diff --git a/hiredis.c b/hiredis.c
index 7fbe016..f1ade93 100644
--- a/hiredis.c
+++ b/hiredis.c
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ typedef struct redisReader {
     unsigned int rpos; /* list cursor */
 } redisReader;
 
-static redisReply *createReplyObject(int type, sds reply);
+static redisReply *createReplyObject(int type);
 static void *createStringObject(redisReadTask *task, char *str, size_t len);
 static void *createArrayObject(redisReadTask *task, int elements);
 static void *createIntegerObject(redisReadTask *task, long long value);
@@ -75,12 +75,11 @@ static void redisOOM(void) {
 }
 
 /* Create a reply object */
-static redisReply *createReplyObject(int type, sds reply) {
+static redisReply *createReplyObject(int type) {
     redisReply *r = calloc(sizeof(*r),1);
 
     if (!r) redisOOM();
     r->type = type;
-    r->reply = reply;
     return r;
 }
 
@@ -98,19 +97,27 @@ void freeReplyObject(void *reply) {
         free(r->element);
         break;
     default:
-        if (r->reply != NULL)
-            sdsfree(r->reply);
+        if (r->str != NULL)
+            free(r->str);
         break;
     }
     free(r);
 }
 
 static void *createStringObject(redisReadTask *task, char *str, size_t len) {
-    redisReply *r = createReplyObject(task->type,sdsnewlen(str,len));
+    redisReply *r = createReplyObject(task->type);
+    char *value = malloc(len+1);
+    if (!value) redisOOM();
     assert(task->type == REDIS_REPLY_ERROR ||
            task->type == REDIS_REPLY_STATUS ||
            task->type == REDIS_REPLY_STRING);
 
+    /* Copy string value */
+    memcpy(value,str,len);
+    value[len] = '\0';
+    r->str = value;
+    r->len = len;
+
     /* for API compat, set STATUS to STRING */
     if (task->type == REDIS_REPLY_STATUS)
         r->type = REDIS_REPLY_STRING;
@@ -124,7 +131,7 @@ static void *createStringObject(redisReadTask *task, char *str, size_t len) {
 }
 
 static void *createArrayObject(redisReadTask *task, int elements) {
-    redisReply *r = createReplyObject(REDIS_REPLY_ARRAY,NULL);
+    redisReply *r = createReplyObject(REDIS_REPLY_ARRAY);
     r->elements = elements;
     if ((r->element = calloc(sizeof(redisReply*),elements)) == NULL)
         redisOOM();
@@ -137,7 +144,7 @@ static void *createArrayObject(redisReadTask *task, int elements) {
 }
 
 static void *createIntegerObject(redisReadTask *task, long long value) {
-    redisReply *r = createReplyObject(REDIS_REPLY_INTEGER,NULL);
+    redisReply *r = createReplyObject(REDIS_REPLY_INTEGER);
     r->integer = value;
     if (task->parent) {
         redisReply *parent = task->parent;
@@ -148,7 +155,7 @@ static void *createIntegerObject(redisReadTask *task, long long value) {
 }
 
 static void *createNilObject(redisReadTask *task) {
-    redisReply *r = createReplyObject(REDIS_REPLY_NIL,NULL);
+    redisReply *r = createReplyObject(REDIS_REPLY_NIL);
     if (task->parent) {
         redisReply *parent = task->parent;
         assert(parent->type == REDIS_REPLY_ARRAY);
diff --git a/hiredis.h b/hiredis.h
index 58b9066..39f10c6 100644
--- a/hiredis.h
+++ b/hiredis.h
@@ -49,13 +49,12 @@
 #define REDIS_REPLY_NIL 4
 #define REDIS_REPLY_STATUS 5
 
-#include "sds.h"
-
 /* This is the reply object returned by redisCommand() */
 typedef struct redisReply {
     int type; /* REDIS_REPLY_* */
     long long integer; /* The integer when type is REDIS_REPLY_INTEGER */
-    char *reply; /* Used for both REDIS_REPLY_ERROR and REDIS_REPLY_STRING */
+    int len; /* Length of string */
+    char *str; /* Used for both REDIS_REPLY_ERROR and REDIS_REPLY_STRING */
     size_t elements; /* number of elements, for REDIS_REPLY_ARRAY */
     struct redisReply **element; /* elements vector for REDIS_REPLY_ARRAY */
 } redisReply;
@@ -97,8 +96,8 @@ typedef struct redisCallback {
 typedef struct redisContext {
     int fd;
     int flags;
-    sds error; /* Error object is set when in erronous state */
-    sds obuf; /* Write buffer */
+    char *error; /* Error object is set when in erronous state */
+    char *obuf; /* Write buffer */
 
     /* Function set for reply buildup and reply reader */
     redisReplyObjectFunctions *fn;
diff --git a/test.c b/test.c
index c91f9d8..5bddf04 100644
--- a/test.c
+++ b/test.c
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ static void test_blocking_connection() {
     test("Returns I/O error when the connection is lost: ");
     reply = redisCommand(c,"QUIT");
     test_cond(redisCommand(c,"PING") == NULL &&
-        strcasecmp(reply->reply,"OK") == 0 &&
+        strcasecmp(reply->str,"OK") == 0 &&
         strcmp(c->error,"read: Server closed the connection") == 0);
     freeReplyObject(reply);
     redisFree(c);
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ static void test_blocking_connection() {
     test("Is able to deliver commands: ");
     reply = redisCommand(c,"PING");
     test_cond(reply->type == REDIS_REPLY_STRING &&
-        strcasecmp(reply->reply,"pong") == 0)
+        strcasecmp(reply->str,"pong") == 0)
     freeReplyObject(reply);
 
     /* Switch to DB 9 for testing, now that we know we can chat. */
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ static void test_blocking_connection() {
     test("Is a able to send commands verbatim: ");
     reply = redisCommand(c,"SET foo bar");
     test_cond (reply->type == REDIS_REPLY_STRING &&
-        strcasecmp(reply->reply,"ok") == 0)
+        strcasecmp(reply->str,"ok") == 0)
     freeReplyObject(reply);
 
     test("%%s String interpolation works: ");
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ static void test_blocking_connection() {
     freeReplyObject(reply);
     reply = redisCommand(c,"GET foo");
     test_cond(reply->type == REDIS_REPLY_STRING &&
-        strcmp(reply->reply,"hello world") == 0);
+        strcmp(reply->str,"hello world") == 0);
     freeReplyObject(reply);
 
     test("%%b String interpolation works: ");
@@ -82,10 +82,10 @@ static void test_blocking_connection() {
     freeReplyObject(reply);
     reply = redisCommand(c,"GET foo");
     test_cond(reply->type == REDIS_REPLY_STRING &&
-        memcmp(reply->reply,"hello\x00world",11) == 0)
+        memcmp(reply->str,"hello\x00world",11) == 0)
 
     test("Binary reply length is correct: ");
-    test_cond(sdslen(reply->reply) == 11)
+    test_cond(reply->len == 11)
     freeReplyObject(reply);
 
     test("Can parse nil replies: ");
@@ -105,8 +105,8 @@ static void test_blocking_connection() {
     reply = redisCommand(c,"LRANGE mylist 0 -1");
     test_cond(reply->type == REDIS_REPLY_ARRAY &&
               reply->elements == 2 &&
-              !memcmp(reply->element[0]->reply,"bar",3) &&
-              !memcmp(reply->element[1]->reply,"foo",3))
+              !memcmp(reply->element[0]->str,"bar",3) &&
+              !memcmp(reply->element[1]->str,"foo",3))
     freeReplyObject(reply);
 
     /* m/e with multi bulk reply *before* other reply.
@@ -120,10 +120,10 @@ static void test_blocking_connection() {
               reply->elements == 2 &&
               reply->element[0]->type == REDIS_REPLY_ARRAY &&
               reply->element[0]->elements == 2 &&
-              !memcmp(reply->element[0]->element[0]->reply,"bar",3) &&
-              !memcmp(reply->element[0]->element[1]->reply,"foo",3) &&
+              !memcmp(reply->element[0]->element[0]->str,"bar",3) &&
+              !memcmp(reply->element[0]->element[1]->str,"foo",3) &&
               reply->element[1]->type == REDIS_REPLY_STRING &&
-              strcasecmp(reply->element[1]->reply,"pong") == 0);
+              strcasecmp(reply->element[1]->str,"pong") == 0);
     freeReplyObject(reply);
 }