diff --git a/runtime/nsd_ptcp.c b/runtime/nsd_ptcp.c
index 142e72bee..015ba5b36 100644
--- a/runtime/nsd_ptcp.c
+++ b/runtime/nsd_ptcp.c
@@ -896,12 +896,12 @@ CheckConnection(nsd_t *pNsd)
 {
 	DEFiRet;
 	int rc;
-	char msgbuf[32]; /* dummy */
+	char msgbuf[1]; /* dummy */
 	nsd_ptcp_t *pThis = (nsd_ptcp_t*) pNsd;
 	ISOBJ_TYPE_assert(pThis, nsd_ptcp);
 
-	rc = recv(pThis->sock, msgbuf, 32, MSG_DONTWAIT | MSG_PEEK);
-	if(rc >= 0 && errno != EAGAIN) {
+	rc = recv(pThis->sock, msgbuf, 1, MSG_DONTWAIT | MSG_PEEK);
+	if(rc == 0 && errno != EAGAIN) {
 		dbgprintf("CheckConnection detected broken connection - closing it\n");
 		/* in this case, the remote peer had shut down the connection and we
 		 * need to close our side, too.