diff --git a/sys/dev/ow/ow.c b/sys/dev/ow/ow.c
index f854d250be8..ea788907e26 100644
--- a/sys/dev/ow/ow.c
+++ b/sys/dev/ow/ow.c
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ ow_child_location_str(device_t dev, device_t child, char *buf,
     size_t buflen)
 {
 
-	snprintf(buf, buflen, "");
+	*buf = '\0';
 	return (0);
 }