diff --git a/i3bar/src/main.c b/i3bar/src/main.c
index 3b5d7546..14e42a2b 100644
--- a/i3bar/src/main.c
+++ b/i3bar/src/main.c
@@ -93,6 +93,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
     int opt;
     int option_index = 0;
     char *socket_path = getenv("I3SOCK");
+    if (socket_path != NULL) {
+        socket_path = sstrdup(socket_path);
+    }
     char *i3_default_sock_path = "/tmp/i3-ipc.sock";
 
     /* Initialize the standard config to use 0 as default */