diff --git a/usr.bin/make/var.c b/usr.bin/make/var.c
index 13d9f95458a..1ef766fd28b 100644
--- a/usr.bin/make/var.c
+++ b/usr.bin/make/var.c
@@ -1751,7 +1751,7 @@ Var_Subst(const char *var, char *str, GNode *ctxt, Boolean undefErr)
 					 * been reported to prevent a plethora
 					 * of messages when recursing */
 
-    buf = Buf_Init(MAKE_BSIZE);
+    buf = Buf_Init(0);
     errorReported = FALSE;
 
     while (*str) {