diff --git a/migration/global_state.c b/migration/global_state.c
index c1f90fce0f..91fefdf525 100644
--- a/migration/global_state.c
+++ b/migration/global_state.c
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ static const VMStateDescription vmstate_globalstate = {
 void register_global_state(void)
 {
     /* We would use it independently that we receive it */
-    strcpy((char *)&global_state.runstate, "");
+    global_state.runstate[0] = '\0';
     global_state.received = false;
     vmstate_register(NULL, 0, &vmstate_globalstate, &global_state);
 }