diff --git a/src/util/util.fh b/src/util/util.fh
index 95d91b1de9..f0ad830b54 100644
--- a/src/util/util.fh
+++ b/src/util/util.fh
@@ -29,5 +29,5 @@ c
       external util_get_io_unit
 c
       integer nw_max_path_len   ! Maximum path len -> posix standard is what?
-      parameter (nw_max_path_len = 255)
+      parameter (nw_max_path_len = 256)
 c
diff --git a/src/util/util_nwchem_srcdir.F b/src/util/util_nwchem_srcdir.F
index ba119e91c4..3a3337b171 100644
--- a/src/util/util_nwchem_srcdir.F
+++ b/src/util/util_nwchem_srcdir.F
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ C> interface that can simply be called from the Fortran code without
 C> having to pull any stunts.
 C>
       subroutine util_nwchem_srcdir(pathname)
-#define MAXLENGTH 255
+#define MAXLENGTH 256
 #ifdef NWCHEM_LONG_PATHS
       USE ISO_C_BINDING
 #endif