diff --git a/golded3/gerand.cpp b/golded3/gerand.cpp
index a5e4164..96794e2 100644
--- a/golded3/gerand.cpp
+++ b/golded3/gerand.cpp
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@ char* GetRandomLine(char* __buf, size_t __bufsize, const char* file)
   Path indexfile;
   Path __file;
 
-  strxcpy(__buf, "", __bufsize);
   strxcpy(__file, file, sizeof(Path));
+  strxcpy(__buf, "", __bufsize);
   strschg_environ(__file);
 
   replaceextension(indexfile, __file, ".sdx");