diff --git a/lib/defines.h b/lib/defines.h
index efaddd00..b289a72d 100644
--- a/lib/defines.h
+++ b/lib/defines.h
@@ -232,10 +232,6 @@ static inline void memzero(void *ptr, size_t size)
 # define format_attr(type, index, check)
 #endif
 
-/* Maximum length of usernames */
-#include <utmp.h>
-#define USER_NAME_MAX_LENGTH (sizeof (((struct utmp *)NULL)->ut_user))
-
 /* Maximum length of passwd entry */
 #define PASSWD_ENTRY_MAX_LENGTH 32768
 
diff --git a/libmisc/chkname.c b/libmisc/chkname.c
index e31ee8c9..2b83361b 100644
--- a/libmisc/chkname.c
+++ b/libmisc/chkname.c
@@ -75,10 +75,9 @@ static bool is_valid_name (const char *name)
 bool is_valid_user_name (const char *name)
 {
 	/*
-	 * User names are limited by whatever utmp can
-	 * handle.
+	 * User names length are limited by the kernel
 	 */
-	if (strlen (name) > USER_NAME_MAX_LENGTH) {
+	if (strlen (name) > sysconf(_SC_LOGIN_NAME_MAX)) {
 		return false;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/login.c b/src/login.c
index 22deddd9..b712cf44 100644
--- a/src/login.c
+++ b/src/login.c
@@ -572,10 +572,11 @@ int main (int argc, char **argv)
 	}
 #ifdef RLOGIN
 	if (rflg) {
+		size_t max_size = sysconf(_SC_LOGIN_NAME_MAX);
 		assert (NULL == username);
-		username = XMALLOC(USER_NAME_MAX_LENGTH + 1, char);
-		username[USER_NAME_MAX_LENGTH] = '\0';
-		if (do_rlogin (hostname, username, USER_NAME_MAX_LENGTH, term, sizeof term)) {
+		username = XMALLOC(max_size + 1, char);
+		username[max_size] = '\0';
+		if (do_rlogin (hostname, username, max_size, term, sizeof term)) {
 			preauth_flag = true;
 		} else {
 			free (username);
@@ -884,14 +885,15 @@ int main (int argc, char **argv)
 
 		failed = false;	/* haven't failed authentication yet */
 		if (NULL == username) {	/* need to get a login id */
+			size_t max_size = sysconf(_SC_LOGIN_NAME_MAX);
 			if (subroot) {
 				closelog ();
 				exit (1);
 			}
 			preauth_flag = false;
-			username = XMALLOC(USER_NAME_MAX_LENGTH + 1, char);
-			username[USER_NAME_MAX_LENGTH] = '\0';
-			login_prompt (username, USER_NAME_MAX_LENGTH);
+			username = XMALLOC(max_size + 1, char);
+			username[max_size] = '\0';
+			login_prompt (username, max_size);
 
 			if ('\0' == username[0]) {
 				/* Prompt for a new login */