diff --git a/src/Mesh.cpp b/src/Mesh.cpp
index 57fee1403..5968313ef 100644
--- a/src/Mesh.cpp
+++ b/src/Mesh.cpp
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ int Mesh::searchChannelsByHash(const uint8_t* hash, GroupChannel channels[], int
 
 DispatcherAction Mesh::onRecvPacket(Packet* pkt) {
   if (pkt->isRouteDirect() && pkt->getPayloadType() == PAYLOAD_TYPE_TRACE) {
-    if (pkt->path_len < MAX_PATH_SIZE) {
+    if (pkt->path_len + 1 < MAX_PATH_SIZE) {
       uint8_t i = 0;
       uint32_t trace_tag;
       memcpy(&trace_tag, &pkt->payload[i], 4); i += 4;