diff --git a/sys/geom/gate/g_gate.c b/sys/geom/gate/g_gate.c
--- a/sys/geom/gate/g_gate.c
+++ b/sys/geom/gate/g_gate.c
@@ -468,6 +468,7 @@
 	struct g_provider *pp, *ropp;
 	struct g_consumer *cp;
 	char name[NAME_MAX];
+	char readprov[NAME_MAX];
 	int error = 0, unit;
 
 	if (ggio->gctl_mediasize <= 0) {
@@ -547,10 +548,11 @@
 	if (ggio->gctl_readprov[0] == '\0') {
 		ropp = NULL;
 	} else {
-		ropp = g_provider_by_name(ggio->gctl_readprov);
+		snprintf(readprov, sizeof(readprov), "%s", ggio->gctl_readprov);
+		ropp = g_provider_by_name(readprov);
 		if (ropp == NULL) {
 			G_GATE_DEBUG(1, "Provider %s doesn't exist.",
-			    ggio->gctl_readprov);
+				     readprov);
 			error = EINVAL;
 			goto fail2;
 		}
@@ -632,6 +634,7 @@
 static int
 g_gate_modify(struct g_gate_softc *sc, struct g_gate_ctl_modify *ggio)
 {
+	char readprov[NAME_MAX];
 	struct g_provider *pp;
 	struct g_consumer *cp;
 	int done, error;
@@ -667,11 +670,12 @@
 		} else
 			mtx_unlock(&sc->sc_read_mtx);
 		if (ggio->gctl_readprov[0] != '\0') {
-			pp = g_provider_by_name(ggio->gctl_readprov);
+			snprintf(readprov, sizeof(readprov), "%s", ggio->gctl_readprov);
+			pp = g_provider_by_name(readprov);
 			if (pp == NULL) {
 				g_topology_unlock();
 				G_GATE_DEBUG(1, "Provider %s doesn't exist.",
-				    ggio->gctl_readprov);
+					     readprov);
 				return (EINVAL);
 			}
 			cp = g_new_consumer(sc->sc_provider->geom);