diff --git a/xargs.c b/xargs.c
index cecba80..7742be2 100644
--- a/xargs.c
+++ b/xargs.c
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ static void spawn(void);
 
 static char **cmd;
 static char *argb;
-static size_t argbsz = 1;
+static size_t argbsz;
 static size_t argbpos;
 static int nerrors = 0;
 static char *eofstr;
@@ -65,10 +65,6 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	if (!cmd)
 		eprintf("malloc:");
 
-	argb = malloc(argbsz);
-	if (!argb)
-		eprintf("malloc:");
-
 	do {
 		argsz = 0; i = 0;
 		if (argc > 0) {
@@ -135,7 +131,7 @@ static void
 fillargbuf(int ch)
 {
 	if (argbpos >= argbsz) {
-		argbsz *= 2;
+		argbsz = argbpos == 0 ? 1 : argbsz * 2;
 		argb = realloc(argb, argbsz);
 		if (!argb)
 			eprintf("realloc:");