diff --git a/src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/System/Menu/MenuApplet.cpp b/src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/System/Menu/MenuApplet.cpp
index 005f60da5..5e8a08e75 100644
--- a/src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/System/Menu/MenuApplet.cpp
+++ b/src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/System/Menu/MenuApplet.cpp
@@ -2624,7 +2624,7 @@ void InkHUD::MenuApplet::sendText(NodeNum dest, ChannelIndex channel, const char
     memcpy(p->decoded.payload.bytes, message, p->decoded.payload.size);
 
     // Tack on a bell character if requested
-    if (moduleConfig.canned_message.send_bell && p->decoded.payload.size < meshtastic_Constants_DATA_PAYLOAD_LEN) {
+    if (moduleConfig.canned_message.send_bell && p->decoded.payload.size + 1 < meshtastic_Constants_DATA_PAYLOAD_LEN) {
         p->decoded.payload.bytes[p->decoded.payload.size] = 7;        // Bell character
         p->decoded.payload.bytes[p->decoded.payload.size + 1] = '\0'; // Append Null Terminator
         p->decoded.payload.size++;
diff --git a/src/modules/CannedMessageModule.cpp b/src/modules/CannedMessageModule.cpp
index 71858009e..d86878a8d 100644
--- a/src/modules/CannedMessageModule.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/CannedMessageModule.cpp
@@ -1056,7 +1056,7 @@ void CannedMessageModule::sendText(NodeNum dest, ChannelIndex channel, const cha
     p->decoded.payload.size = strlen(message);
     memcpy(p->decoded.payload.bytes, message, p->decoded.payload.size);
 
-    if (moduleConfig.canned_message.send_bell && p->decoded.payload.size < meshtastic_Constants_DATA_PAYLOAD_LEN) {
+    if (moduleConfig.canned_message.send_bell && p->decoded.payload.size + 1 < meshtastic_Constants_DATA_PAYLOAD_LEN) {
         p->decoded.payload.bytes[p->decoded.payload.size++] = 7;
         p->decoded.payload.bytes[p->decoded.payload.size] = '\0';
     }
diff --git a/src/modules/DetectionSensorModule.cpp b/src/modules/DetectionSensorModule.cpp
index b17db136f..1de1bc184 100644
--- a/src/modules/DetectionSensorModule.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/DetectionSensorModule.cpp
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ void DetectionSensorModule::sendDetectionMessage()
     p->want_ack = false;
     p->decoded.payload.size = strlen(message);
     memcpy(p->decoded.payload.bytes, message, p->decoded.payload.size);
-    if (moduleConfig.detection_sensor.send_bell && p->decoded.payload.size < meshtastic_Constants_DATA_PAYLOAD_LEN) {
+    if (moduleConfig.detection_sensor.send_bell && p->decoded.payload.size + 1 < meshtastic_Constants_DATA_PAYLOAD_LEN) {
         p->decoded.payload.bytes[p->decoded.payload.size] = 7;        // Bell character
         p->decoded.payload.bytes[p->decoded.payload.size + 1] = '\0'; // Bell character
         p->decoded.payload.size++;