diff --git a/src/timezone/zic.c b/src/timezone/zic.c
index 0ea6ead2db..a5f7e7f1cd 100644
--- a/src/timezone/zic.c
+++ b/src/timezone/zic.c
@@ -1129,9 +1129,9 @@ static bool
 itssymlink(char const *name)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_SYMLINK
-	char		c;
+	char		linkpath[MAXPGPATH];
 
-	return 0 <= readlink(name, &c, 1);
+	return 0 <= readlink(name, linkpath, sizeof(linkpath));
 #else
 	return false;
 #endif