diff --git a/src/bin/hey.cpp b/src/bin/hey.cpp
index a086c5db18..646a6a5ee8 100644
--- a/src/bin/hey.cpp
+++ b/src/bin/hey.cpp
@@ -1168,7 +1168,7 @@ format_data(int32 type, char *ptr, long size)
 	char *tempstr;
 
 	if (size <= 0L) {
-		str = new char;
+		str = new char[1];
 		*str = 0;
 		return str;
 	}