diff --git a/life.c b/life.c
--- a/life.c
+++ b/life.c
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 
     while (inp == NULL) {
         printf ("Please enter the file name>> ");
-        if (scanf ("%s", file) < 1)
+        if (scanf ("%80s", file) < 1)
             return -1;
 
         inp = fopen (file, "r");