diff --git a/src/tag.h b/src/tag.h
index ba28457ce..2a05d1f34 100644
--- a/src/tag.h
+++ b/src/tag.h
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ extern const char *mpdTagItemKeys[];
 
 struct tag_item {
 	enum tag_type type;
-	char value[1];
+	char value[sizeof(long)];
 } mpd_packed;
 
 struct tag {
diff --git a/src/tag_pool.c b/src/tag_pool.c
index 257458795..dc2e0df2b 100644
--- a/src/tag_pool.c
+++ b/src/tag_pool.c
@@ -69,7 +69,9 @@ static struct slot *slot_alloc(struct slot *next,
 			       enum tag_type type,
 			       const char *value, int length)
 {
-	struct slot *slot = xmalloc(sizeof(*slot) + length);
+	struct slot *slot;
+
+	slot = xmalloc(sizeof(*slot) - sizeof(slot->item.value) + length + 1);
 	slot->next = next;
 	slot->ref = 1;
 	slot->item.type = type;