diff --git a/st.c b/st.c
index 0c1acd4..3e48410 100644
--- a/st.c
+++ b/st.c
@@ -146,7 +146,8 @@ typedef struct {
 /* ESC type [[ [<priv>] <arg> [;]] <mode>] ESC '\' */
 typedef struct {
 	char type;             /* ESC type ... */
-	char buf[STR_BUF_SIZ]; /* raw string */
+	char *buf;             /* allocated raw string */
+	size_t siz;            /* allocation size */
 	size_t len;            /* raw string length */
 	char *args[STR_ARG_SIZ];
 	int narg;              /* nb of args */
@@ -1948,7 +1949,10 @@ strdump(void)
 void
 strreset(void)
 {
-	memset(&strescseq, 0, sizeof(strescseq));
+	strescseq = (STREscape){
+		.buf = xrealloc(strescseq.buf, STR_BUF_SIZ),
+		.siz = STR_BUF_SIZ,
+	};
 }
 
 void
@@ -2330,7 +2334,7 @@ tputc(Rune u)
 		if (term.esc&ESC_DCS && strescseq.len == 0 && u == 'q')
 			term.mode |= MODE_SIXEL;
 
-		if (strescseq.len+len >= sizeof(strescseq.buf)) {
+		if (strescseq.len+len >= strescseq.siz) {
 			/*
 			 * Here is a bug in terminals. If the user never sends
 			 * some code to stop the str or esc command, then st
@@ -2344,7 +2348,10 @@ tputc(Rune u)
 			 * term.esc = 0;
 			 * strhandle();
 			 */
-			return;
+			if (strescseq.siz > (SIZE_MAX - UTF_SIZ) / 2)
+				return;
+			strescseq.siz *= 2;
+			strescseq.buf = xrealloc(strescseq.buf, strescseq.siz);
 		}
 
 		memmove(&strescseq.buf[strescseq.len], c, len);