diff --git a/UPGRADING.INTERNALS b/UPGRADING.INTERNALS
index 94c2a9c14652d..901f0dd75d9c1 100644
--- a/UPGRADING.INTERNALS
+++ b/UPGRADING.INTERNALS
@@ -56,3 +56,8 @@ PHP 8.1 INTERNALS UPGRADE NOTES
       of returning a boolean, and the quoted string as a pair of out params.
       Similarly the unquoted string is now a zend_string* instead of a pair of
       char* and size_t length.
+    - The doer handler now accepts a zend_string* instead of char* + size_t
+      pair for the SQL statement.
+    - The last_id handler now returns a zend_string* instead of returning a
+      char* and the lengths as an out param, and accepts a zend_string* instead
+      of char* for the optional sequence/table name.
diff --git a/ext/pdo/pdo.c b/ext/pdo/pdo.c
index a66596ee54472..d0e77c703b180 100644
--- a/ext/pdo/pdo.c
+++ b/ext/pdo/pdo.c
@@ -248,8 +248,9 @@ PDO_API int php_pdo_parse_data_source(const char *data_source, zend_ulong data_s
 }
 /* }}} */
 
+/* TODO Refactor */
 static const char digit_vec[] = "0123456789";
-PDO_API char *php_pdo_int64_to_str(pdo_int64_t i64) /* {{{ */
+PDO_API zend_string *php_pdo_int64_to_str(pdo_int64_t i64) /* {{{ */
 {
 	char buffer[65];
 	char outbuf[65] = "";
@@ -257,17 +258,15 @@ PDO_API char *php_pdo_int64_to_str(pdo_int64_t i64) /* {{{ */
 	zend_long long_val;
 	char *dst = outbuf;
 
+	if (i64 == 0) {
+		return ZSTR_CHAR('0');;
+	}
+
 	if (i64 < 0) {
 		i64 = -i64;
 		*dst++ = '-';
 	}
 
-	if (i64 == 0) {
-		*dst++ = '0';
-		*dst++ = '\0';
-		return estrdup(outbuf);
-	}
-
 	p = &buffer[sizeof(buffer)-1];
 	*p = '\0';
 
@@ -286,7 +285,7 @@ PDO_API char *php_pdo_int64_to_str(pdo_int64_t i64) /* {{{ */
 	while ((*dst++ = *p++) != 0)
 		;
 	*dst = '\0';
-	return estrdup(outbuf);
+	return zend_string_init(outbuf, strlen(outbuf), 0);
 }
 /* }}} */
 
diff --git a/ext/pdo/pdo_dbh.c b/ext/pdo/pdo_dbh.c
index e5159bd64d0da..c1b3495a1b30f 100644
--- a/ext/pdo/pdo_dbh.c
+++ b/ext/pdo/pdo_dbh.c
@@ -913,23 +913,22 @@ PHP_METHOD(PDO, getAttribute)
 PHP_METHOD(PDO, exec)
 {
 	pdo_dbh_t *dbh = Z_PDO_DBH_P(ZEND_THIS);
-	char *statement;
-	size_t statement_len;
+	zend_string *statement;
 	zend_long ret;
 
 	ZEND_PARSE_PARAMETERS_START(1, 1)
-		Z_PARAM_STRING(statement, statement_len)
+		Z_PARAM_STR(statement)
 	ZEND_PARSE_PARAMETERS_END();
 
-	if (statement_len == 0) {
+	if (ZSTR_LEN(statement) == 0) {
 		zend_argument_value_error(1, "cannot be empty");
 		RETURN_THROWS();
 	}
 
 	PDO_DBH_CLEAR_ERR();
 	PDO_CONSTRUCT_CHECK;
-	ret = dbh->methods->doer(dbh, statement, statement_len);
-	if(ret == -1) {
+	ret = dbh->methods->doer(dbh, statement);
+	if (ret == -1) {
 		PDO_HANDLE_DBH_ERR();
 		RETURN_FALSE;
 	} else {
@@ -942,12 +941,12 @@ PHP_METHOD(PDO, exec)
 PHP_METHOD(PDO, lastInsertId)
 {
 	pdo_dbh_t *dbh = Z_PDO_DBH_P(ZEND_THIS);
-	char *name = NULL;
-	size_t namelen;
+	zend_string *name = NULL;
+	zend_string *last_id = NULL;
 
 	ZEND_PARSE_PARAMETERS_START(0, 1)
 		Z_PARAM_OPTIONAL
-		Z_PARAM_STRING_OR_NULL(name, namelen)
+		Z_PARAM_STR_OR_NULL(name)
 	ZEND_PARSE_PARAMETERS_END();
 
 	PDO_CONSTRUCT_CHECK;
@@ -957,19 +956,13 @@ PHP_METHOD(PDO, lastInsertId)
 	if (!dbh->methods->last_id) {
 		pdo_raise_impl_error(dbh, NULL, "IM001", "driver does not support lastInsertId()");
 		RETURN_FALSE;
-	} else {
-		size_t id_len;
-		char *id;
-		id = dbh->methods->last_id(dbh, name, &id_len);
-		if (!id) {
-			PDO_HANDLE_DBH_ERR();
-			RETURN_FALSE;
-		} else {
-			//??? use zend_string ?
-			RETVAL_STRINGL(id, id_len);
-			efree(id);
-		}
 	}
+	last_id = dbh->methods->last_id(dbh, name);
+	if (!last_id) {
+		PDO_HANDLE_DBH_ERR();
+		RETURN_FALSE;
+	}
+	RETURN_STR(last_id);
 }
 /* }}} */
 
diff --git a/ext/pdo/php_pdo_driver.h b/ext/pdo/php_pdo_driver.h
index e31ea7ed1d719..775ffd240f946 100644
--- a/ext/pdo/php_pdo_driver.h
+++ b/ext/pdo/php_pdo_driver.h
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ typedef unsigned __int64 pdo_uint64_t;
 typedef long long int pdo_int64_t;
 typedef unsigned long long int pdo_uint64_t;
 #endif
-PDO_API char *php_pdo_int64_to_str(pdo_int64_t i64);
+PDO_API zend_string *php_pdo_int64_to_str(pdo_int64_t i64);
 
 #ifndef TRUE
 # define TRUE 1
@@ -232,8 +232,9 @@ typedef void (*pdo_dbh_close_func)(pdo_dbh_t *dbh);
  * return true on success, false otherwise */
 typedef bool (*pdo_dbh_prepare_func)(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, zend_string *sql, pdo_stmt_t *stmt, zval *driver_options);
 
-/* execute a statement (that does not return a result set) */
-typedef zend_long (*pdo_dbh_do_func)(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const char *sql, size_t sql_len);
+/* execute a statement (that does not return a result set)
+ * Return -1 on failure, otherwise the number of affected rows */
+typedef zend_long (*pdo_dbh_do_func)(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const zend_string *sql);
 
 /* quote a string */
 typedef zend_string* (*pdo_dbh_quote_func)(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const zend_string *unquoted, enum pdo_param_type paramtype);
@@ -246,9 +247,9 @@ typedef bool (*pdo_dbh_txn_func)(pdo_dbh_t *dbh);
  * Return true on success and false in case of failure */
 typedef bool (*pdo_dbh_set_attr_func)(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, zend_long attr, zval *val);
 
-/* return last insert id.  NULL indicates error condition, otherwise, the return value
- * MUST be an emalloc'd NULL terminated string. */
-typedef char *(*pdo_dbh_last_id_func)(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const char *name, size_t *len);
+/* return last insert id.  NULL indicates error condition.
+ * name MIGHT be NULL */
+typedef zend_string *(*pdo_dbh_last_id_func)(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const zend_string *name);
 
 /* Fetch error information.
  * If stmt is not null, fetch information pertaining to the statement,
diff --git a/ext/pdo_dblib/dblib_driver.c b/ext/pdo_dblib/dblib_driver.c
index 824e055565d64..ae45da6beb425 100644
--- a/ext/pdo_dblib/dblib_driver.c
+++ b/ext/pdo_dblib/dblib_driver.c
@@ -106,14 +106,14 @@ static bool dblib_handle_preparer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, zend_string *sql, pdo_stmt_t *
 	return true;
 }
 
-static zend_long dblib_handle_doer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const char *sql, size_t sql_len)
+static zend_long dblib_handle_doer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const zend_string *sql)
 {
 	pdo_dblib_db_handle *H = (pdo_dblib_db_handle *)dbh->driver_data;
 	RETCODE ret, resret;
 
 	dbsetuserdata(H->link, (BYTE*)&H->err);
 
-	if (FAIL == dbcmd(H->link, sql)) {
+	if (FAIL == dbcmd(H->link, ZSTR_VAL(sql))) {
 		return -1;
 	}
 
@@ -222,12 +222,14 @@ static bool dblib_handle_rollback(pdo_dbh_t *dbh)
 	return pdo_dblib_transaction_cmd("ROLLBACK TRANSACTION", dbh);
 }
 
-char *dblib_handle_last_id(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const char *name, size_t *len)
+zend_string *dblib_handle_last_id(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const zend_string *name)
 {
 	pdo_dblib_db_handle *H = (pdo_dblib_db_handle *)dbh->driver_data;
 
 	RETCODE ret;
 	char *id = NULL;
+	size_t len;
+	zend_string *ret_id;
 
 	/*
 	 * Would use scope_identity() but it's not implemented on Sybase
@@ -260,10 +262,12 @@ char *dblib_handle_last_id(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const char *name, size_t *len)
 	}
 
 	id = emalloc(32);
-	*len = dbconvert(NULL, (dbcoltype(H->link, 1)) , (dbdata(H->link, 1)) , (dbdatlen(H->link, 1)), SQLCHAR, (BYTE *)id, (DBINT)-1);
-
+	len = dbconvert(NULL, (dbcoltype(H->link, 1)) , (dbdata(H->link, 1)) , (dbdatlen(H->link, 1)), SQLCHAR, (BYTE *)id, (DBINT)-1);
 	dbcancel(H->link);
-	return id;
+
+	ret_id = zend_string_init(id, len, 0);
+	efree(id);
+	return ret_id;
 }
 
 static bool dblib_set_attr(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, zend_long attr, zval *val)
diff --git a/ext/pdo_firebird/firebird_driver.c b/ext/pdo_firebird/firebird_driver.c
index 02c6dfc4eec24..338aa88ec95e8 100644
--- a/ext/pdo_firebird/firebird_driver.c
+++ b/ext/pdo_firebird/firebird_driver.c
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 #include "php_pdo_firebird.h"
 #include "php_pdo_firebird_int.h"
 
-static int firebird_alloc_prepare_stmt(pdo_dbh_t*, const char*, size_t, XSQLDA*, isc_stmt_handle*,
+static int firebird_alloc_prepare_stmt(pdo_dbh_t*, const zend_string*, XSQLDA*, isc_stmt_handle*,
 	HashTable*);
 
 const char CHR_LETTER = 1;
@@ -291,13 +291,13 @@ static FbTokenType getToken(const char** begin, const char* end)
 	return ret;
 }
 
-int preprocess(const char* sql, int sql_len, char* sql_out, HashTable* named_params)
+int preprocess(const zend_string* sql, char* sql_out, HashTable* named_params)
 {
 	bool passAsIs = 1, execBlock = 0;
 	zend_long pindex = -1;
 	char pname[254], ident[253], ident2[253];
 	unsigned int l;
-	const char* p = sql, * end = sql + sql_len;
+	const char* p = ZSTR_VAL(sql), * end = ZSTR_VAL(sql) + ZSTR_LEN(sql);
 	const char* start = p;
 	FbTokenType tok = getToken(&p, end);
 
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ int preprocess(const char* sql, int sql_len, char* sql_out, HashTable* named_par
 
 	if (passAsIs)
 	{
-		strcpy(sql_out, sql);
+		strcpy(sql_out, ZSTR_VAL(sql));
 		return 1;
 	}
 
@@ -522,7 +522,7 @@ static bool firebird_handle_preparer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, zend_string *sql, /* {{{ */
 		zend_hash_init(np, 8, NULL, NULL, 0);
 
 		/* allocate and prepare statement */
-		if (!firebird_alloc_prepare_stmt(dbh, ZSTR_VAL(sql), ZSTR_LEN(sql), &num_sqlda, &s, np)) {
+		if (!firebird_alloc_prepare_stmt(dbh, sql, &num_sqlda, &s, np)) {
 			break;
 		}
 
@@ -587,7 +587,7 @@ static bool firebird_handle_preparer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, zend_string *sql, /* {{{ */
 /* }}} */
 
 /* called by PDO to execute a statement that doesn't produce a result set */
-static zend_long firebird_handle_doer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const char *sql, size_t sql_len) /* {{{ */
+static zend_long firebird_handle_doer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const zend_string *sql) /* {{{ */
 {
 	pdo_firebird_db_handle *H = (pdo_firebird_db_handle *)dbh->driver_data;
 	isc_stmt_handle stmt = PDO_FIREBIRD_HANDLE_INITIALIZER;
@@ -602,7 +602,7 @@ static zend_long firebird_handle_doer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const char *sql, size_t sq
 	out_sqlda.sqln = 1;
 
 	/* allocate and prepare statement */
-	if (!firebird_alloc_prepare_stmt(dbh, sql, sql_len, &out_sqlda, &stmt, 0)) {
+	if (!firebird_alloc_prepare_stmt(dbh, sql, &out_sqlda, &stmt, 0)) {
 		return -1;
 	}
 
@@ -767,14 +767,14 @@ static bool firebird_handle_rollback(pdo_dbh_t *dbh) /* {{{ */
 /* }}} */
 
 /* used by prepare and exec to allocate a statement handle and prepare the SQL */
-static int firebird_alloc_prepare_stmt(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const char *sql, size_t sql_len, /* {{{ */
+static int firebird_alloc_prepare_stmt(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const zend_string *sql,
 	XSQLDA *out_sqlda, isc_stmt_handle *s, HashTable *named_params)
 {
 	pdo_firebird_db_handle *H = (pdo_firebird_db_handle *)dbh->driver_data;
 	char *new_sql;
 
 	/* Firebird allows SQL statements up to 64k, so bail if it doesn't fit */
-	if (sql_len > 65536) {
+	if (ZSTR_LEN(sql) > 65536) {
 		strcpy(dbh->error_code, "01004");
 		return 0;
 	}
@@ -797,9 +797,9 @@ static int firebird_alloc_prepare_stmt(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const char *sql, size_t s
 
 	/* in order to support named params, which Firebird itself doesn't,
 	   we need to replace :foo by ?, and store the name we just replaced */
-	new_sql = emalloc(sql_len+1);
+	new_sql = emalloc(ZSTR_LEN(sql)+1);
 	new_sql[0] = '\0';
-	if (!preprocess(sql, sql_len, new_sql, named_params)) {
+	if (!preprocess(sql, new_sql, named_params)) {
 		strcpy(dbh->error_code, "07000");
 		efree(new_sql);
 		return 0;
@@ -815,7 +815,6 @@ static int firebird_alloc_prepare_stmt(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const char *sql, size_t s
 	efree(new_sql);
 	return 1;
 }
-/* }}} */
 
 /* called by PDO to set a driver-specific dbh attribute */
 static bool firebird_handle_set_attribute(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, zend_long attr, zval *val) /* {{{ */
diff --git a/ext/pdo_mysql/mysql_driver.c b/ext/pdo_mysql/mysql_driver.c
index ad27937febb5c..6b42335878da8 100644
--- a/ext/pdo_mysql/mysql_driver.c
+++ b/ext/pdo_mysql/mysql_driver.c
@@ -249,14 +249,14 @@ static bool mysql_handle_preparer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, zend_string *sql, pdo_stmt_t *
 /* }}} */
 
 /* {{{ mysql_handle_doer */
-static zend_long mysql_handle_doer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const char *sql, size_t sql_len)
+static zend_long mysql_handle_doer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const zend_string *sql)
 {
 	pdo_mysql_db_handle *H = (pdo_mysql_db_handle *)dbh->driver_data;
 	PDO_DBG_ENTER("mysql_handle_doer");
 	PDO_DBG_INF_FMT("dbh=%p", dbh);
-	PDO_DBG_INF_FMT("sql=%.*s", (int)sql_len, sql);
+	PDO_DBG_INF_FMT("sql=%.*s", (int)ZSTR_LEN(sql), ZSTR_VAL(sql));
 
-	if (mysql_real_query(H->server, sql, sql_len)) {
+	if (mysql_real_query(H->server, ZSTR_VAL(sql), ZSTR_LEN(sql))) {
 		pdo_mysql_error(dbh);
 		PDO_DBG_RETURN(-1);
 	} else {
@@ -285,13 +285,11 @@ static zend_long mysql_handle_doer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const char *sql, size_t sql_l
 /* }}} */
 
 /* {{{ pdo_mysql_last_insert_id */
-static char *pdo_mysql_last_insert_id(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const char *name, size_t *len)
+static zend_string *pdo_mysql_last_insert_id(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const zend_string *name)
 {
 	pdo_mysql_db_handle *H = (pdo_mysql_db_handle *)dbh->driver_data;
-	char *id = php_pdo_int64_to_str(mysql_insert_id(H->server));
 	PDO_DBG_ENTER("pdo_mysql_last_insert_id");
-	*len = strlen(id);
-	PDO_DBG_RETURN(id);
+	PDO_DBG_RETURN(php_pdo_int64_to_str(mysql_insert_id(H->server)));
 }
 /* }}} */
 
@@ -348,9 +346,16 @@ static zend_string* mysql_handle_quoter(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const zend_string *unquo
 /* {{{ mysql_handle_begin */
 static bool mysql_handle_begin(pdo_dbh_t *dbh)
 {
+	zend_long return_value;
+	zend_string *command;
+
 	PDO_DBG_ENTER("mysql_handle_quoter");
 	PDO_DBG_INF_FMT("dbh=%p", dbh);
-	PDO_DBG_RETURN(0 <= mysql_handle_doer(dbh, ZEND_STRL("START TRANSACTION")));
+
+	command = zend_string_init("START TRANSACTION", strlen("START TRANSACTION"), 0);
+	return_value = mysql_handle_doer(dbh, command);
+	zend_string_release_ex(command, 0);
+	PDO_DBG_RETURN(0 <= return_value);
 }
 /* }}} */
 
diff --git a/ext/pdo_oci/oci_driver.c b/ext/pdo_oci/oci_driver.c
index 68a52051f6921..dd4a7bb171318 100644
--- a/ext/pdo_oci/oci_driver.c
+++ b/ext/pdo_oci/oci_driver.c
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ static bool oci_handle_preparer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, zend_string *sql, pdo_stmt_t *st
 }
 /* }}} */
 
-static zend_long oci_handle_doer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const char *sql, size_t sql_len) /* {{{ */
+static zend_long oci_handle_doer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const zend_string *sql) /* {{{ */
 {
 	pdo_oci_db_handle *H = (pdo_oci_db_handle *)dbh->driver_data;
 	OCIStmt		*stmt;
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ static zend_long oci_handle_doer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const char *sql, size_t sql_len
 
 	OCIHandleAlloc(H->env, (dvoid*)&stmt, OCI_HTYPE_STMT, 0, NULL);
 
-	H->last_err = OCIStmtPrepare(stmt, H->err, (text*)sql, (ub4) sql_len, OCI_NTV_SYNTAX, OCI_DEFAULT);
+	H->last_err = OCIStmtPrepare(stmt, H->err, (text*)ZSTR_VAL(sql), (ub4) ZSTR_LEN(sql), OCI_NTV_SYNTAX, OCI_DEFAULT);
 	if (H->last_err) {
 		H->last_err = oci_drv_error("OCIStmtPrepare");
 		OCIHandleFree(stmt, OCI_HTYPE_STMT);
@@ -696,7 +696,7 @@ static const struct pdo_dbh_methods oci_methods = {
 	oci_handle_commit,
 	oci_handle_rollback,
 	oci_handle_set_attribute,
-	NULL,
+	NULL, /* last_id not supported */
 	pdo_oci_fetch_error_func,
 	oci_handle_get_attribute,
 	pdo_oci_check_liveness,	/* check_liveness */
diff --git a/ext/pdo_odbc/odbc_driver.c b/ext/pdo_odbc/odbc_driver.c
index d2e40d5de592c..719aa36219a29 100644
--- a/ext/pdo_odbc/odbc_driver.c
+++ b/ext/pdo_odbc/odbc_driver.c
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ static bool odbc_handle_preparer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, zend_string *sql, pdo_stmt_t *s
 	return true;
 }
 
-static zend_long odbc_handle_doer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const char *sql, size_t sql_len)
+static zend_long odbc_handle_doer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const zend_string *sql)
 {
 	pdo_odbc_db_handle *H = (pdo_odbc_db_handle *)dbh->driver_data;
 	RETCODE rc;
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ static zend_long odbc_handle_doer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const char *sql, size_t sql_le
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	rc = SQLExecDirect(stmt, (SQLCHAR *) sql, sql_len);
+	rc = SQLExecDirect(stmt, (SQLCHAR *) ZSTR_VAL(sql), ZSTR_LEN(sql));
 
 	if (rc == SQL_NO_DATA) {
 		/* If SQLExecDirect executes a searched update or delete statement that
diff --git a/ext/pdo_pgsql/pgsql_driver.c b/ext/pdo_pgsql/pgsql_driver.c
index d2cda8572df5b..5f2827334a86e 100644
--- a/ext/pdo_pgsql/pgsql_driver.c
+++ b/ext/pdo_pgsql/pgsql_driver.c
@@ -288,14 +288,14 @@ static bool pgsql_handle_preparer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, zend_string *sql, pdo_stmt_t *
 	return true;
 }
 
-static zend_long pgsql_handle_doer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const char *sql, size_t sql_len)
+static zend_long pgsql_handle_doer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const zend_string *sql)
 {
 	pdo_pgsql_db_handle *H = (pdo_pgsql_db_handle *)dbh->driver_data;
 	PGresult *res;
 	zend_long ret = 1;
 	ExecStatusType qs;
 
-	if (!(res = PQexec(H->server, sql))) {
+	if (!(res = PQexec(H->server, ZSTR_VAL(sql)))) {
 		/* fatal error */
 		pdo_pgsql_error(dbh, PGRES_FATAL_ERROR, NULL);
 		return -1;
@@ -352,10 +352,10 @@ static zend_string* pgsql_handle_quoter(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const zend_string *unquo
 	return quoted_str;
 }
 
-static char *pdo_pgsql_last_insert_id(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const char *name, size_t *len)
+static zend_string *pdo_pgsql_last_insert_id(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const zend_string *name)
 {
 	pdo_pgsql_db_handle *H = (pdo_pgsql_db_handle *)dbh->driver_data;
-	char *id = NULL;
+	zend_string *id = NULL;
 	PGresult *res;
 	ExecStatusType status;
 
@@ -363,15 +363,14 @@ static char *pdo_pgsql_last_insert_id(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const char *name, size_t *
 		res = PQexec(H->server, "SELECT LASTVAL()");
 	} else {
 		const char *q[1];
-		q[0] = name;
+		q[0] = ZSTR_VAL(name);
 
 		res = PQexecParams(H->server, "SELECT CURRVAL($1)", 1, NULL, q, NULL, NULL, 0);
 	}
 	status = PQresultStatus(res);
 
 	if (res && (status == PGRES_TUPLES_OK)) {
-		id = estrdup((char *)PQgetvalue(res, 0, 0));
-		*len = PQgetlength(res, 0, 0);
+		id = zend_string_init((char *)PQgetvalue(res, 0, 0), PQgetlength(res, 0, 0), 0);
 	} else {
 		pdo_pgsql_error(dbh, status, pdo_pgsql_sqlstate(res));
 	}
diff --git a/ext/pdo_sqlite/sqlite_driver.c b/ext/pdo_sqlite/sqlite_driver.c
index 97363ff0fee10..a48c77f9e88bc 100644
--- a/ext/pdo_sqlite/sqlite_driver.c
+++ b/ext/pdo_sqlite/sqlite_driver.c
@@ -200,12 +200,12 @@ static bool sqlite_handle_preparer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, zend_string *sql, pdo_stmt_t
 	return false;
 }
 
-static zend_long sqlite_handle_doer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const char *sql, size_t sql_len)
+static zend_long sqlite_handle_doer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const zend_string *sql)
 {
 	pdo_sqlite_db_handle *H = (pdo_sqlite_db_handle *)dbh->driver_data;
 	char *errmsg = NULL;
 
-	if (sqlite3_exec(H->db, sql, NULL, NULL, &errmsg) != SQLITE_OK) {
+	if (sqlite3_exec(H->db, ZSTR_VAL(sql), NULL, NULL, &errmsg) != SQLITE_OK) {
 		pdo_sqlite_error(dbh);
 		if (errmsg)
 			sqlite3_free(errmsg);
@@ -216,14 +216,11 @@ static zend_long sqlite_handle_doer(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const char *sql, size_t sql_
 	}
 }
 
-static char *pdo_sqlite_last_insert_id(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const char *name, size_t *len)
+static zend_string *pdo_sqlite_last_insert_id(pdo_dbh_t *dbh, const zend_string *name)
 {
 	pdo_sqlite_db_handle *H = (pdo_sqlite_db_handle *)dbh->driver_data;
-	char *id;
 
-	id = php_pdo_int64_to_str(sqlite3_last_insert_rowid(H->db));
-	*len = strlen(id);
-	return id;
+	return php_pdo_int64_to_str(sqlite3_last_insert_rowid(H->db));
 }
 
 /* NB: doesn't handle binary strings... use prepared stmts for that */