diff --git a/src/types.rs b/src/types.rs
index 1d30b30..f55a80e 100644
--- a/src/types.rs
+++ b/src/types.rs
@@ -102,8 +102,12 @@ raw_to_impl!(c_double, sqlite3_bind_double);
 
 impl<'a> ToSql for &'a str {
     unsafe fn bind_parameter(&self, stmt: *mut sqlite3_stmt, col: c_int) -> c_int {
+        let length = self.len();
+        if length > ::std::i32::MAX as usize {
+            return ffi::SQLITE_TOOBIG;
+        }
         match str_to_cstring(self) {
-            Ok(c_str) => ffi::sqlite3_bind_text(stmt, col, c_str.as_ptr(), -1,
+            Ok(c_str) => ffi::sqlite3_bind_text(stmt, col, c_str.as_ptr(), length as c_int,
                                                 ffi::SQLITE_TRANSIENT()),
             Err(_)    => ffi::SQLITE_MISUSE,
         }