diff --git a/src/files.c b/src/files.c
index a762a0df6d249b00a5952c44e15d15cfee0e5e24..836b5e1389bf7cfe8495828e28ca3d6651d2dc80 100644
--- a/src/files.c
+++ b/src/files.c
@@ -746,7 +746,6 @@ void read_file(FILE *f, int fd, const char *filename, bool undoable, bool checkw
     assert(openfile->fileage != NULL && openfile->current != NULL);
 
     buf = charalloc(bufx);
-    buf[0] = '\0';
 
 #ifndef NANO_TINY
     if (undoable)