diff --git a/components/esm/esmcommon.hpp b/components/esm/esmcommon.hpp
index 6087de83d..e4f3b636d 100644
--- a/components/esm/esmcommon.hpp
+++ b/components/esm/esmcommon.hpp
@@ -110,13 +110,7 @@ struct FIXED_STRING<4> : public FIXED_STRING_BASE<FIXED_STRING, 4>
     void assign(const std::string& value)
     {
         intval = 0;
-        switch(value.size()) {
-            case 4: data[3] = value[3];
-            case 3: data[2] = value[2];
-            case 2: data[1] = value[1];
-            case 1: data[0] = value[0];
-            default: break;
-        }
+        std::memcpy(data, value.data(), std::min(value.size(), 4));
 
     }