diff --git a/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs b/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs
index 920a97a389..ea5539b351 100644
--- a/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs
+++ b/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs
@@ -374,6 +374,7 @@ pub unsafe extern "C" fn dc_send_text_msg(
 ) -> u32 {
     assert!(!context.is_null());
     let context = &*context;
+    let text_to_send = dc_tools::to_string_lossy(text_to_send);
 
     dc_chat::dc_send_text_msg(context, chat_id, text_to_send)
 }
diff --git a/examples/repl/cmdline.rs b/examples/repl/cmdline.rs
index 9c2d6f5da1..30f27e67cf 100644
--- a/examples/repl/cmdline.rs
+++ b/examples/repl/cmdline.rs
@@ -914,30 +914,17 @@ pub unsafe fn dc_cmdline(context: &Context, line: &str) -> Result<(), failure::E
             ensure!(!sel_chat.is_null(), "No chat selected.");
             ensure!(!arg1.is_empty(), "No message text given.");
 
-            let msg = CString::yolo(format!("{} {}", arg1, arg2));
+            let msg = format!("{} {}", arg1, arg2);
 
-            if 0 != dc_send_text_msg(context, dc_chat_get_id(sel_chat), msg.as_ptr()) {
+            if 0 != dc_send_text_msg(context, dc_chat_get_id(sel_chat), msg) {
                 println!("Message sent.");
             } else {
                 bail!("Sending failed.");
             }
         }
-        "send-garbage" => {
-            ensure!(!sel_chat.is_null(), "No chat selected.");
-            let msg = b"\xff\x00"; // NUL-terminated C-string, that is malformed utf-8
-            if 0 != dc_send_text_msg(context, dc_chat_get_id(sel_chat), msg.as_ptr().cast()) {
-                println!("Malformed utf-8 succesfully send. Not nice.");
-            } else {
-                bail!("Garbage sending failed, as expected.");
-            }
-        }
         "sendempty" => {
             ensure!(!sel_chat.is_null(), "No chat selected.");
-            if 0 != dc_send_text_msg(
-                context,
-                dc_chat_get_id(sel_chat),
-                b"\x00" as *const u8 as *const libc::c_char,
-            ) {
+            if 0 != dc_send_text_msg(context, dc_chat_get_id(sel_chat), "".into()) {
                 println!("Message sent.");
             } else {
                 bail!("Sending failed.");
diff --git a/examples/repl/main.rs b/examples/repl/main.rs
index b023c801ef..c3a47ccecf 100644
--- a/examples/repl/main.rs
+++ b/examples/repl/main.rs
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ const DB_COMMANDS: [&'static str; 11] = [
     "housekeeping",
 ];
 
-const CHAT_COMMANDS: [&'static str; 25] = [
+const CHAT_COMMANDS: [&'static str; 24] = [
     "listchats",
     "listarchived",
     "chat",
@@ -309,7 +309,6 @@ const CHAT_COMMANDS: [&'static str; 25] = [
     "dellocations",
     "getlocations",
     "send",
-    "send-garbage",
     "sendimage",
     "sendfile",
     "draft",
diff --git a/examples/simple.rs b/examples/simple.rs
index fc80fda687..1ec8da0f11 100644
--- a/examples/simple.rs
+++ b/examples/simple.rs
@@ -97,8 +97,7 @@ fn main() {
         println!("sending a message");
         let contact_id = dc_create_contact(&ctx, std::ptr::null(), email.as_ptr());
         let chat_id = dc_create_chat_by_contact_id(&ctx, contact_id);
-        let msg_text = CString::new("Hi, here is my first message!").unwrap();
-        dc_send_text_msg(&ctx, chat_id, msg_text.as_ptr());
+        dc_send_text_msg(&ctx, chat_id, "Hi, here is my first message!".into());
 
         println!("fetching chats..");
         let chats = Chatlist::try_load(&ctx, 0, None, None).unwrap();
diff --git a/src/dc_chat.rs b/src/dc_chat.rs
index c8c0d8a144..9012597a30 100644
--- a/src/dc_chat.rs
+++ b/src/dc_chat.rs
@@ -725,7 +725,7 @@ unsafe fn prepare_msg_raw(
                             timestamp,
                             (*msg).type_0,
                             (*msg).state,
-                            if !(*msg).text.is_null() { Some(as_str((*msg).text)) } else { None },
+                            (*msg).text,
                             (*msg).param.to_string(),
                             (*msg).hidden,
                             to_string(new_in_reply_to),
@@ -950,7 +950,7 @@ pub unsafe fn dc_send_msg<'a>(
 pub unsafe fn dc_send_text_msg(
     context: &Context,
     chat_id: uint32_t,
-    text_to_send: *const libc::c_char,
+    text_to_send: String,
 ) -> uint32_t {
     if chat_id <= 9 {
         warn!(
@@ -960,18 +960,8 @@ pub unsafe fn dc_send_text_msg(
         return 0;
     }
 
-    if text_to_send.is_null() {
-        warn!(context, 0, "dc_send_text_msg: text_to_send is emtpy");
-        return 0;
-    }
-
-    if let Err(err) = as_str_safe(text_to_send) {
-        warn!(context, 0, "{}", err);
-        return 0;
-    }
-
     let mut msg = dc_msg_new(context, Viewtype::Text);
-    (*msg).text = dc_strdup(text_to_send);
+    (*msg).text = Some(text_to_send);
     let ret = dc_send_msg(context, chat_id, msg);
     dc_msg_unref(msg);
     ret
@@ -1001,9 +991,7 @@ unsafe fn set_draft_raw(context: &Context, chat_id: uint32_t, msg: *mut dc_msg_t
     // save new draft
     if !msg.is_null() {
         if (*msg).type_0 == Viewtype::Text {
-            if (*msg).text.is_null() || *(*msg).text.offset(0isize) as libc::c_int == 0i32 {
-                OK_TO_CONTINUE = false;
-            }
+            OK_TO_CONTINUE = (*msg).text.as_ref().map_or(false, |s| !s.is_empty());
         } else if msgtype_has_file((*msg).type_0) {
             let mut pathNfilename = (*msg)
                 .param
@@ -1036,11 +1024,7 @@ unsafe fn set_draft_raw(context: &Context, chat_id: uint32_t, msg: *mut dc_msg_t
                     time(),
                     (*msg).type_0,
                     DC_STATE_OUT_DRAFT,
-                    if !(*msg).text.is_null() {
-                        as_str((*msg).text)
-                    } else {
-                        ""
-                    },
+                    (*msg).text.as_ref().map(String::as_str).unwrap_or(""),
                     (*msg).param.to_string(),
                     1,
                 ],
@@ -1616,14 +1600,12 @@ pub unsafe fn dc_add_contact_to_chat_ex(
                     if OK_TO_CONTINUE {
                         if (*chat).param.get_int(Param::Unpromoted).unwrap_or_default() == 0 {
                             (*msg).type_0 = Viewtype::Text;
-                            (*msg).text = context
-                                .stock_system_msg(
-                                    StockMessage::MsgAddMember,
-                                    as_str((*contact).addr),
-                                    "",
-                                    DC_CONTACT_ID_SELF as uint32_t,
-                                )
-                                .strdup();
+                            (*msg).text = Some(context.stock_system_msg(
+                                StockMessage::MsgAddMember,
+                                as_str((*contact).addr),
+                                "",
+                                DC_CONTACT_ID_SELF as uint32_t,
+                            ));
                             (*msg).param.set_int(Param::Cmd, 4);
                             if !(*contact).addr.is_null() {
                                 (*msg).param.set(Param::Arg, as_str((*contact).addr));
@@ -1731,23 +1713,19 @@ pub unsafe fn dc_remove_contact_from_chat(
                         (*msg).type_0 = Viewtype::Text;
                         if (*contact).id == 1 as libc::c_uint {
                             dc_set_group_explicitly_left(context, (*chat).grpid);
-                            (*msg).text = context
-                                .stock_system_msg(
-                                    StockMessage::MsgGroupLeft,
-                                    "",
-                                    "",
-                                    DC_CONTACT_ID_SELF as u32,
-                                )
-                                .strdup();
+                            (*msg).text = Some(context.stock_system_msg(
+                                StockMessage::MsgGroupLeft,
+                                "",
+                                "",
+                                DC_CONTACT_ID_SELF as u32,
+                            ));
                         } else {
-                            (*msg).text = context
-                                .stock_system_msg(
-                                    StockMessage::MsgDelMember,
-                                    as_str((*contact).addr),
-                                    "",
-                                    DC_CONTACT_ID_SELF as u32,
-                                )
-                                .strdup();
+                            (*msg).text = Some(context.stock_system_msg(
+                                StockMessage::MsgDelMember,
+                                as_str((*contact).addr),
+                                "",
+                                DC_CONTACT_ID_SELF as u32,
+                            ));
                         }
                         (*msg).param.set_int(Param::Cmd, 5);
                         if !(*contact).addr.is_null() {
@@ -1848,14 +1826,12 @@ pub unsafe fn dc_set_chat_name(
                 {
                     if (*chat).param.get_int(Param::Unpromoted).unwrap_or_default() == 0 {
                         (*msg).type_0 = Viewtype::Text;
-                        (*msg).text = context
-                            .stock_system_msg(
-                                StockMessage::MsgGrpName,
-                                as_str((*chat).name),
-                                as_str(new_name),
-                                DC_CONTACT_ID_SELF as u32,
-                            )
-                            .strdup();
+                        (*msg).text = Some(context.stock_system_msg(
+                            StockMessage::MsgGrpName,
+                            as_str((*chat).name),
+                            as_str(new_name),
+                            DC_CONTACT_ID_SELF as u32,
+                        ));
                         (*msg).param.set_int(Param::Cmd, 2);
                         if !(*chat).name.is_null() {
                             (*msg).param.set(Param::Arg, as_str((*chat).name));
@@ -1922,18 +1898,16 @@ pub unsafe fn dc_set_chat_profile_image(
                             (*msg).param.set_int(Param::Cmd, 3);
                             (*msg).param.set(Param::Arg, as_str(new_image_rel));
                             (*msg).type_0 = Viewtype::Text;
-                            (*msg).text = context
-                                .stock_system_msg(
-                                    if !new_image_rel.is_null() {
-                                        StockMessage::MsgGrpImgChanged
-                                    } else {
-                                        StockMessage::MsgGrpImgDeleted
-                                    },
-                                    "",
-                                    "",
-                                    DC_CONTACT_ID_SELF as uint32_t,
-                                )
-                                .strdup();
+                            (*msg).text = Some(context.stock_system_msg(
+                                if !new_image_rel.is_null() {
+                                    StockMessage::MsgGrpImgChanged
+                                } else {
+                                    StockMessage::MsgGrpImgDeleted
+                                },
+                                "",
+                                "",
+                                DC_CONTACT_ID_SELF as uint32_t,
+                            ));
                             (*msg).id = dc_send_msg(context, chat_id, msg);
                             context.call_cb(
                                 Event::MSGS_CHANGED,
diff --git a/src/dc_location.rs b/src/dc_location.rs
index c9e3ee66eb..5e6e599ca5 100644
--- a/src/dc_location.rs
+++ b/src/dc_location.rs
@@ -100,9 +100,8 @@ pub unsafe fn dc_send_locations_to_chat(
         {
             if 0 != seconds && !is_sending_locations_before {
                 msg = dc_msg_new(context, Viewtype::Text);
-                (*msg).text = context
-                    .stock_system_msg(StockMessage::MsgLocationEnabled, "", "", 0)
-                    .strdup();
+                (*msg).text =
+                    Some(context.stock_system_msg(StockMessage::MsgLocationEnabled, "", "", 0));
                 (*msg).param.set_int(Param::Cmd, 8);
                 dc_send_msg(context, chat_id, msg);
             } else if 0 == seconds && is_sending_locations_before {
diff --git a/src/dc_lot.rs b/src/dc_lot.rs
index 3d4c714de7..8741b43413 100644
--- a/src/dc_lot.rs
+++ b/src/dc_lot.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ use crate::dc_tools::*;
 use crate::stock::StockMessage;
 use crate::types::*;
 use crate::x::*;
+use std::ffi::CString;
+use std::ptr;
 
 /* * Structure behind dc_lot_t */
 #[derive(Copy, Clone)]
@@ -160,8 +162,16 @@ pub unsafe fn dc_lot_fill(
             (*lot).text1_meaning = 2i32
         }
     }
+
+    let msgtext_c = (*msg)
+        .text
+        .as_ref()
+        .map(|s| CString::yolo(String::as_str(s)));
+    let msgtext_ptr = msgtext_c.map_or(ptr::null(), |s| s.as_ptr());
+
     (*lot).text2 =
-        dc_msg_get_summarytext_by_raw((*msg).type_0, (*msg).text, &mut (*msg).param, 160, context);
+        dc_msg_get_summarytext_by_raw((*msg).type_0, msgtext_ptr, &mut (*msg).param, 160, context);
+
     (*lot).timestamp = dc_msg_get_timestamp(msg);
     (*lot).state = (*msg).state;
 }
diff --git a/src/dc_mimefactory.rs b/src/dc_mimefactory.rs
index 0cb95d7804..5d0d9d3add 100644
--- a/src/dc_mimefactory.rs
+++ b/src/dc_mimefactory.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ use mmime::mailmime_types_helper::*;
 use mmime::mailmime_write_mem::*;
 use mmime::mmapstring::*;
 use mmime::other::*;
+use std::ptr;
 
 use crate::constants::*;
 use crate::context::Context;
@@ -799,12 +800,17 @@ pub unsafe fn dc_mimefactory_render(mut factory: *mut dc_mimefactory_t) -> libc:
                 )
             }
 
-            let mut final_text: *const libc::c_char = 0 as *const libc::c_char;
-            if !placeholdertext.is_null() {
-                final_text = placeholdertext
-            } else if !(*msg).text.is_null() && 0 != *(*msg).text.offset(0isize) as libc::c_int {
-                final_text = (*msg).text
-            }
+            let final_text = {
+                if !placeholdertext.is_null() {
+                    to_string(placeholdertext)
+                } else if let Some(ref text) = (*msg).text {
+                    text.clone()
+                } else {
+                    "".into()
+                }
+            };
+            let final_text = CString::yolo(final_text);
+
             let footer: *mut libc::c_char = (*factory).selfstatus;
             message_text = dc_mprintf(
                 b"%s%s%s%s%s\x00" as *const u8 as *const libc::c_char,
@@ -813,12 +819,8 @@ pub unsafe fn dc_mimefactory_render(mut factory: *mut dc_mimefactory_t) -> libc:
                 } else {
                     b"\x00" as *const u8 as *const libc::c_char
                 },
-                if !final_text.is_null() {
-                    final_text
-                } else {
-                    b"\x00" as *const u8 as *const libc::c_char
-                },
-                if !final_text.is_null()
+                final_text.as_ptr(),
+                if final_text != CString::yolo("")
                     && !footer.is_null()
                     && 0 != *footer.offset(0isize) as libc::c_int
                 {
@@ -1094,8 +1096,17 @@ unsafe fn get_subject(
 ) -> *mut libc::c_char {
     let context = (*chat).context;
     let ret: *mut libc::c_char;
-    let raw_subject =
-        dc_msg_get_summarytext_by_raw((*msg).type_0, (*msg).text, &mut (*msg).param, 32, context);
+
+    let raw_subject = {
+        let msgtext_c = (*msg)
+            .text
+            .as_ref()
+            .map(|s| CString::yolo(String::as_str(s)));
+        let msgtext_ptr = msgtext_c.map_or(ptr::null(), |s| s.as_ptr());
+
+        dc_msg_get_summarytext_by_raw((*msg).type_0, msgtext_ptr, &mut (*msg).param, 32, context)
+    };
+
     let fwd = if 0 != afwd_email {
         b"Fwd: \x00" as *const u8 as *const libc::c_char
     } else {
diff --git a/src/dc_msg.rs b/src/dc_msg.rs
index 5963476101..109d5ebae7 100644
--- a/src/dc_msg.rs
+++ b/src/dc_msg.rs
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ use crate::sql;
 use crate::stock::StockMessage;
 use crate::types::*;
 use crate::x::*;
+use std::ptr;
 
 /* * the structure behind dc_msg_t */
 #[derive(Clone)]
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ pub struct dc_msg_t<'a> {
     pub timestamp_sort: i64,
     pub timestamp_sent: i64,
     pub timestamp_rcvd: i64,
-    pub text: *mut libc::c_char,
+    pub text: Option<String>,
     pub context: &'a Context,
     pub rfc724_mid: *mut libc::c_char,
     pub in_reply_to: *mut libc::c_char,
@@ -241,7 +242,7 @@ pub unsafe fn dc_msg_new<'a>(context: &'a Context, viewtype: Viewtype) -> *mut d
         timestamp_sort: 0,
         timestamp_sent: 0,
         timestamp_rcvd: 0,
-        text: std::ptr::null_mut(),
+        text: None,
         context,
         rfc724_mid: std::ptr::null_mut(),
         in_reply_to: std::ptr::null_mut(),
@@ -270,8 +271,6 @@ pub unsafe fn dc_msg_empty(mut msg: *mut dc_msg_t) {
     if msg.is_null() || (*msg).magic != 0x11561156i32 as libc::c_uint {
         return;
     }
-    free((*msg).text as *mut libc::c_void);
-    (*msg).text = 0 as *mut libc::c_char;
     free((*msg).rfc724_mid as *mut libc::c_void);
     (*msg).rfc724_mid = 0 as *mut libc::c_char;
     free((*msg).in_reply_to as *mut libc::c_void);
@@ -479,19 +478,25 @@ pub fn dc_msg_load_from_db<'a>(msg: *mut dc_msg_t<'a>, context: &'a Context, id:
                 (*msg).type_0 = row.get(12)?;
                 (*msg).state = row.get(13)?;
                 (*msg).is_dc_message = row.get(14)?;
-                (*msg).text = row.get::<_, String>(15).unwrap_or_default().strdup();
+                (*msg).text = row.get::<_, Option<String>>(15)?;
                 (*msg).param = row.get::<_, String>(16)?.parse().unwrap_or_default();
                 (*msg).starred = row.get(17)?;
                 (*msg).hidden = row.get(18)?;
                 (*msg).location_id = row.get(19)?;
                 (*msg).chat_blocked = row.get::<_, Option<i32>>(20)?.unwrap_or_default();
                 if (*msg).chat_blocked == 2 {
-                    dc_truncate_n_unwrap_str((*msg).text, 256, 0);
-                }
-            }
+                    if let Some(ref text) = (*msg).text {
+                        let ptr = text.strdup();
+
+                        dc_truncate_n_unwrap_str(ptr, 256, 0);
+
+                        (*msg).text = Some(to_string(ptr));
+                        free(ptr.cast());
+                    }
+                };
             Ok(())
-        }
-    );
+            }
+        });
 
     res.is_ok()
 }
@@ -705,9 +710,11 @@ pub unsafe fn dc_msg_get_text(msg: *const dc_msg_t) -> *mut libc::c_char {
     if msg.is_null() || (*msg).magic != 0x11561156i32 as libc::c_uint {
         return dc_strdup(0 as *const libc::c_char);
     }
-
-    let res = dc_truncate_str(as_str((*msg).text), 30000);
-    res.strdup()
+    if let Some(ref text) = (*msg).text {
+        dc_truncate_str(text, 30000).strdup()
+    } else {
+        ptr::null_mut()
+    }
 }
 
 #[allow(non_snake_case)]
@@ -827,9 +834,15 @@ pub unsafe fn dc_msg_get_summarytext(
         return dc_strdup(0 as *const libc::c_char);
     }
 
+    let msgtext_c = (*msg)
+        .text
+        .as_ref()
+        .map(|s| CString::yolo(String::as_str(s)));
+    let msgtext_ptr = msgtext_c.map_or(ptr::null(), |s| s.as_ptr());
+
     dc_msg_get_summarytext_by_raw(
         (*msg).type_0,
-        (*msg).text,
+        msgtext_ptr,
         &mut (*msg).param,
         approx_characters,
         (*msg).context,
@@ -1049,8 +1062,11 @@ pub unsafe fn dc_msg_set_text(mut msg: *mut dc_msg_t, text: *const libc::c_char)
     if msg.is_null() || (*msg).magic != 0x11561156i32 as libc::c_uint {
         return;
     }
-    free((*msg).text as *mut libc::c_void);
-    (*msg).text = dc_strdup(text);
+    (*msg).text = if text.is_null() {
+        None
+    } else {
+        Some(to_string(text))
+    };
 }
 
 pub unsafe fn dc_msg_set_file(
@@ -1426,6 +1442,7 @@ pub fn dc_update_server_uid(
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
+    use crate::test_utils as test;
     use std::ffi::CStr;
 
     #[test]
@@ -1546,4 +1563,36 @@ mod tests {
             free(mime_0 as *mut libc::c_void);
         }
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    pub fn test_prepare_message_and_send() {
+        use crate::config::Config;
+
+        unsafe {
+            let d = test::dummy_context();
+            let ctx = &d.ctx;
+
+            let contact = dc_create_contact(
+                ctx,
+                b"\x00".as_ptr().cast(),
+                b"dest@example.com\x00".as_ptr().cast(),
+            );
+            assert!(contact != 0);
+
+            let res = ctx.set_config(Config::ConfiguredAddr, Some("self@example.com"));
+            assert!(res.is_ok());
+
+            let chat = dc_create_chat_by_contact_id(ctx, contact);
+            assert!(chat != 0);
+
+            let msg = dc_msg_new(ctx, Viewtype::Text);
+            assert!(!msg.is_null());
+
+            let msg_id = dc_prepare_msg(ctx, chat, msg);
+            assert!(msg_id != 0);
+
+            let msg2 = dc_get_msg(ctx, msg_id);
+            assert!(!msg2.is_null());
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/dc_securejoin.rs b/src/dc_securejoin.rs
index 90573412f0..edcdacffa7 100644
--- a/src/dc_securejoin.rs
+++ b/src/dc_securejoin.rs
@@ -264,10 +264,7 @@ unsafe fn send_handshake_msg(
 ) {
     let mut msg: *mut dc_msg_t = dc_msg_new_untyped(context);
     (*msg).type_0 = Viewtype::Text;
-    (*msg).text = dc_mprintf(
-        b"Secure-Join: %s\x00" as *const u8 as *const libc::c_char,
-        step,
-    );
+    (*msg).text = Some(format!("Secure-Join: {}", to_string(step)));
     (*msg).hidden = 1;
     (*msg).param.set_int(Param::Cmd, 7);
     if step.is_null() {