diff --git a/strbuf.h b/strbuf.h
index 2075384e0b..1a77fe146a 100644
--- a/strbuf.h
+++ b/strbuf.h
@@ -147,7 +147,10 @@ static inline void strbuf_setlen(struct strbuf *sb, size_t len)
 	if (len > (sb->alloc ? sb->alloc - 1 : 0))
 		die("BUG: strbuf_setlen() beyond buffer");
 	sb->len = len;
-	sb->buf[len] = '\0';
+	if (sb->buf != strbuf_slopbuf)
+		sb->buf[len] = '\0';
+	else
+		assert(!strbuf_slopbuf[0]);
 }
 
 /**