diff --git a/migration/global_state.c b/migration/global_state.c
index 25311479a4..a33947ca32 100644
--- a/migration/global_state.c
+++ b/migration/global_state.c
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ void global_state_store_running(void)
 {
     const char *state = RunState_str(RUN_STATE_RUNNING);
     assert(strlen(state) < sizeof(global_state.runstate));
-    strncpy((char *)global_state.runstate,
-           state, sizeof(global_state.runstate));
+    strpadcpy((char *)global_state.runstate, sizeof(global_state.runstate),
+              state, '\0');
 }
 
 bool global_state_received(void)