *dxcore, const char *root,
                 .gid = gid,
                 .nvml_dl = NULL,
         };
+        if (strlen(root) > sizeof(ctx->root) {
+                error_setx(err, "root path too long (max %zu bytes)", sizeof(ctx->root) - 1);
+                goto fail;
+        }
         strcpy(ctx->root, root);
 
         if (dxcore->initialized) {