diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi.c b/drivers/spi/spi.c
index 1771b24..ecca4a6 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi.c
@@ -218,6 +218,8 @@
 	if (!spi_master_get(master))
 		return NULL;
 
+	WARN_ON(strlen(chip->modalias) >= sizeof(proxy->modalias));
+
 	proxy = kzalloc(sizeof *proxy, GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!proxy) {
 		dev_err(dev, "can't alloc dev for cs%d\n",
@@ -229,7 +231,7 @@
 	proxy->max_speed_hz = chip->max_speed_hz;
 	proxy->mode = chip->mode;
 	proxy->irq = chip->irq;
-	proxy->modalias = chip->modalias;
+	strlcpy(proxy->modalias, chip->modalias, sizeof(proxy->modalias));
 
 	snprintf(proxy->dev.bus_id, sizeof proxy->dev.bus_id,
 			"%s.%u", master->dev.bus_id,