diff --git a/drivers/staging/speakup/main.c b/drivers/staging/speakup/main.c
index 869f40ebf1a7079dc6f0be3ce25f2ffa46b50df9..8dd47a995fd9f68b3fa3231aba72862d5336daf9 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/speakup/main.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/speakup/main.c
@@ -577,7 +577,7 @@ static u_long get_word(struct vc_data *vc)
 	}
 	attr_ch = get_char(vc, (u_short *)tmp_pos, &spk_attr);
 	buf[cnt++] = attr_ch;
-	while (tmpx < vc->vc_cols - 1) {
+	while (tmpx < vc->vc_cols - 1 && cnt < sizeof(buf) - 1) {
 		tmp_pos += 2;
 		tmpx++;
 		ch = get_char(vc, (u_short *)tmp_pos, &temp);