diff --git a/src/objnam.c b/src/objnam.c
index d71dd5897..df6b29167 100644
--- a/src/objnam.c
+++ b/src/objnam.c
@@ -2382,6 +2382,22 @@ Ysimple_name2(struct obj *obj)
     return s;
 }
 
+    /*
+     * FIXME:
+     *  simpleonames(), ansimpleoname(), and thesimpleoname() need to
+     *  know the beginning of the obuf[] they use so that they can
+     *  guard against buffer overflow when pluralizing (is that an
+     *  actual word?) or inserting "an" or "the".
+     *
+     *  minimal_xname() returns a call to xname() which writes into
+     *  the middle of its obuf[] then backs up to accomodate a prefix,
+     *  so BUFSZ is not a reliable limit for the length of the result.
+     *
+     *  [Overflow likely moot.  Since the formatted object name has
+     *  user-supplied name suppressed, the length is sure to be short
+     *  enough to added plural suffix or "an" or "the" prefix.]
+     */
+
 /* "scroll" or "scrolls" */
 char *
 simpleonames(struct obj *obj)
@@ -2407,8 +2423,6 @@ ansimpleoname(struct obj *obj)
     char *obufp, *simpleoname = simpleonames(obj);
     int otyp = obj->otyp;
 
-    if (strlen(simpleoname) > BUFSZ - sizeof "the ")
-        simpleoname[sizeof "the "] = '\0';
     /* prefix with "the" if a unique item, or a fake one imitating same,
        has been formatted with its actual name (we let minimal_xname() handle
        any `known' and `dknown' checking necessary) */