diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/execnet/client.c b/sys/src/cmd/execnet/client.c
index 0b90c181c..ebd723d5c 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/execnet/client.c
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/execnet/client.c
@@ -215,11 +215,9 @@ readthread(void *a)
 	Client *c;
 	Ioproc *io;
 	Msg *m;
-	char tmp[32];
 
 	c = a;
-	snprint(tmp, sizeof tmp, "read%d", c->num);
-	threadsetname(tmp);
+	threadsetname("read%d", c->num);
 
 	buf = emalloc(8192);
 	io = c->readerproc;
@@ -279,11 +277,9 @@ writethread(void *a)
 	Ioproc *io;
 	Req *r;
 	Client *c;
-	char tmp[32];
 
 	c = a;
-	snprint(tmp, sizeof tmp, "write%d", c->num);
-	threadsetname(tmp);
+	threadsetname("write%d", c->num);
 
 	buf = emalloc(8192);
 	io = c->writerproc;
@@ -320,11 +316,9 @@ execproc(void *a)
 {
 	int i, fd;
 	Client *c;
-	char tmp[32];
 
 	c = a;
-	snprint(tmp, sizeof tmp, "execproc%d", c->num);
-	threadsetname(tmp);
+	threadsetname("execproc%d", c->num);
 	if(pipe(c->fd) < 0){
 		rerrstr(c->err, sizeof c->err);
 		sendul(c->execpid, -1);
@@ -346,11 +340,9 @@ execthread(void *a)
 {
 	Client *c;
 	int p;
-	char tmp[32];
 
 	c = a;
-	snprint(tmp, sizeof tmp, "exec%d", c->num);
-	threadsetname(tmp);
+	threadsetname("exec%d", c->num);
 	c->execpid = chancreate(sizeof(ulong), 0);
 	proccreate(execproc, c, STACK);
 	p = recvul(c->execpid);
diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/ip/tftpfs.c b/sys/src/cmd/ip/tftpfs.c
index 2b5aac59e..ed7c70e05 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/ip/tftpfs.c
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/ip/tftpfs.c
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ download(void *aux)
 	if((c = f->c) == nil)
 		goto out;
 
-	threadsetname(f->path);
+	threadsetname("%s", f->path);
 
 	snprint(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s/udp!*!0", net);
 	if((cfd = announce(buf, adir)) < 0){
diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/nusb/joy/joy.c b/sys/src/cmd/nusb/joy/joy.c
index d63199b62..cf9b093d7 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/nusb/joy/joy.c
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/nusb/joy/joy.c
@@ -228,14 +228,6 @@ setproto(KDev *f, int eid)
 	return usbcmd(f->dev, Rh2d|Rclass|Riface, Setproto, proto, id, nil, 0);
 }
 
-static void
-kbprocname(KDev *kd, char *name)
-{
-	char buf[128];
-	snprint(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s %s", name, kd->ep->dir);
-	threadsetname(buf);
-}
-
 static void
 sethipri(void)
 {
@@ -324,7 +316,7 @@ joywork(void *a)
 	Joy	p;
 	u64int lastb;
 
-	kbprocname(f, "joy");
+	threadsetname("joy %s", f->ep->dir);
 	sethipri();
 
 	memset(&p, 0, sizeof(p));
diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/nusb/kb/kb.c b/sys/src/cmd/nusb/kb/kb.c
index 148cc8e53..73cb52a41 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/nusb/kb/kb.c
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/nusb/kb/kb.c
@@ -336,14 +336,6 @@ kbfatal(KDev *kd, char *sts)
 	threadexits(sts);
 }
 
-static void
-kbprocname(KDev *kd, char *name)
-{
-	char buf[128];
-	snprint(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s %s", name, kd->ep->dir);
-	threadsetname(buf);
-}
-
 static void
 sethipri(void)
 {
@@ -465,7 +457,7 @@ ptrwork(void* a)
 	KDev*	f = a;
 	Ptr	p;
 
-	kbprocname(f, "ptr");
+	threadsetname("ptr %s", f->ep->dir);
 	sethipri();
 
 	memset(&p, 0, sizeof(p));
@@ -698,7 +690,7 @@ kbdwork(void *a)
 	char err[128];
 	KDev *f = a;
 
-	kbprocname(f, "kbd");
+	threadsetname("kbd %s", f->ep->dir);
 
 	f->repeatc = chancreate(sizeof(ulong), 0);
 	if(f->repeatc == nil)
diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/rio/wind.c b/sys/src/cmd/rio/wind.c
index fb117b614..9b1fff188 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/rio/wind.c
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/rio/wind.c
@@ -180,12 +180,11 @@ winctl(void *arg)
 	Stringpair pair;
 	Wctlmesg wcm;
 	Completion *cr;
-	char buf[4*12+1], *kbdq[8], *kbds;
+	char *kbdq[8], *kbds;
 	int kbdqr, kbdqw;
 
 	w = arg;
-	snprint(buf, sizeof buf, "winctl-id%d", w->id);
-	threadsetname(buf);
+	threadsetname("winctl-id%d", w->id);
 
 	mrm.cm = chancreate(sizeof(Mouse), 0);
 	krm.ck = chancreate(sizeof(char*), 0);
@@ -540,11 +539,9 @@ completeproc(void *arg)
 {
 	Completejob *job;
 	Completion *c;
-	char buf[128];
 
 	job = arg;
-	snprint(buf, sizeof(buf), "namecomplete %s", job->dir);
-	threadsetname(buf);
+	threadsetname("namecomplete %s", job->dir);
 
 	c = complete(job->dir, job->str);
 	if(c != nil && sendp(job->win->complete, c) <= 0)
diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/rio/xfid.c b/sys/src/cmd/rio/xfid.c
index adae440cf..a66c94d58 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/rio/xfid.c
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/rio/xfid.c
@@ -99,11 +99,9 @@ xfidctl(void *arg)
 {
 	Xfid *x;
 	void (*f)(Xfid*);
-	char buf[64];
 
 	x = arg;
-	snprint(buf, sizeof buf, "xfid.%p", x);
-	threadsetname(buf);
+	threadsetname("xfid.%p", x);
 	for(;;){
 		f = recvp(x->c);
 		if(f){
diff --git a/sys/src/libcontrol/control.c b/sys/src/libcontrol/control.c
index f30d6fe57..62a441524 100644
--- a/sys/src/libcontrol/control.c
+++ b/sys/src/libcontrol/control.c
@@ -160,12 +160,11 @@ controlsetthread(void *v)
 	Control *f;
 	int prevbut, n, i;
 	Alt alts[NALT+1];
-	char tmp[64], *str;
+	char *str;
 	Rune buf[2][20], *rp;
 
 	cs = v;
-	snprint(tmp, sizeof tmp, "controlsetthread 0x%p", cs);
-	threadsetname(tmp);
+	threadsetname("controlsetthread 0x%p", cs);
 
 	alts[AKey].c = cs->kbdc;
 	alts[AKey].v = &rp;
@@ -619,12 +618,10 @@ static void
 resizethread(void *v)
 {
 	Controlset *cs;
-	char buf[64];
 	Alt alts[3];
 
 	cs = v;
-	snprint(buf, sizeof buf, "resizethread0x%p", cs);
-	threadsetname(buf);
+	threadsetname("resizethread 0x%p", cs);
 
 	alts[0].c = cs->resizec;
 	alts[0].v = nil;