diff --git a/headers/private/kernel/vm/VMArea.h b/headers/private/kernel/vm/VMArea.h
index 0c4337a9e4..7ec9281b04 100644
--- a/headers/private/kernel/vm/VMArea.h
+++ b/headers/private/kernel/vm/VMArea.h
@@ -97,8 +97,8 @@ public:
 	};
 
 public:
-	char*					name;
 	area_id					id;
+	char					name[B_OS_NAME_LENGTH];
 	uint32					protection;
 	uint16					wiring;
 
diff --git a/src/system/kernel/vm/VMArea.cpp b/src/system/kernel/vm/VMArea.cpp
index ffe111e13f..cd29076bca 100644
--- a/src/system/kernel/vm/VMArea.cpp
+++ b/src/system/kernel/vm/VMArea.cpp
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ static area_id sNextAreaID = 1;
 
 VMArea::VMArea(VMAddressSpace* addressSpace, uint32 wiring, uint32 protection)
 	:
-	name(NULL),
 	protection(protection),
 	wiring(wiring),
 	memory_type(0),
@@ -53,23 +52,14 @@ VMArea::~VMArea()
 		// TODO: This might be stricter than necessary.
 
 	free_etc(page_protections, flags);
-	free_etc(name, flags);
 }
 
 
 status_t
 VMArea::Init(const char* name, uint32 allocationFlags)
 {
-	// restrict the area name to B_OS_NAME_LENGTH
-	size_t length = strlen(name) + 1;
-	if (length > B_OS_NAME_LENGTH)
-		length = B_OS_NAME_LENGTH;
-
-	// clone the name
-	this->name = (char*)malloc_etc(length, allocationFlags);
-	if (this->name == NULL)
-		return B_NO_MEMORY;
-	strlcpy(this->name, name, length);
+	// copy the name
+	strlcpy(this->name, name, B_OS_NAME_LENGTH);
 
 	id = atomic_add(&sNextAreaID, 1);
 	return B_OK;