diff --git a/bin/xbps-query/list.c b/bin/xbps-query/list.c
index cf853314..b16663dc 100644
--- a/bin/xbps-query/list.c
+++ b/bin/xbps-query/list.c
@@ -81,9 +81,9 @@ list_pkgs_in_dict(struct xbps_handle *xhp UNUSED,
 		short_desc);
 	/* add ellipsis if the line was truncated */
 	if (len >= lpc->maxcols && lpc->maxcols > 4) {
-		for (unsigned int j = 0; j < 3; j++)
-			lpc->linebuf[lpc->maxcols-j-1] = '.';
-		lpc->linebuf[lpc->maxcols] = '\0';
+		lpc->linebuf[lpc->maxcols - 4] = '.';
+		lpc->linebuf[lpc->maxcols - 3] = '.';
+		lpc->linebuf[lpc->maxcols - 2] = '.';
 	}
 	puts(lpc->linebuf);