diff --git a/src/libespeak-ng/dictionary.c b/src/libespeak-ng/dictionary.c
index f6bdf182..5d1f44ba 100644
--- a/src/libespeak-ng/dictionary.c
+++ b/src/libespeak-ng/dictionary.c
@@ -212,7 +212,8 @@ int LoadDictionary(Translator *tr, const char *name, int no_error)
 	int size;
 	char fname[sizeof(path_home)+20];
 
-	strncpy(dictionary_name, name, 40); // currently loaded dictionary name
+	if (dictionary_name != name)
+		strncpy(dictionary_name, name, 40); // currently loaded dictionary name
 	strncpy(tr->dictionary_name, name, 40);
 
 	// Load a pronunciation data file into memory