diff --git a/lib/http.c b/lib/http.c
index 6c7ee56b24..0c2a460903 100644
--- a/lib/http.c
+++ b/lib/http.c
@@ -2940,13 +2940,14 @@ CURLcode Curl_http_resume(struct Curl_easy *data,
         }
         /* when seekerr == CURL_SEEKFUNC_CANTSEEK (can't seek to offset) */
         do {
+          char scratch[4*1024];
           size_t readthisamountnow =
-            (data->state.resume_from - passed > data->set.buffer_size) ?
-            (size_t)data->set.buffer_size :
+            (data->state.resume_from - passed > (curl_off_t)sizeof(scratch)) ?
+            sizeof(scratch) :
             curlx_sotouz(data->state.resume_from - passed);
 
           size_t actuallyread =
-            data->state.fread_func(data->state.buffer, 1, readthisamountnow,
+            data->state.fread_func(scratch, 1, readthisamountnow,
                                    data->state.in);
 
           passed += actuallyread;