diff --git a/reid/lib/std.reid b/reid/lib/std.reid
index 8960af8..4749871 100644
--- a/reid/lib/std.reid
+++ b/reid/lib/std.reid
@@ -37,11 +37,13 @@ pub fn new_string() -> String {
 
 pub fn from_str(str: *char) -> String {
     let length = str_length(str, 0);
-    String {
-        inner: str,
+    let cloned = malloc(length as u64) as *char;
+    copy_bits(str, cloned, 0, length as u64);
+    return String {
+        inner: cloned,
         length: length,
         max_length: length
-    }
+    };
 }
 
 pub fn add_char(string: &mut String, c: char) {
diff --git a/reid_src/hello_world.reid b/reid_src/hello_world.reid
index 542f6e5..6dbce11 100644
--- a/reid_src/hello_world.reid
+++ b/reid_src/hello_world.reid
@@ -1,15 +1,10 @@
 import std::print;
-import std::new_string;
+import std::from_str;
 import std::add_char;
 import std::free_string;
 
 fn main() -> i32 {
-    let mut test = new_string();
-    add_char(&mut test, 'h');
-    add_char(&mut test, 'e');
-    add_char(&mut test, 'l');
-    add_char(&mut test, 'l');
-    add_char(&mut test, 'o');
+    let mut test = from_str("hello world");
     
     print(&test);