diff --git a/ext/standard/string.c b/ext/standard/string.c
index 7b6ad8ed9ce..24c3862bf55 100644
--- a/ext/standard/string.c
+++ b/ext/standard/string.c
@@ -2469,6 +2469,7 @@ PHP_FUNCTION(substr_replace)
 
 	if (argc > 3) {
 		if (Z_TYPE_P(len) != IS_ARRAY) {
+			convert_to_long_ex(len);
 			l = zval_get_long(len);
 		}
 	} else {
@@ -2482,12 +2483,12 @@ PHP_FUNCTION(substr_replace)
 			(argc == 3 && Z_TYPE_P(from) == IS_ARRAY) ||
 			(argc == 4 && Z_TYPE_P(from) != Z_TYPE_P(len))
 		) {
-			php_error_docref(NULL, E_WARNING, "'from' and 'len' should be of same type - numerical or array ");
+			php_error_docref(NULL, E_WARNING, "'start' and 'length' should be of same type - numerical or array ");
 			RETURN_STR_COPY(Z_STR_P(str));
 		}
 		if (argc == 4 && Z_TYPE_P(from) == IS_ARRAY) {
 			if (zend_hash_num_elements(Z_ARRVAL_P(from)) != zend_hash_num_elements(Z_ARRVAL_P(len))) {
-				php_error_docref(NULL, E_WARNING, "'from' and 'len' should have the same number of elements");
+				php_error_docref(NULL, E_WARNING, "'start' and 'length' should have the same number of elements");
 				RETURN_STR_COPY(Z_STR_P(str));
 			}
 		}
@@ -2559,7 +2560,7 @@ PHP_FUNCTION(substr_replace)
 			}
 			RETURN_NEW_STR(result);
 		} else {
-			php_error_docref(NULL, E_WARNING, "Functionality of 'from' and 'len' as arrays is not implemented");
+			php_error_docref(NULL, E_WARNING, "Functionality of 'start' and 'length' as arrays is not implemented");
 			RETURN_STR_COPY(Z_STR_P(str));
 		}
 	} else { /* str is array of strings */
diff --git a/ext/standard/tests/bug71827.phpt b/ext/standard/tests/bug71827.phpt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..eedb9fb549d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ext/standard/tests/bug71827.phpt
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+--TEST--
+Bug #71827 (substr_replace bug when length type is string )
+--FILE--
+<?php
+$line  = str_repeat(' ',20); $value ='03'; $pos=0; $len='2';
+$line = substr_replace($line,$value,$pos,$len);
+echo "[$line]\n";
+?>
+--EXPECT--
+[03                  ]
diff --git a/ext/standard/tests/strings/substr_replace_error.phpt b/ext/standard/tests/strings/substr_replace_error.phpt
index fd314cbd9d2..0a15035af2e 100644
--- a/ext/standard/tests/strings/substr_replace_error.phpt
+++ b/ext/standard/tests/strings/substr_replace_error.phpt
@@ -52,19 +52,19 @@ NULL
 
 -- Testing substr_replace() function with start and length different types --
 
-Warning: substr_replace(): 'from' and 'len' should be of same type - numerical or array  in %s on line %d
+Warning: substr_replace(): 'start' and 'length' should be of same type - numerical or array  in %s on line %d
 string(12) "Good morning"
 
-Warning: substr_replace(): 'from' and 'len' should be of same type - numerical or array  in %s on line %d
+Warning: substr_replace(): 'start' and 'length' should be of same type - numerical or array  in %s on line %d
 string(12) "Good morning"
 
 -- Testing substr_replace() function with start and length with a different number of elements --
 
-Warning: substr_replace(): 'from' and 'len' should have the same number of elements in %s on line %d
+Warning: substr_replace(): 'start' and 'length' should have the same number of elements in %s on line %d
 string(12) "Good morning"
 
 -- Testing substr_replace() function with start and length as arrays but string not--
 
-Warning: substr_replace(): Functionality of 'from' and 'len' as arrays is not implemented in %s on line %d
+Warning: substr_replace(): Functionality of 'start' and 'length' as arrays is not implemented in %s on line %d
 string(12) "Good morning"
-===DONE===
\ No newline at end of file
+===DONE===