diff --git a/abspath.c b/abspath.c
index 8194ce1256..649f34f833 100644
--- a/abspath.c
+++ b/abspath.c
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ const char *make_absolute_path(const char *path)
 			len = readlink(buf, next_buf, PATH_MAX);
 			if (len < 0)
 				die ("Invalid symlink: %s", buf);
+			if (PATH_MAX <= len)
+				die("symbolic link too long: %s", buf);
 			next_buf[len] = '\0';
 			buf = next_buf;
 			buf_index = 1 - buf_index;