diff --git a/top/top.c b/top/top.c
index 49a13caf..77781ba3 100644
--- a/top/top.c
+++ b/top/top.c
@@ -1674,7 +1674,7 @@ static inline const char *make_str_utf8 (const char *str, int width, int justr,
    static char buf[SCREENMAX];
    int delta = utf8_delta(str);
 
-   if (width + delta <= snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s", str)) {
+   if (width + delta < snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s", str)) {
       snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%.*s", utf8_embody(str, width - 1), str);
       delta = utf8_delta(buf);
       buf[width + delta - 1] = COLPLUSCH;