diff --git a/lib/monitor.js b/lib/monitor.js
index d49841ba1..d08fb3e93 100644
--- a/lib/monitor.js
+++ b/lib/monitor.js
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ Monitor.prototype.createPing = function(error, check, timestamp, time, details,
   options.method = 'POST';
   options.headers = {
     'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded',
-    'Content-Length': postData.length
+    'Content-Length': Buffer.byteLength(postData)
   };
   this.applyApiHttpOptions(options);
   var self = this;