diff --git a/src/terminal/c/terminal.zig b/src/terminal/c/terminal.zig
index 5bf2c750c..aed48e25f 100644
--- a/src/terminal/c/terminal.zig
+++ b/src/terminal/c/terminal.zig
@@ -105,9 +105,10 @@ const TerminalWrapper = struct {
     /// created by `new` or transferred from snapshot decoding until `free`.
     /// Freestanding owners contain no native allocation and expose failing I/O.
     io: Io,
-    /// We also need to store a temp dir path for some operations (e.g., kitty
-    /// graphics). This provides stable storage for the API calls.
-    tmp_dir_path: [max_path_bytes]u8,
+    /// Allocator-owned copy of the temporary directory path for some
+    /// operations (e.g. kitty graphics). This is only allocated once the
+    /// embedder sets the option.
+    tmp_dir_path: ?[]u8 = null,
     /// The terminfo name reported for XTGETTCAP "TN". The stream handler holds
     /// a slice into this.
     terminfo_name_buf: [Handler.max_terminfo_name_bytes]u8,
@@ -728,7 +729,6 @@ fn wrap(
     wrapper.* = .{
         .terminal = t,
         .io = io,
-        .tmp_dir_path = undefined,
         .terminfo_name_buf = undefined,
         .stream = Stream.init(.{
             .allocator = alloc,
@@ -1393,22 +1393,31 @@ fn setTyped(
         },
         .kitty_image_medium_temp_file => {
             if (comptime !build_options.kitty_graphics) return .success;
+            const alloc = wrapper.terminal.gpa();
             if (value) |v| {
-                if (v.len > wrapper.tmp_dir_path.len) return .out_of_memory;
-                @memcpy(wrapper.tmp_dir_path[0..v.len], v.ptr[0..v.len]);
+                if (v.len > max_path_bytes) return .out_of_memory;
+                const path = alloc.dupe(u8, v.ptr[0..v.len]) catch
+                    return .out_of_memory;
                 var it = wrapper.terminal.screens.all.iterator();
                 while (it.next()) |entry| {
                     const screen = entry.value.*;
                     screen.kitty_images.image_limits.temporary_file = .{
-                        .enabled = .{ .directory = wrapper.tmp_dir_path[0..v.len] },
+                        .enabled = .{ .directory = path },
                     };
                 }
+
+                // Every screen points at the new copy now so the previous
+                // one can be released.
+                if (wrapper.tmp_dir_path) |old| alloc.free(old);
+                wrapper.tmp_dir_path = path;
             } else {
                 var it = wrapper.terminal.screens.all.iterator();
                 while (it.next()) |entry| {
                     const screen = entry.value.*;
                     screen.kitty_images.image_limits.temporary_file = .disabled;
                 }
+                if (wrapper.tmp_dir_path) |old| alloc.free(old);
+                wrapper.tmp_dir_path = null;
             }
         },
         .apc_max_bytes => {
@@ -1861,6 +1870,7 @@ pub fn free(terminal_: Terminal) callconv(lib.calling_conv) void {
     wrapper.searches.deinit(alloc);
     wrapper.stream.deinit();
     t.deinit(alloc);
+    if (wrapper.tmp_dir_path) |path| alloc.free(path);
     wrapper.io.deinit(alloc);
     alloc.destroy(t);
     alloc.destroy(wrapper);