diff --git a/hw/9pfs/cofs.c b/hw/9pfs/cofs.c
index 3891050748..42ee614e27 100644
--- a/hw/9pfs/cofs.c
+++ b/hw/9pfs/cofs.c
@@ -17,35 +17,55 @@
 #include "block/coroutine.h"
 #include "virtio-9p-coth.h"
 
+static ssize_t __readlink(V9fsState *s, V9fsPath *path, V9fsString *buf)
+{
+    ssize_t len, maxlen = PATH_MAX;
+
+    buf->data = g_malloc(PATH_MAX);
+    for(;;) {
+        len = s->ops->readlink(&s->ctx, path, buf->data, maxlen);
+        if (len < 0) {
+            g_free(buf->data);
+            buf->data = NULL;
+            buf->size = 0;
+            break;
+        } else if (len == maxlen) {
+            /*
+             * We dodn't have space to put the NULL or we have more
+             * to read. Increase the size and try again
+             */
+            maxlen *= 2;
+            g_free(buf->data);
+            buf->data = g_malloc(maxlen);
+            continue;
+        }
+        /*
+         * Null terminate the readlink output
+         */
+        buf->data[len] = '\0';
+        buf->size = len;
+        break;
+    }
+    return len;
+}
+
 int v9fs_co_readlink(V9fsPDU *pdu, V9fsPath *path, V9fsString *buf)
 {
     int err;
-    ssize_t len;
     V9fsState *s = pdu->s;
 
     if (v9fs_request_cancelled(pdu)) {
         return -EINTR;
     }
-    buf->data = g_malloc(PATH_MAX);
     v9fs_path_read_lock(s);
     v9fs_co_run_in_worker(
         {
-            len = s->ops->readlink(&s->ctx, path,
-                                   buf->data, PATH_MAX - 1);
-            if (len > -1) {
-                buf->size = len;
-                buf->data[len] = 0;
-                err = 0;
-            } else {
+            err = __readlink(s, path, buf);
+            if (err < 0) {
                 err = -errno;
             }
         });
     v9fs_path_unlock(s);
-    if (err) {
-        g_free(buf->data);
-        buf->data = NULL;
-        buf->size = 0;
-    }
     return err;
 }
 
diff --git a/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-handle.c b/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-handle.c
index 17002a3d28..4b79cefd13 100644
--- a/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-handle.c
+++ b/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-handle.c
@@ -498,7 +498,7 @@ static int handle_lremovexattr(FsContext *ctx, V9fsPath *fs_path,
 static int handle_name_to_path(FsContext *ctx, V9fsPath *dir_path,
                               const char *name, V9fsPath *target)
 {
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
+    char *buffer;
     struct file_handle *fh;
     int dirfd, ret, mnt_id;
     struct handle_data *data = (struct handle_data *)ctx->private;
@@ -513,7 +513,9 @@ static int handle_name_to_path(FsContext *ctx, V9fsPath *dir_path,
         dirfd = open_by_handle(data->mountfd, dir_path->data, O_PATH);
     } else {
         /* relative to export root */
-        dirfd = open(rpath(ctx, ".", buffer), O_DIRECTORY);
+        buffer = rpath(ctx, ".");
+        dirfd = open(buffer, O_DIRECTORY);
+        g_free(buffer);
     }
     if (dirfd < 0) {
         return dirfd;
@@ -521,7 +523,7 @@ static int handle_name_to_path(FsContext *ctx, V9fsPath *dir_path,
     fh = g_malloc(sizeof(struct file_handle) + data->handle_bytes);
     fh->handle_bytes = data->handle_bytes;
     /* add a "./" at the beginning of the path */
-    snprintf(buffer, PATH_MAX, "./%s", name);
+    buffer = g_strdup_printf("./%s", name);
     /* flag = 0 imply don't follow symlink */
     ret = name_to_handle(dirfd, buffer, fh, &mnt_id, 0);
     if (!ret) {
@@ -531,6 +533,7 @@ static int handle_name_to_path(FsContext *ctx, V9fsPath *dir_path,
         g_free(fh);
     }
     close(dirfd);
+    g_free(buffer);
     return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-local.c b/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-local.c
index dc615a4d0f..56b302c122 100644
--- a/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-local.c
+++ b/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-local.c
@@ -42,18 +42,18 @@
 
 #define VIRTFS_META_DIR ".virtfs_metadata"
 
-static const char *local_mapped_attr_path(FsContext *ctx,
-                                          const char *path, char *buffer)
+static char *local_mapped_attr_path(FsContext *ctx, const char *path)
 {
     char *dir_name;
     char *tmp_path = g_strdup(path);
     char *base_name = basename(tmp_path);
+    char *buffer;
 
     /* NULL terminate the directory */
     dir_name = tmp_path;
     *(base_name - 1) = '\0';
 
-    snprintf(buffer, PATH_MAX, "%s/%s/%s/%s",
+    buffer = g_strdup_printf("%s/%s/%s/%s",
              ctx->fs_root, dir_name, VIRTFS_META_DIR, base_name);
     g_free(tmp_path);
     return buffer;
@@ -92,10 +92,11 @@ static void local_mapped_file_attr(FsContext *ctx, const char *path,
 {
     FILE *fp;
     char buf[ATTR_MAX];
-    char attr_path[PATH_MAX];
+    char *attr_path;
 
-    local_mapped_attr_path(ctx, path, attr_path);
+    attr_path = local_mapped_attr_path(ctx, path);
     fp = local_fopen(attr_path, "r");
+    g_free(attr_path);
     if (!fp) {
         return;
     }
@@ -118,12 +119,13 @@ static void local_mapped_file_attr(FsContext *ctx, const char *path,
 static int local_lstat(FsContext *fs_ctx, V9fsPath *fs_path, struct stat *stbuf)
 {
     int err;
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
+    char *buffer;
     char *path = fs_path->data;
 
-    err =  lstat(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer), stbuf);
+    buffer = rpath(fs_ctx, path);
+    err =  lstat(buffer, stbuf);
     if (err) {
-        return err;
+        goto err_out;
     }
     if (fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_MAPPED) {
         /* Actual credentials are part of extended attrs */
@@ -131,41 +133,42 @@ static int local_lstat(FsContext *fs_ctx, V9fsPath *fs_path, struct stat *stbuf)
         gid_t tmp_gid;
         mode_t tmp_mode;
         dev_t tmp_dev;
-        if (getxattr(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer), "user.virtfs.uid", &tmp_uid,
-                    sizeof(uid_t)) > 0) {
+        if (getxattr(buffer, "user.virtfs.uid", &tmp_uid, sizeof(uid_t)) > 0) {
             stbuf->st_uid = tmp_uid;
         }
-        if (getxattr(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer), "user.virtfs.gid", &tmp_gid,
-                    sizeof(gid_t)) > 0) {
+        if (getxattr(buffer, "user.virtfs.gid", &tmp_gid, sizeof(gid_t)) > 0) {
             stbuf->st_gid = tmp_gid;
         }
-        if (getxattr(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer), "user.virtfs.mode",
+        if (getxattr(buffer, "user.virtfs.mode",
                     &tmp_mode, sizeof(mode_t)) > 0) {
             stbuf->st_mode = tmp_mode;
         }
-        if (getxattr(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer), "user.virtfs.rdev", &tmp_dev,
-                        sizeof(dev_t)) > 0) {
+        if (getxattr(buffer, "user.virtfs.rdev", &tmp_dev, sizeof(dev_t)) > 0) {
                 stbuf->st_rdev = tmp_dev;
         }
     } else if (fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_MAPPED_FILE) {
         local_mapped_file_attr(fs_ctx, path, stbuf);
     }
+
+err_out:
+    g_free(buffer);
     return err;
 }
 
 static int local_create_mapped_attr_dir(FsContext *ctx, const char *path)
 {
     int err;
-    char attr_dir[PATH_MAX];
+    char *attr_dir;
     char *tmp_path = g_strdup(path);
 
-    snprintf(attr_dir, PATH_MAX, "%s/%s/%s",
+    attr_dir = g_strdup_printf("%s/%s/%s",
              ctx->fs_root, dirname(tmp_path), VIRTFS_META_DIR);
 
     err = mkdir(attr_dir, 0700);
     if (err < 0 && errno == EEXIST) {
         err = 0;
     }
+    g_free(attr_dir);
     g_free(tmp_path);
     return err;
 }
@@ -176,10 +179,11 @@ static int local_set_mapped_file_attr(FsContext *ctx,
     FILE *fp;
     int ret = 0;
     char buf[ATTR_MAX];
-    char attr_path[PATH_MAX];
+    char *attr_path;
     int uid = -1, gid = -1, mode = -1, rdev = -1;
 
-    fp = local_fopen(local_mapped_attr_path(ctx, path, attr_path), "r");
+    attr_path = local_mapped_attr_path(ctx, path);
+    fp = local_fopen(attr_path, "r");
     if (!fp) {
         goto create_map_file;
     }
@@ -241,6 +245,7 @@ update_map_file:
     fclose(fp);
 
 err_out:
+    g_free(attr_path);
     return ret;
 }
 
@@ -282,36 +287,43 @@ static int local_set_xattr(const char *path, FsCred *credp)
 static int local_post_create_passthrough(FsContext *fs_ctx, const char *path,
                                          FsCred *credp)
 {
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
+    char *buffer;
 
-    if (lchown(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer), credp->fc_uid,
-                credp->fc_gid) < 0) {
+    buffer = rpath(fs_ctx, path);
+    if (lchown(buffer, credp->fc_uid, credp->fc_gid) < 0) {
         /*
          * If we fail to change ownership and if we are
          * using security model none. Ignore the error
          */
         if ((fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SEC_MASK) != V9FS_SM_NONE) {
-            return -1;
+            goto err;
         }
     }
 
-    if (chmod(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer), credp->fc_mode & 07777) < 0) {
-        return -1;
+    if (chmod(buffer, credp->fc_mode & 07777) < 0) {
+        goto err;
     }
+
+    g_free(buffer);
     return 0;
+err:
+    g_free(buffer);
+    return -1;
 }
 
 static ssize_t local_readlink(FsContext *fs_ctx, V9fsPath *fs_path,
                               char *buf, size_t bufsz)
 {
     ssize_t tsize = -1;
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
+    char *buffer;
     char *path = fs_path->data;
 
     if ((fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_MAPPED) ||
         (fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_MAPPED_FILE)) {
         int fd;
-        fd = open(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer), O_RDONLY | O_NOFOLLOW);
+        buffer = rpath(fs_ctx, path);
+        fd = open(buffer, O_RDONLY | O_NOFOLLOW);
+        g_free(buffer);
         if (fd == -1) {
             return -1;
         }
@@ -322,7 +334,9 @@ static ssize_t local_readlink(FsContext *fs_ctx, V9fsPath *fs_path,
         return tsize;
     } else if ((fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_PASSTHROUGH) ||
                (fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_NONE)) {
-        tsize = readlink(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer), buf, bufsz);
+        buffer = rpath(fs_ctx, path);
+        tsize = readlink(buffer, buf, bufsz);
+        g_free(buffer);
     }
     return tsize;
 }
@@ -340,20 +354,24 @@ static int local_closedir(FsContext *ctx, V9fsFidOpenState *fs)
 static int local_open(FsContext *ctx, V9fsPath *fs_path,
                       int flags, V9fsFidOpenState *fs)
 {
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
+    char *buffer;
     char *path = fs_path->data;
 
-    fs->fd = open(rpath(ctx, path, buffer), flags | O_NOFOLLOW);
+    buffer = rpath(ctx, path);
+    fs->fd = open(buffer, flags | O_NOFOLLOW);
+    g_free(buffer);
     return fs->fd;
 }
 
 static int local_opendir(FsContext *ctx,
                          V9fsPath *fs_path, V9fsFidOpenState *fs)
 {
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
+    char *buffer;
     char *path = fs_path->data;
 
-    fs->dir = opendir(rpath(ctx, path, buffer));
+    buffer = rpath(ctx, path);
+    fs->dir = opendir(buffer);
+    g_free(buffer);
     if (!fs->dir) {
         return -1;
     }
@@ -441,18 +459,23 @@ static ssize_t local_pwritev(FsContext *ctx, V9fsFidOpenState *fs,
 
 static int local_chmod(FsContext *fs_ctx, V9fsPath *fs_path, FsCred *credp)
 {
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
+    char *buffer;
+    int ret = -1;
     char *path = fs_path->data;
 
     if (fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_MAPPED) {
-        return local_set_xattr(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer), credp);
+        buffer = rpath(fs_ctx, path);
+        ret = local_set_xattr(buffer, credp);
+        g_free(buffer);
     } else if (fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_MAPPED_FILE) {
         return local_set_mapped_file_attr(fs_ctx, path, credp);
     } else if ((fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_PASSTHROUGH) ||
                (fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_NONE)) {
-        return chmod(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer), credp->fc_mode);
+        buffer = rpath(fs_ctx, path);
+        ret = chmod(buffer, credp->fc_mode);
+        g_free(buffer);
     }
-    return -1;
+    return ret;
 }
 
 static int local_mknod(FsContext *fs_ctx, V9fsPath *dir_path,
@@ -462,7 +485,7 @@ static int local_mknod(FsContext *fs_ctx, V9fsPath *dir_path,
     int err = -1;
     int serrno = 0;
     V9fsString fullname;
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
+    char *buffer;
 
     v9fs_string_init(&fullname);
     v9fs_string_sprintf(&fullname, "%s/%s", dir_path->data, name);
@@ -470,21 +493,23 @@ static int local_mknod(FsContext *fs_ctx, V9fsPath *dir_path,
 
     /* Determine the security model */
     if (fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_MAPPED) {
-        err = mknod(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer),
-                SM_LOCAL_MODE_BITS|S_IFREG, 0);
+        buffer = rpath(fs_ctx, path);
+        err = mknod(buffer, SM_LOCAL_MODE_BITS|S_IFREG, 0);
         if (err == -1) {
+            g_free(buffer);
             goto out;
         }
-        err = local_set_xattr(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer), credp);
+        err = local_set_xattr(buffer, credp);
         if (err == -1) {
             serrno = errno;
             goto err_end;
         }
     } else if (fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_MAPPED_FILE) {
 
-        err = mknod(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer),
-                    SM_LOCAL_MODE_BITS|S_IFREG, 0);
+        buffer = rpath(fs_ctx, path);
+        err = mknod(buffer, SM_LOCAL_MODE_BITS|S_IFREG, 0);
         if (err == -1) {
+            g_free(buffer);
             goto out;
         }
         err = local_set_mapped_file_attr(fs_ctx, path, credp);
@@ -494,9 +519,10 @@ static int local_mknod(FsContext *fs_ctx, V9fsPath *dir_path,
         }
     } else if ((fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_PASSTHROUGH) ||
                (fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_NONE)) {
-        err = mknod(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer), credp->fc_mode,
-                credp->fc_rdev);
+        buffer = rpath(fs_ctx, path);
+        err = mknod(buffer, credp->fc_mode, credp->fc_rdev);
         if (err == -1) {
+            g_free(buffer);
             goto out;
         }
         err = local_post_create_passthrough(fs_ctx, path, credp);
@@ -508,8 +534,9 @@ static int local_mknod(FsContext *fs_ctx, V9fsPath *dir_path,
     goto out;
 
 err_end:
-    remove(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer));
+    remove(buffer);
     errno = serrno;
+    g_free(buffer);
 out:
     v9fs_string_free(&fullname);
     return err;
@@ -522,7 +549,7 @@ static int local_mkdir(FsContext *fs_ctx, V9fsPath *dir_path,
     int err = -1;
     int serrno = 0;
     V9fsString fullname;
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
+    char *buffer;
 
     v9fs_string_init(&fullname);
     v9fs_string_sprintf(&fullname, "%s/%s", dir_path->data, name);
@@ -530,19 +557,23 @@ static int local_mkdir(FsContext *fs_ctx, V9fsPath *dir_path,
 
     /* Determine the security model */
     if (fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_MAPPED) {
-        err = mkdir(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer), SM_LOCAL_DIR_MODE_BITS);
+        buffer = rpath(fs_ctx, path);
+        err = mkdir(buffer, SM_LOCAL_DIR_MODE_BITS);
         if (err == -1) {
+            g_free(buffer);
             goto out;
         }
         credp->fc_mode = credp->fc_mode|S_IFDIR;
-        err = local_set_xattr(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer), credp);
+        err = local_set_xattr(buffer, credp);
         if (err == -1) {
             serrno = errno;
             goto err_end;
         }
     } else if (fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_MAPPED_FILE) {
-        err = mkdir(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer), SM_LOCAL_DIR_MODE_BITS);
+        buffer = rpath(fs_ctx, path);
+        err = mkdir(buffer, SM_LOCAL_DIR_MODE_BITS);
         if (err == -1) {
+            g_free(buffer);
             goto out;
         }
         credp->fc_mode = credp->fc_mode|S_IFDIR;
@@ -553,8 +584,10 @@ static int local_mkdir(FsContext *fs_ctx, V9fsPath *dir_path,
         }
     } else if ((fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_PASSTHROUGH) ||
                (fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_NONE)) {
-        err = mkdir(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer), credp->fc_mode);
+        buffer = rpath(fs_ctx, path);
+        err = mkdir(buffer, credp->fc_mode);
         if (err == -1) {
+            g_free(buffer);
             goto out;
         }
         err = local_post_create_passthrough(fs_ctx, path, credp);
@@ -566,8 +599,9 @@ static int local_mkdir(FsContext *fs_ctx, V9fsPath *dir_path,
     goto out;
 
 err_end:
-    remove(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer));
+    remove(buffer);
     errno = serrno;
+    g_free(buffer);
 out:
     v9fs_string_free(&fullname);
     return err;
@@ -626,7 +660,7 @@ static int local_open2(FsContext *fs_ctx, V9fsPath *dir_path, const char *name,
     int err = -1;
     int serrno = 0;
     V9fsString fullname;
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
+    char *buffer;
 
     /*
      * Mark all the open to not follow symlinks
@@ -639,21 +673,25 @@ static int local_open2(FsContext *fs_ctx, V9fsPath *dir_path, const char *name,
 
     /* Determine the security model */
     if (fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_MAPPED) {
-        fd = open(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer), flags, SM_LOCAL_MODE_BITS);
+        buffer = rpath(fs_ctx, path);
+        fd = open(buffer, flags, SM_LOCAL_MODE_BITS);
         if (fd == -1) {
+            g_free(buffer);
             err = fd;
             goto out;
         }
         credp->fc_mode = credp->fc_mode|S_IFREG;
         /* Set cleint credentials in xattr */
-        err = local_set_xattr(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer), credp);
+        err = local_set_xattr(buffer, credp);
         if (err == -1) {
             serrno = errno;
             goto err_end;
         }
     } else if (fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_MAPPED_FILE) {
-        fd = open(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer), flags, SM_LOCAL_MODE_BITS);
+        buffer = rpath(fs_ctx, path);
+        fd = open(buffer, flags, SM_LOCAL_MODE_BITS);
         if (fd == -1) {
+            g_free(buffer);
             err = fd;
             goto out;
         }
@@ -666,8 +704,10 @@ static int local_open2(FsContext *fs_ctx, V9fsPath *dir_path, const char *name,
         }
     } else if ((fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_PASSTHROUGH) ||
                (fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_NONE)) {
-        fd = open(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer), flags, credp->fc_mode);
+        buffer = rpath(fs_ctx, path);
+        fd = open(buffer, flags, credp->fc_mode);
         if (fd == -1) {
+            g_free(buffer);
             err = fd;
             goto out;
         }
@@ -683,8 +723,9 @@ static int local_open2(FsContext *fs_ctx, V9fsPath *dir_path, const char *name,
 
 err_end:
     close(fd);
-    remove(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer));
+    remove(buffer);
     errno = serrno;
+    g_free(buffer);
 out:
     v9fs_string_free(&fullname);
     return err;
@@ -698,7 +739,7 @@ static int local_symlink(FsContext *fs_ctx, const char *oldpath,
     int serrno = 0;
     char *newpath;
     V9fsString fullname;
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
+    char *buffer;
 
     v9fs_string_init(&fullname);
     v9fs_string_sprintf(&fullname, "%s/%s", dir_path->data, name);
@@ -708,10 +749,10 @@ static int local_symlink(FsContext *fs_ctx, const char *oldpath,
     if (fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_MAPPED) {
         int fd;
         ssize_t oldpath_size, write_size;
-        fd = open(rpath(fs_ctx, newpath, buffer),
-                  O_CREAT|O_EXCL|O_RDWR|O_NOFOLLOW,
-                  SM_LOCAL_MODE_BITS);
+        buffer = rpath(fs_ctx, newpath);
+        fd = open(buffer, O_CREAT|O_EXCL|O_RDWR|O_NOFOLLOW, SM_LOCAL_MODE_BITS);
         if (fd == -1) {
+            g_free(buffer);
             err = fd;
             goto out;
         }
@@ -730,7 +771,7 @@ static int local_symlink(FsContext *fs_ctx, const char *oldpath,
         close(fd);
         /* Set cleint credentials in symlink's xattr */
         credp->fc_mode = credp->fc_mode|S_IFLNK;
-        err = local_set_xattr(rpath(fs_ctx, newpath, buffer), credp);
+        err = local_set_xattr(buffer, credp);
         if (err == -1) {
             serrno = errno;
             goto err_end;
@@ -738,10 +779,10 @@ static int local_symlink(FsContext *fs_ctx, const char *oldpath,
     } else if (fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_MAPPED_FILE) {
         int fd;
         ssize_t oldpath_size, write_size;
-        fd = open(rpath(fs_ctx, newpath, buffer),
-                  O_CREAT|O_EXCL|O_RDWR|O_NOFOLLOW,
-                  SM_LOCAL_MODE_BITS);
+        buffer = rpath(fs_ctx, newpath);
+        fd = open(buffer, O_CREAT|O_EXCL|O_RDWR|O_NOFOLLOW, SM_LOCAL_MODE_BITS);
         if (fd == -1) {
+            g_free(buffer);
             err = fd;
             goto out;
         }
@@ -767,12 +808,13 @@ static int local_symlink(FsContext *fs_ctx, const char *oldpath,
         }
     } else if ((fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_PASSTHROUGH) ||
                (fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_NONE)) {
-        err = symlink(oldpath, rpath(fs_ctx, newpath, buffer));
+        buffer = rpath(fs_ctx, newpath);
+        err = symlink(oldpath, buffer);
         if (err) {
+            g_free(buffer);
             goto out;
         }
-        err = lchown(rpath(fs_ctx, newpath, buffer), credp->fc_uid,
-                     credp->fc_gid);
+        err = lchown(buffer, credp->fc_uid, credp->fc_gid);
         if (err == -1) {
             /*
              * If we fail to change ownership and if we are
@@ -788,8 +830,9 @@ static int local_symlink(FsContext *fs_ctx, const char *oldpath,
     goto out;
 
 err_end:
-    remove(rpath(fs_ctx, newpath, buffer));
+    remove(buffer);
     errno = serrno;
+    g_free(buffer);
 out:
     v9fs_string_free(&fullname);
     return err;
@@ -800,13 +843,16 @@ static int local_link(FsContext *ctx, V9fsPath *oldpath,
 {
     int ret;
     V9fsString newpath;
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX], buffer1[PATH_MAX];
+    char *buffer, *buffer1;
 
     v9fs_string_init(&newpath);
     v9fs_string_sprintf(&newpath, "%s/%s", dirpath->data, name);
 
-    ret = link(rpath(ctx, oldpath->data, buffer),
-               rpath(ctx, newpath.data, buffer1));
+    buffer = rpath(ctx, oldpath->data);
+    buffer1 = rpath(ctx, newpath.data);
+    ret = link(buffer, buffer1);
+    g_free(buffer);
+    g_free(buffer1);
 
     /* now link the virtfs_metadata files */
     if (!ret && (ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_MAPPED_FILE)) {
@@ -815,8 +861,11 @@ static int local_link(FsContext *ctx, V9fsPath *oldpath,
         if (ret < 0) {
             goto err_out;
         }
-        ret = link(local_mapped_attr_path(ctx, oldpath->data, buffer),
-                   local_mapped_attr_path(ctx, newpath.data, buffer1));
+        buffer = local_mapped_attr_path(ctx, oldpath->data);
+        buffer1 = local_mapped_attr_path(ctx, newpath.data);
+        ret = link(buffer, buffer1);
+        g_free(buffer);
+        g_free(buffer1);
         if (ret < 0 && errno != ENOENT) {
             goto err_out;
         }
@@ -828,17 +877,21 @@ err_out:
 
 static int local_truncate(FsContext *ctx, V9fsPath *fs_path, off_t size)
 {
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
+    char *buffer;
+    int ret;
     char *path = fs_path->data;
 
-    return truncate(rpath(ctx, path, buffer), size);
+    buffer = rpath(ctx, path);
+    ret = truncate(buffer, size);
+    g_free(buffer);
+    return ret;
 }
 
 static int local_rename(FsContext *ctx, const char *oldpath,
                         const char *newpath)
 {
     int err;
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX], buffer1[PATH_MAX];
+    char *buffer, *buffer1;
 
     if (ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_MAPPED_FILE) {
         err = local_create_mapped_attr_dir(ctx, newpath);
@@ -846,50 +899,69 @@ static int local_rename(FsContext *ctx, const char *oldpath,
             return err;
         }
         /* rename the .virtfs_metadata files */
-        err = rename(local_mapped_attr_path(ctx, oldpath, buffer),
-                     local_mapped_attr_path(ctx, newpath, buffer1));
+        buffer = local_mapped_attr_path(ctx, oldpath);
+        buffer1 = local_mapped_attr_path(ctx, newpath);
+        err = rename(buffer, buffer1);
+        g_free(buffer);
+        g_free(buffer1);
         if (err < 0 && errno != ENOENT) {
             return err;
         }
     }
-    return rename(rpath(ctx, oldpath, buffer), rpath(ctx, newpath, buffer1));
+
+    buffer = rpath(ctx, oldpath);
+    buffer1 = rpath(ctx, newpath);
+    err = rename(buffer, buffer1);
+    g_free(buffer);
+    g_free(buffer1);
+    return err;
 }
 
 static int local_chown(FsContext *fs_ctx, V9fsPath *fs_path, FsCred *credp)
 {
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
+    char *buffer;
+    int ret = -1;
     char *path = fs_path->data;
 
     if ((credp->fc_uid == -1 && credp->fc_gid == -1) ||
         (fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_PASSTHROUGH) ||
         (fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_NONE)) {
-        return lchown(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer),
-                      credp->fc_uid, credp->fc_gid);
+        buffer = rpath(fs_ctx, path);
+        ret = lchown(buffer, credp->fc_uid, credp->fc_gid);
+        g_free(buffer);
     } else if (fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_MAPPED) {
-        return local_set_xattr(rpath(fs_ctx, path, buffer), credp);
+        buffer = rpath(fs_ctx, path);
+        ret = local_set_xattr(buffer, credp);
+        g_free(buffer);
     } else if (fs_ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_MAPPED_FILE) {
         return local_set_mapped_file_attr(fs_ctx, path, credp);
     }
-    return -1;
+    return ret;
 }
 
 static int local_utimensat(FsContext *s, V9fsPath *fs_path,
                            const struct timespec *buf)
 {
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
+    char *buffer;
+    int ret;
     char *path = fs_path->data;
 
-    return qemu_utimens(rpath(s, path, buffer), buf);
+    buffer = rpath(s, path);
+    ret = qemu_utimens(buffer, buf);
+    g_free(buffer);
+    return ret;
 }
 
 static int local_remove(FsContext *ctx, const char *path)
 {
     int err;
     struct stat stbuf;
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
+    char *buffer;
 
     if (ctx->export_flags & V9FS_SM_MAPPED_FILE) {
-        err =  lstat(rpath(ctx, path, buffer), &stbuf);
+        buffer = rpath(ctx, path);
+        err =  lstat(buffer, &stbuf);
+        g_free(buffer);
         if (err) {
             goto err_out;
         }
@@ -898,9 +970,10 @@ static int local_remove(FsContext *ctx, const char *path)
          * directory
          */
         if (S_ISDIR(stbuf.st_mode)) {
-            snprintf(buffer, ARRAY_SIZE(buffer), "%s/%s/%s",
-                     ctx->fs_root, path, VIRTFS_META_DIR);
+            buffer = g_strdup_printf("%s/%s/%s", ctx->fs_root,
+                                     path, VIRTFS_META_DIR);
             err = remove(buffer);
+            g_free(buffer);
             if (err < 0 && errno != ENOENT) {
                 /*
                  * We didn't had the .virtfs_metadata file. May be file created
@@ -913,7 +986,9 @@ static int local_remove(FsContext *ctx, const char *path)
          * Now remove the name from parent directory
          * .virtfs_metadata directory
          */
-        err = remove(local_mapped_attr_path(ctx, path, buffer));
+        buffer = local_mapped_attr_path(ctx, path);
+        err = remove(buffer);
+        g_free(buffer);
         if (err < 0 && errno != ENOENT) {
             /*
              * We didn't had the .virtfs_metadata file. May be file created
@@ -922,7 +997,10 @@ static int local_remove(FsContext *ctx, const char *path)
             goto err_out;
         }
     }
-    return remove(rpath(ctx, path, buffer));
+
+    buffer = rpath(ctx, path);
+    err = remove(buffer);
+    g_free(buffer);
 err_out:
     return err;
 }
@@ -947,10 +1025,14 @@ static int local_fsync(FsContext *ctx, int fid_type,
 
 static int local_statfs(FsContext *s, V9fsPath *fs_path, struct statfs *stbuf)
 {
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
+    char *buffer;
+    int ret;
     char *path = fs_path->data;
 
-    return statfs(rpath(s, path, buffer), stbuf);
+    buffer = rpath(s, path);
+    ret = statfs(buffer, stbuf);
+    g_free(buffer);
+    return ret;
 }
 
 static ssize_t local_lgetxattr(FsContext *ctx, V9fsPath *fs_path,
@@ -1023,7 +1105,7 @@ static int local_unlinkat(FsContext *ctx, V9fsPath *dir,
 {
     int ret;
     V9fsString fullname;
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
+    char *buffer;
 
     v9fs_string_init(&fullname);
 
@@ -1034,9 +1116,10 @@ static int local_unlinkat(FsContext *ctx, V9fsPath *dir,
              * If directory remove .virtfs_metadata contained in the
              * directory
              */
-            snprintf(buffer, ARRAY_SIZE(buffer), "%s/%s/%s", ctx->fs_root,
-                     fullname.data, VIRTFS_META_DIR);
+            buffer = g_strdup_printf("%s/%s/%s", ctx->fs_root,
+                                     fullname.data, VIRTFS_META_DIR);
             ret = remove(buffer);
+            g_free(buffer);
             if (ret < 0 && errno != ENOENT) {
                 /*
                  * We didn't had the .virtfs_metadata file. May be file created
@@ -1049,7 +1132,9 @@ static int local_unlinkat(FsContext *ctx, V9fsPath *dir,
          * Now remove the name from parent directory
          * .virtfs_metadata directory.
          */
-        ret = remove(local_mapped_attr_path(ctx, fullname.data, buffer));
+        buffer = local_mapped_attr_path(ctx, fullname.data);
+        ret = remove(buffer);
+        g_free(buffer);
         if (ret < 0 && errno != ENOENT) {
             /*
              * We didn't had the .virtfs_metadata file. May be file created
@@ -1059,7 +1144,9 @@ static int local_unlinkat(FsContext *ctx, V9fsPath *dir,
         }
     }
     /* Remove the name finally */
-    ret = remove(rpath(ctx, fullname.data, buffer));
+    buffer = rpath(ctx, fullname.data);
+    ret = remove(buffer);
+    g_free(buffer);
 
 err_out:
     v9fs_string_free(&fullname);
diff --git a/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-posix-acl.c b/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-posix-acl.c
index 339c5ecae4..803d9d94f3 100644
--- a/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-posix-acl.c
+++ b/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-posix-acl.c
@@ -26,8 +26,13 @@
 static ssize_t mp_pacl_getxattr(FsContext *ctx, const char *path,
                                 const char *name, void *value, size_t size)
 {
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
-    return lgetxattr(rpath(ctx, path, buffer), MAP_ACL_ACCESS, value, size);
+    char *buffer;
+    ssize_t ret;
+
+    buffer = rpath(ctx, path);
+    ret = lgetxattr(buffer, MAP_ACL_ACCESS, value, size);
+    g_free(buffer);
+    return ret;
 }
 
 static ssize_t mp_pacl_listxattr(FsContext *ctx, const char *path,
@@ -52,17 +57,23 @@ static ssize_t mp_pacl_listxattr(FsContext *ctx, const char *path,
 static int mp_pacl_setxattr(FsContext *ctx, const char *path, const char *name,
                             void *value, size_t size, int flags)
 {
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
-    return lsetxattr(rpath(ctx, path, buffer), MAP_ACL_ACCESS, value,
-            size, flags);
+    char *buffer;
+    int ret;
+
+    buffer = rpath(ctx, path);
+    ret = lsetxattr(buffer, MAP_ACL_ACCESS, value, size, flags);
+    g_free(buffer);
+    return ret;
 }
 
 static int mp_pacl_removexattr(FsContext *ctx,
                                const char *path, const char *name)
 {
     int ret;
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
-    ret  = lremovexattr(rpath(ctx, path, buffer), MAP_ACL_ACCESS);
+    char *buffer;
+
+    buffer = rpath(ctx, path);
+    ret  = lremovexattr(buffer, MAP_ACL_ACCESS);
     if (ret == -1 && errno == ENODATA) {
         /*
          * We don't get ENODATA error when trying to remove a
@@ -72,14 +83,20 @@ static int mp_pacl_removexattr(FsContext *ctx,
         errno = 0;
         ret = 0;
     }
+    g_free(buffer);
     return ret;
 }
 
 static ssize_t mp_dacl_getxattr(FsContext *ctx, const char *path,
                                 const char *name, void *value, size_t size)
 {
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
-    return lgetxattr(rpath(ctx, path, buffer), MAP_ACL_DEFAULT, value, size);
+    char *buffer;
+    ssize_t ret;
+
+    buffer = rpath(ctx, path);
+    ret = lgetxattr(buffer, MAP_ACL_DEFAULT, value, size);
+    g_free(buffer);
+    return ret;
 }
 
 static ssize_t mp_dacl_listxattr(FsContext *ctx, const char *path,
@@ -104,17 +121,23 @@ static ssize_t mp_dacl_listxattr(FsContext *ctx, const char *path,
 static int mp_dacl_setxattr(FsContext *ctx, const char *path, const char *name,
                             void *value, size_t size, int flags)
 {
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
-    return lsetxattr(rpath(ctx, path, buffer), MAP_ACL_DEFAULT, value,
-            size, flags);
+    char *buffer;
+    int ret;
+
+    buffer = rpath(ctx, path);
+    ret = lsetxattr(buffer, MAP_ACL_DEFAULT, value, size, flags);
+    g_free(buffer);
+    return ret;
 }
 
 static int mp_dacl_removexattr(FsContext *ctx,
                                const char *path, const char *name)
 {
     int ret;
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
-    ret  = lremovexattr(rpath(ctx, path, buffer), MAP_ACL_DEFAULT);
+    char *buffer;
+
+    buffer = rpath(ctx, path);
+    ret  = lremovexattr(buffer, MAP_ACL_DEFAULT);
     if (ret == -1 && errno == ENODATA) {
         /*
          * We don't get ENODATA error when trying to remove a
@@ -124,6 +147,7 @@ static int mp_dacl_removexattr(FsContext *ctx,
         errno = 0;
         ret = 0;
     }
+    g_free(buffer);
     return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-xattr-user.c b/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-xattr-user.c
index e0c92ebf9e..46133e06db 100644
--- a/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-xattr-user.c
+++ b/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-xattr-user.c
@@ -21,7 +21,9 @@
 static ssize_t mp_user_getxattr(FsContext *ctx, const char *path,
                                 const char *name, void *value, size_t size)
 {
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
+    char *buffer;
+    ssize_t ret;
+
     if (strncmp(name, "user.virtfs.", 12) == 0) {
         /*
          * Don't allow fetch of user.virtfs namesapce
@@ -30,7 +32,10 @@ static ssize_t mp_user_getxattr(FsContext *ctx, const char *path,
         errno = ENOATTR;
         return -1;
     }
-    return lgetxattr(rpath(ctx, path, buffer), name, value, size);
+    buffer = rpath(ctx, path);
+    ret = lgetxattr(buffer, name, value, size);
+    g_free(buffer);
+    return ret;
 }
 
 static ssize_t mp_user_listxattr(FsContext *ctx, const char *path,
@@ -69,7 +74,9 @@ static ssize_t mp_user_listxattr(FsContext *ctx, const char *path,
 static int mp_user_setxattr(FsContext *ctx, const char *path, const char *name,
                             void *value, size_t size, int flags)
 {
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
+    char *buffer;
+    int ret;
+
     if (strncmp(name, "user.virtfs.", 12) == 0) {
         /*
          * Don't allow fetch of user.virtfs namesapce
@@ -78,13 +85,18 @@ static int mp_user_setxattr(FsContext *ctx, const char *path, const char *name,
         errno = EACCES;
         return -1;
     }
-    return lsetxattr(rpath(ctx, path, buffer), name, value, size, flags);
+    buffer = rpath(ctx, path);
+    ret = lsetxattr(buffer, name, value, size, flags);
+    g_free(buffer);
+    return ret;
 }
 
 static int mp_user_removexattr(FsContext *ctx,
                                const char *path, const char *name)
 {
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
+    char *buffer;
+    int ret;
+
     if (strncmp(name, "user.virtfs.", 12) == 0) {
         /*
          * Don't allow fetch of user.virtfs namesapce
@@ -93,7 +105,10 @@ static int mp_user_removexattr(FsContext *ctx,
         errno = EACCES;
         return -1;
     }
-    return lremovexattr(rpath(ctx, path, buffer), name);
+    buffer = rpath(ctx, path);
+    ret = lremovexattr(buffer, name);
+    g_free(buffer);
+    return ret;
 }
 
 XattrOperations mapped_user_xattr = {
diff --git a/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-xattr.c b/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-xattr.c
index 3fae557a84..07183887c5 100644
--- a/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-xattr.c
+++ b/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-xattr.c
@@ -67,21 +67,24 @@ ssize_t v9fs_list_xattr(FsContext *ctx, const char *path,
                         void *value, size_t vsize)
 {
     ssize_t size = 0;
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
+    char *buffer;
     void *ovalue = value;
     XattrOperations *xops;
     char *orig_value, *orig_value_start;
     ssize_t xattr_len, parsed_len = 0, attr_len;
 
     /* Get the actual len */
-    xattr_len = llistxattr(rpath(ctx, path, buffer), value, 0);
+    buffer = rpath(ctx, path);
+    xattr_len = llistxattr(buffer, value, 0);
     if (xattr_len <= 0) {
+        g_free(buffer);
         return xattr_len;
     }
 
     /* Now fetch the xattr and find the actual size */
     orig_value = g_malloc(xattr_len);
-    xattr_len = llistxattr(rpath(ctx, path, buffer), orig_value, xattr_len);
+    xattr_len = llistxattr(buffer, orig_value, xattr_len);
+    g_free(buffer);
 
     /* store the orig pointer */
     orig_value_start = orig_value;
diff --git a/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-xattr.h b/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-xattr.h
index 41cc6cbc7b..327b32b5aa 100644
--- a/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-xattr.h
+++ b/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-xattr.h
@@ -54,23 +54,38 @@ ssize_t pt_listxattr(FsContext *ctx, const char *path, char *name, void *value,
 static inline ssize_t pt_getxattr(FsContext *ctx, const char *path,
                                   const char *name, void *value, size_t size)
 {
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
-    return lgetxattr(rpath(ctx, path, buffer), name, value, size);
+    char *buffer;
+    ssize_t ret;
+
+    buffer = rpath(ctx, path);
+    ret = lgetxattr(buffer, name, value, size);
+    g_free(buffer);
+    return ret;
 }
 
 static inline int pt_setxattr(FsContext *ctx, const char *path,
                               const char *name, void *value,
                               size_t size, int flags)
 {
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
-    return lsetxattr(rpath(ctx, path, buffer), name, value, size, flags);
+    char *buffer;
+    int ret;
+
+    buffer = rpath(ctx, path);
+    ret = lsetxattr(buffer, name, value, size, flags);
+    g_free(buffer);
+    return ret;
 }
 
 static inline int pt_removexattr(FsContext *ctx,
                                  const char *path, const char *name)
 {
-    char buffer[PATH_MAX];
-    return lremovexattr(rpath(ctx, path, buffer), name);
+    char *buffer;
+    int ret;
+
+    buffer = rpath(ctx, path);
+    ret = lremovexattr(path, name);
+    g_free(buffer);
+    return ret;
 }
 
 static inline ssize_t notsup_getxattr(FsContext *ctx, const char *path,
diff --git a/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p.h b/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p.h
index 1d6eedb7d8..2c3603aed0 100644
--- a/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p.h
+++ b/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p.h
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include <sys/time.h>
 #include <utime.h>
 #include <sys/resource.h>
+#include <glib.h>
 #include "hw/virtio/virtio.h"
 #include "fsdev/file-op-9p.h"
 #include "fsdev/virtio-9p-marshal.h"
@@ -112,10 +113,9 @@ enum p9_proto_version {
 
 #define FID_REFERENCED          0x1
 #define FID_NON_RECLAIMABLE     0x2
-static inline const char *rpath(FsContext *ctx, const char *path, char *buffer)
+static inline char *rpath(FsContext *ctx, const char *path)
 {
-    snprintf(buffer, PATH_MAX, "%s/%s", ctx->fs_root, path);
-    return buffer;
+    return g_strdup_printf("%s/%s", ctx->fs_root, path);
 }
 
 /*