diff --git a/programs/ssl/ssl_mail_client.c b/programs/ssl/ssl_mail_client.c
index fcda1dd..27c57a1 100644
--- a/programs/ssl/ssl_mail_client.c
+++ b/programs/ssl/ssl_mail_client.c
@@ -722,7 +722,7 @@
         polarssl_printf( "  > Write username to server: %s", opt.user_name );
         fflush( stdout );
 
-        n = sizeof( buf );
+        n = sizeof( base );
         ret = base64_encode( base, &n, (const unsigned char *) opt.user_name,
                              strlen( opt.user_name ) );
 
@@ -743,6 +743,7 @@
         polarssl_printf( "  > Write password to server: %s", opt.user_pwd );
         fflush( stdout );
 
+        n = sizeof( base );
         ret = base64_encode( base, &n, (const unsigned char *) opt.user_pwd,
                              strlen( opt.user_pwd ) );