diff --git a/src/flb_pack.c b/src/flb_pack.c
index 0893f9d40cb..78783354d75 100644
--- a/src/flb_pack.c
+++ b/src/flb_pack.c
@@ -700,6 +700,9 @@ flb_sds_t flb_msgpack_raw_to_json_sds(const void *in_buf, size_t in_size)
     /* buffer size strategy */
     out_size = in_size * 2;
     realloc_size = in_size * 0.10;
+    if (realloc_size < 256) {
+        realloc_size = 256;
+    }
 
     out_buf = flb_sds_create_size(out_size);
     if (!out_buf) {