diff --git a/c_src/sqlite3_nif.c b/c_src/sqlite3_nif.c
index 77a672bf..e6309ea9 100644
--- a/c_src/sqlite3_nif.c
+++ b/c_src/sqlite3_nif.c
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ bind(ErlNifEnv* env, const ERL_NIF_TERM arg, sqlite3_stmt* statement, int index)
     }
 
     if (enif_get_atom(env, arg, the_atom, sizeof(the_atom), ERL_NIF_LATIN1)) {
-        if (0 == utf8ncmp("undefined", the_atom, 9) || 0 == utf8ncmp("nil", the_atom, 3)) {
+        if (0 == utf8cmp("undefined", the_atom) || 0 == utf8cmp("nil", the_atom)) {
             return sqlite3_bind_null(statement, index);
         }