diff --git a/src/args.rs b/src/args.rs
index 7cd3f62d4..4bc928f1f 100644
--- a/src/args.rs
+++ b/src/args.rs
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ impl<'a> Arg<'a> {
     {
         self.zval
             .as_mut()
-            .and_then(|zv| T::from_zval_mut(zv))
+            .and_then(|zv| T::from_zval_mut(zv.dereference_mut()))
             .ok_or(self)
     }
 
@@ -98,7 +98,9 @@ impl<'a> Arg<'a> {
     where
         T: FromZvalMut<'a>,
     {
-        self.zval.as_mut().and_then(|zv| T::from_zval_mut(zv))
+        self.zval
+            .as_mut()
+            .and_then(|zv| T::from_zval_mut(zv.dereference_mut()))
     }
 
     /// Attempts to return a reference to the arguments internal Zval.
diff --git a/src/types/zval.rs b/src/types/zval.rs
index f031214f3..d997d53d1 100644
--- a/src/types/zval.rs
+++ b/src/types/zval.rs
@@ -51,6 +51,25 @@ impl Zval {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Dereference the zval, if it is a reference.
+    pub fn dereference(&self) -> &Self {
+        return self.reference().or_else(|| self.indirect()).unwrap_or(self);
+    }
+
+    /// Dereference the zval mutable, if it is a reference.
+    pub fn dereference_mut(&mut self) -> &mut Self {
+        // TODO: probably more ZTS work is needed here
+        if self.is_reference() {
+            #[allow(clippy::unwrap_used)]
+            return self.reference_mut().unwrap();
+        }
+        if self.is_indirect() {
+            #[allow(clippy::unwrap_used)]
+            return self.indirect_mut().unwrap();
+        }
+        self
+    }
+
     /// Returns the value of the zval if it is a long.
     pub fn long(&self) -> Option<ZendLong> {
         if self.is_long() {
diff --git a/src/zend/_type.rs b/src/zend/_type.rs
index 4342e3fcf..dc2ba4783 100644
--- a/src/zend/_type.rs
+++ b/src/zend/_type.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
-use std::{
-    ffi::{c_void, CString},
-    ptr,
-};
+use std::{ffi::c_void, ptr};
 
 use crate::{
     ffi::{
@@ -9,6 +6,7 @@ use crate::{
         _ZEND_SEND_MODE_SHIFT, _ZEND_TYPE_NAME_BIT, _ZEND_TYPE_NULLABLE_BIT,
     },
     flags::DataType,
+    types::ZendStr,
 };
 
 /// Internal Zend type.
@@ -82,7 +80,7 @@ impl ZendType {
         allow_null: bool,
     ) -> Option<Self> {
         Some(Self {
-            ptr: CString::new(class_name).ok()?.into_raw() as *mut c_void,
+            ptr: ZendStr::new(class_name, true).into_raw().as_ptr() as *mut c_void,
             type_mask: _ZEND_TYPE_NAME_BIT
                 | (if allow_null {
                     _ZEND_TYPE_NULLABLE_BIT
diff --git a/src/zend/try_catch.rs b/src/zend/try_catch.rs
index 2f0696ce7..5d3f56889 100644
--- a/src/zend/try_catch.rs
+++ b/src/zend/try_catch.rs
@@ -35,12 +35,13 @@ pub fn try_catch<R, F: FnMut() -> R + RefUnwindSafe>(func: F) -> Result<R, Catch
 
 /// PHP propose a try catch mechanism in C using setjmp and longjmp (bailout)
 /// It store the arg of setjmp into the bailout field of the global executor
-/// If a bailout is triggered, the executor will jump to the setjmp and restore the previous setjmp
+/// If a bailout is triggered, the executor will jump to the setjmp and restore
+/// the previous setjmp
 ///
 /// try_catch_first allow to use this mechanism
 ///
-/// This functions differs from ['try_catch'] as it also initialize the bailout mechanism
-/// for the first time
+/// This functions differs from ['try_catch'] as it also initialize the bailout
+/// mechanism for the first time
 ///
 /// # Returns
 ///