diff --git a/ed_classified.module b/ed_classified.module
index 4a1bbdb..5237efc 100644
--- a/ed_classified.module
+++ b/ed_classified.module
@@ -524,7 +524,7 @@ function ed_classified_form(&$node) {
     '#required' => TRUE,
     '#default_value' => $node->title);
   $max_body_length = _ed_classified_variable_get('ad_standard_body_length', EDI_CLASSIFIED_VAR_DEF_BODYLEN_LIMIT);
-  $current_body_length = strlen(trim($node->body));
+  $current_body_length = drupal_strlen(trim($node->body));
 
   $form['body_filter']['body'] = array(
     '#type' => 'textarea',
@@ -706,7 +706,7 @@ function ed_classified_validate(&$form, $form_state) {
   // 
   // TODO: allow override on some ads, if paid for longer ads
   $maxlen = _ed_classified_variable_get('ad_standard_body_length', EDI_CLASSIFIED_VAR_DEF_BODYLEN_LIMIT);
-  if (strlen(trim($form->body)) > $maxlen) {
+  if (drupal_strlen(trim($form->body)) > $maxlen) {
     form_set_error('body', t('Ad text length is limited to !length characters.  Please shorten your entry to !length characters or less.', array('!length' => $maxlen)));
   }
 }