diff --git a/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TBinaryProtocol.cpp b/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TBinaryProtocol.cpp
index 289d614..929499b 100644
--- a/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TBinaryProtocol.cpp
+++ b/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TBinaryProtocol.cpp
@@ -188,6 +188,10 @@
   return result + size;
 }
 
+uint32_t TBinaryProtocol::writeBinary(const string& str) {
+  return TBinaryProtocol::writeString(str);
+}
+
 /**
  * Reading functions
  */
@@ -379,6 +383,10 @@
   return result + readStringBody(str, size);
 }
 
+uint32_t TBinaryProtocol::readBinary(string& str) {
+  return TBinaryProtocol::readString(str);
+}
+
 uint32_t TBinaryProtocol::readStringBody(string& str, int32_t size) {
   uint32_t result = 0;
 
diff --git a/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TBinaryProtocol.h b/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TBinaryProtocol.h
index c7e2791..9203865 100644
--- a/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TBinaryProtocol.h
+++ b/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TBinaryProtocol.h
@@ -119,9 +119,10 @@
 
   uint32_t writeDouble(const double dub);
 
-
   uint32_t writeString(const std::string& str);
 
+  uint32_t writeBinary(const std::string& str);
+
   /**
    * Reading functions
    */
@@ -173,6 +174,8 @@
 
   uint32_t readString(std::string& str);
 
+  uint32_t readBinary(std::string& str);
+
  protected:
   uint32_t readStringBody(std::string& str, int32_t sz);
 
diff --git a/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TDebugProtocol.cpp b/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TDebugProtocol.cpp
index 2f23b11..a24bb5b 100644
--- a/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TDebugProtocol.cpp
+++ b/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TDebugProtocol.cpp
@@ -312,4 +312,8 @@
   return writeItem(output);
 }
 
+uint32_t TDebugProtocol::writeBinary(const string& str) {
+  return TDebugProtocol::writeString(str);
+}
+
 }}} // facebook::thrift::protocol
diff --git a/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TDebugProtocol.h b/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TDebugProtocol.h
index 90b7688..196cff2 100644
--- a/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TDebugProtocol.h
+++ b/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TDebugProtocol.h
@@ -104,6 +104,8 @@
 
   uint32_t writeString(const std::string& str);
 
+  uint32_t writeBinary(const std::string& str);
+
 
  private:
   void indentUp();
diff --git a/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TDenseProtocol.cpp b/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TDenseProtocol.cpp
index 55f3902..dbb2d4a 100644
--- a/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TDenseProtocol.cpp
+++ b/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TDenseProtocol.cpp
@@ -439,6 +439,10 @@
   return subWriteString(str);
 }
 
+uint32_t TDenseProtocol::writeBinary(const std::string& str) {
+  return TDenseProtocol::writeString(str);
+}
+
 inline uint32_t TDenseProtocol::subWriteI32(const int32_t i32) {
   return vlqWrite(i32);
 }
@@ -718,6 +722,10 @@
   return subReadString(str);
 }
 
+uint32_t TDenseProtocol::readBinary(std::string& str) {
+  return TDenseProtocol::readString(str);
+}
+
 uint32_t TDenseProtocol::subReadI32(int32_t& i32) {
   uint64_t u64;
   uint32_t rv = vlqRead(u64);
diff --git a/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TDenseProtocol.h b/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TDenseProtocol.h
index dae2c18..713b57a 100644
--- a/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TDenseProtocol.h
+++ b/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TDenseProtocol.h
@@ -126,6 +126,8 @@
 
   virtual uint32_t writeString(const std::string& str);
 
+  virtual uint32_t writeBinary(const std::string& str);
+
 
   /*
    * Helper writing functions (don't do state transitions).
@@ -189,6 +191,7 @@
 
   uint32_t readString(std::string& str);
 
+  uint32_t readBinary(std::string& str);
 
   /*
    * Helper reading functions (don't do state transitions).
diff --git a/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TOneWayProtocol.h b/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TOneWayProtocol.h
index 245f830..1765413 100644
--- a/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TOneWayProtocol.h
+++ b/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TOneWayProtocol.h
@@ -137,6 +137,10 @@
         subclass_ + " does not support reading (yet).");
   }
 
+  uint32_t readBinary(std::string& str) {
+    throw TProtocolException(TProtocolException::NOT_IMPLEMENTED,
+        subclass_ + " does not support reading (yet).");
+  }
 
  private:
   std::string subclass_;
diff --git a/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TProtocol.h b/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TProtocol.h
index 85cc48a..aecc4e7 100644
--- a/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TProtocol.h
+++ b/lib/cpp/src/protocol/TProtocol.h
@@ -159,6 +159,8 @@
 
   virtual uint32_t writeString(const std::string& str) = 0;
 
+  virtual uint32_t writeBinary(const std::string& str) = 0;
+
   /**
    * Reading functions
    */
@@ -209,6 +211,8 @@
 
   virtual uint32_t readString(std::string& str) = 0;
 
+  virtual uint32_t readBinary(std::string& str) = 0;
+
   /**
    * Method to arbitrarily skip over data.
    */
@@ -247,7 +251,7 @@
     case T_STRING:
       {
         std::string str;
-        return readString(str);
+        return readBinary(str);
       }
     case T_STRUCT:
       {
diff --git a/lib/java/src/protocol/TProtocolUtil.java b/lib/java/src/protocol/TProtocolUtil.java
index 0b85d38..5c665ab 100644
--- a/lib/java/src/protocol/TProtocolUtil.java
+++ b/lib/java/src/protocol/TProtocolUtil.java
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
       }
     case TType.STRING:
       {
-        prot.readString();
+        prot.readBinary();
         break;
       }
     case TType.STRUCT: