diff --git a/src/lib/fbuf.h b/src/lib/fbuf.h
index 672f95275..d004f8484 100644
--- a/src/lib/fbuf.h
+++ b/src/lib/fbuf.h
@@ -155,6 +155,14 @@ fbuf_reset(fbuf* f){
   f->used = 0;
 }
 
+static inline int
+fbuf_reserve(fbuf* f, size_t len){
+  if(fbuf_grow(f, len)){
+    return -1;
+  }
+  return 0;
+}
+
 static inline int
 fbuf_putc(fbuf* f, char c){
   if(fbuf_grow(f, 1)){
diff --git a/src/lib/linux.c b/src/lib/linux.c
index ec2ff71c7..140431d85 100644
--- a/src/lib/linux.c
+++ b/src/lib/linux.c
@@ -39,8 +39,7 @@ int fbcon_blit(struct ncplane* n, int linesize, const void* data,
   int cdimy = s->cellpxy;
   // FIXME this will need be a copy of the tinfo's fbuf map
   size_t flen = leny * lenx * 4;
-  s->glyph.buf = malloc(flen);
-  if(s->glyph.buf == NULL){
+  if(fbuf_reserve(&s->glyph, flen)){
     return -1;
   }
   tament* tam = NULL;
@@ -114,7 +113,7 @@ error:
   if(!reuse){
     free(tam);
   }
-  free(s->glyph.buf);
+  fbuf_free(&s->glyph);
   s->glyph.size = 0;
   return -1;
 }