diff --git a/ext/ctype/ctype.c b/ext/ctype/ctype.c
index 46fca2a8663..526c2a64849 100644
--- a/ext/ctype/ctype.c
+++ b/ext/ctype/ctype.c
@@ -100,7 +100,6 @@ static int ctype(int (*iswhat)(int), zval **c)
 		{
 			char *p;
 			int n, len;
-			convert_to_string_ex(c);
 			p=Z_STRVAL_PP(c);
 			len = Z_STRLEN_PP(c);
 			for(n=0;n<len;n++) {