diff --git a/src/guacd/connection.c b/src/guacd/connection.c
index a5b98adfa2..1bb99dc086 100644
--- a/src/guacd/connection.c
+++ b/src/guacd/connection.c
@@ -67,13 +67,14 @@
 static int __write_all(int fd, char* buffer, int length) {
 
     /* Repeatedly write() until all data is written */
-    while (length > 0) {
+    int remaining_length = length;
+    while (remaining_length > 0) {
 
-        int written = write(fd, buffer, length);
+        int written = write(fd, buffer, remaining_length);
         if (written < 0)
             return -1;
 
-        length -= written;
+        remaining_length -= written;
         buffer += written;
 
     }