--- a/src/buffer.c Thu Dec 11 23:07:24 2025 +0100 +++ b/src/buffer.c Thu Dec 11 23:47:46 2025 +0100 @@ -395,12 +395,27 @@ } int cxBufferTerminate(CxBuffer *buffer) { - if (0 == cxBufferPut(buffer, 0)) { - buffer->size = buffer->pos - 1; - return 0; + // try to extend / shrink the buffer + if (buffer->pos >= buffer->capacity) { + if ((buffer->flags & CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND) == 0) { + return -1; + } + if (cxBufferReserve(buffer, buffer->pos + 1)) { + return -1; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE + } } else { - return -1; + buffer->size = buffer->pos; + cxBufferShrink(buffer, 1); + // set the capacity explicitly, in case shrink was skipped due to CoW + buffer->capacity = buffer->size + 1; } + + // check if we are still on read-only memory + if (buffer_copy_on_write(buffer)) return -1; + + // write the terminator and exit + buffer->space[buffer->pos] = '\0'; + return 0; } size_t cxBufferPutString(