diff --git a/libutils/String8.cpp b/libutils/String8.cpp
index 419b2deed..b391b1a18 100644
--- a/libutils/String8.cpp
+++ b/libutils/String8.cpp
@@ -431,17 +431,24 @@ void String8::toLower()
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Path functions
 
-static void setPathName(String8& s, const char* name) {
-    size_t len = strlen(name);
-    char* buf = s.lockBuffer(len);
+void String8::setPathName(const char* name)
+{
+    setPathName(name, strlen(name));
+}
+
+void String8::setPathName(const char* name, size_t len)
+{
+    char* buf = lockBuffer(len);
 
     memcpy(buf, name, len);
 
     // remove trailing path separator, if present
-    if (len > 0 && buf[len - 1] == OS_PATH_SEPARATOR) len--;
+    if (len > 0 && buf[len-1] == OS_PATH_SEPARATOR)
+        len--;
+
     buf[len] = '\0';
 
-    s.unlockBuffer(len);
+    unlockBuffer(len);
 }
 
 String8 String8::getPathLeaf(void) const
@@ -554,7 +561,7 @@ String8& String8::appendPath(const char* name)
         size_t len = length();
         if (len == 0) {
             // no existing filename, just use the new one
-            setPathName(*this, name);
+            setPathName(name);
             return *this;
         }
 
@@ -574,7 +581,7 @@ String8& String8::appendPath(const char* name)
 
         return *this;
     } else {
-        setPathName(*this, name);
+        setPathName(name);
         return *this;
     }
 }
diff --git a/libutils/String8_fuzz.cpp b/libutils/String8_fuzz.cpp
index faf49b66b..a45d67514 100644
--- a/libutils/String8_fuzz.cpp
+++ b/libutils/String8_fuzz.cpp
@@ -89,6 +89,10 @@ std::vector<std::function<void(FuzzedDataProvider*, android::String8*, android::
                     str1->walkPath(path_out_str.get());
                     path_out_str->clear();
                 },
+                [](FuzzedDataProvider* dataProvider, android::String8* str1,
+                   android::String8*) -> void {
+                    str1->setPathName(dataProvider->ConsumeBytesWithTerminator<char>(5).data());
+                },
                 [](FuzzedDataProvider* dataProvider, android::String8* str1,
                    android::String8*) -> void {
                     str1->appendPath(dataProvider->ConsumeBytesWithTerminator<char>(5).data());
diff --git a/libutils/include/utils/String8.h b/libutils/include/utils/String8.h
index 8b2dcf9a0..cee5dc640 100644
--- a/libutils/include/utils/String8.h
+++ b/libutils/include/utils/String8.h
@@ -136,6 +136,14 @@ public:
      * These methods operate on the string as if it were a path name.
      */
 
+    /*
+     * Set the filename field to a specific value.
+     *
+     * Normalizes the filename, removing a trailing '/' if present.
+     */
+    void setPathName(const char* name);
+    void setPathName(const char* name, size_t numChars);
+
     /*
      * Get just the filename component.
      *