diff --git a/src/files.c b/src/files.c
index 96abdb27..0df6c8fd 100644
--- a/src/files.c
+++ b/src/files.c
@@ -45,8 +45,7 @@ static file_format fmt = NIX_FILE;
 void new_file(void)
 {
     fileage = make_new_node(NULL);
-    fileage->data = charalloc(1);
-    fileage->data[0] = '\0';
+    fileage->data = mallocstrcpy(NULL, "");
     filebot = fileage;
     edittop = fileage;
     current = fileage;