diff --git a/src/dstring.c b/src/dstring.c
index 5a68143..134968a 100644
--- a/src/dstring.c
+++ b/src/dstring.c
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 #include "dstring.h"
 #include <stdarg.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
 
 // init
 int dstring_init (dstring* str, unsigned int memory){
@@ -179,12 +180,7 @@ char* dstring_to_str_noinit(dstring* input){
 
 // convert from char*
 int str_to_dstring(char* str, dstring* output){
-  char* ptr;
-  unsigned int str_len=0;
-  for(ptr=str;*ptr!='\0';ptr++){
-    str_len++;
-  }
-  dstring_init(output, str_len);
+  dstring_init(output, strlen(str));
   str_to_dstring_noinit(str, output);
   return(0);
 }