diff --git a/src/ascii_poly.c b/src/ascii_poly.c
index 33a129f..4fbf4af 100644
--- a/src/ascii_poly.c
+++ b/src/ascii_poly.c
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ fmpz_poly_t **ascii_to_poly(char *to_poly, ntru_context *ctx)
 	uint32_t i = 0,
 			 polyc = 0;
 	char *cur = to_poly;
-	size_t out_size = CHAR_SIZE * (strlen(to_poly) * 8 + 1);
+	size_t out_size = CHAR_SIZE * (strlen(to_poly) * ASCII_BITS + 1);
 	char *out = ntru_malloc(out_size);
 	fmpz_poly_t **poly_array;