diff --git a/source/shared/core_stmt.cpp b/source/shared/core_stmt.cpp
index f0e022e1b..e0e354403 100644
--- a/source/shared/core_stmt.cpp
+++ b/source/shared/core_stmt.cpp
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ void core_sqlsrv_bind_param( _Inout_ sqlsrv_stmt* stmt, _In_ SQLUSMALLINT param_
                 }
                 if( zval_was_long ){
                     convert_to_string( param_z );
-
+                    encoding = SQLSRV_ENCODING_UTF8;
                     match = Z_TYPE_P( param_z ) == IS_STRING;
                 }
                 else {