diff --git a/userspace/engine/banned.h b/userspace/engine/banned.h
index 41690220..85dd6f34 100644
--- a/userspace/engine/banned.h
+++ b/userspace/engine/banned.h
@@ -21,14 +21,18 @@ limitations under the License.
 // function is used.
 #define BAN(function) using_##function##_is_banned
 
+// BAN_ALTERNATIVE is same as BAN but the message also provides an alternative
+// function that the user could use instead of the banned function.
+#define BAN_ALTERNATIVE(function, alternative) using_##function##_is_banned__use_##alternative##_instead
+
 #undef strcpy
 #define strcpy(a, b) BAN(strcpy)
 
 #undef vsprintf
-#define vsprintf(a, b, c) BAN(vsprintf)
+#define vsprintf(a, b, c) BAN_ALTERNATIVE(vsprintf, vsnprintf)
 
 #undef sprintf
-#define sprintf(a, b, ...) BAN(sprintf)
+#define sprintf(a, b, ...) BAN_ALTERNATIVE(sprintf, snprintf)
 
 #undef strcat
 #define strcat(a, b) BAN(strcat)
@@ -40,7 +44,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 #define strncpy(a, b, c) BAN(strncpy)
 
 #undef swprintf
-#define swprintf(a, b, c, ...) BAN(swprintf)
+#define swprintf(a, b, c, ...) BAN_ALTERNATIVE(swprintf, snprintf)
 
 #undef vswprintf
-#define vswprintf(a, b, c, d) BAN(vswprintf)
+#define vswprintf(a, b, c, d) BAN_ALTERNATIVE(vswprintf, vsnprintf)