diff --git a/autoload/airline/extensions/tabline/formatters/default.vim b/autoload/airline/extensions/tabline/formatters/default.vim
index d8b2ec05..ebb9adf3 100644
--- a/autoload/airline/extensions/tabline/formatters/default.vim
+++ b/autoload/airline/extensions/tabline/formatters/default.vim
@@ -23,7 +23,11 @@ function! airline#extensions#tabline#formatters#default#format(bufnr, buffers)
       let _ .= fnamemodify(name, fmod)
     endif
     if a:bufnr != bufnr('%') && fnametruncate && strlen(_) > fnametruncate
-      let _ = strpart(_, 0, fnametruncate)
+      if v:version > 802 || (v:version == 802 && has("patch1517"))
+        let _ = strpart(_, 0, fnametruncate, 1)
+      else
+        let _ = strpart(_, 0, fnametruncate)
+      endif
     endif
   endif