diff --git a/slock.c b/slock.c
index d6053af..b3bee92 100644
--- a/slock.c
+++ b/slock.c
@@ -60,16 +60,27 @@ die(const char *errstr, ...)
 
 #ifdef __linux__
 #include <fcntl.h>
+#include <linux/oom.h>
 
 static void
 dontkillme(void)
 {
 	int fd;
+	int length;
+	char value[64];
 
 	fd = open("/proc/self/oom_score_adj", O_WRONLY);
 	if (fd < 0 && errno == ENOENT)
 		return;
-	if (fd < 0 || write(fd, "-1000\n", 6) != 6 || close(fd) != 0)
+
+	/* convert OOM_SCORE_ADJ_MIN to string for writing */
+	length = snprintf(value, sizeof(value), "%d\n", OOM_SCORE_ADJ_MIN);
+
+	/* bail on truncation */
+	if (length >= sizeof(value))
+		die("buffer too small\n");
+
+	if (fd < 0 || write(fd, value, length) != length || close(fd) != 0)
 		die("cannot disable the out-of-memory killer for this process\n");
 }
 #endif