diff --git a/opal/util/path.c b/opal/util/path.c
index ecd977e5e4..3d3501096d 100644
--- a/opal/util/path.c
+++ b/opal/util/path.c
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ char* opal_find_absolute_path( char* app_name )
     }
     
     if( NULL != abs_app_name ) {
-        char resolved_path[PATH_MAX];
+        char* resolved_path = (char*)malloc(PATH_MAX);
 #if !defined(__WINDOWS__)
         realpath( abs_app_name, resolved_path );
 #else
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ char* opal_find_absolute_path( char* app_name )
 #endif
 #endif  /* !defined(__WINDOWS__) */
         if( abs_app_name != app_name ) free(abs_app_name);
-        return strdup(resolved_path);
+        return resolved_path;
     }
     return NULL;
 }