diff --git a/usr.sbin/flowctl/flowctl.c b/usr.sbin/flowctl/flowctl.c
index 531b98869d95..0c7539a4c3f5 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/flowctl/flowctl.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/flowctl/flowctl.c
@@ -222,10 +222,12 @@ ctl_show(int argc, char **argv)
 static void
 do_show(int version, void (*func)(struct ngnf_show_header *))
 {
-	struct ng_mesg ng_mesg[SORCVBUF_SIZE];
+	char buf[SORCVBUF_SIZE];
+	struct ng_mesg *ng_mesg;
 	struct ngnf_show_header req, *resp;
 	int token, nread;
 
+	ng_mesg = (struct ng_mesg *)buf;
 	req.version = version;
 	req.hash_id = req.list_id = 0;