diff --git a/src/aof.c b/src/aof.c
index 89f17abab..2a29f72fb 100644
--- a/src/aof.c
+++ b/src/aof.c
@@ -591,7 +591,7 @@ int rioWriteBulkObject(rio *r, robj *obj) {
      * in a child process when this function is called). */
     if (obj->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_INT) {
         return rioWriteBulkLongLong(r,(long)obj->ptr);
-    } else if (obj->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) {
+    } else if (sdsEncodedObject(obj)) {
         return rioWriteBulkString(r,obj->ptr,sdslen(obj->ptr));
     } else {
         redisPanic("Unknown string encoding");
diff --git a/src/bitops.c b/src/bitops.c
index c96a9e3c7..599d4dd8e 100644
--- a/src/bitops.c
+++ b/src/bitops.c
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ void setbitCommand(redisClient *c) {
         /* Create a copy when the object is shared or encoded. */
         if (o->refcount != 1 || o->encoding != REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) {
             robj *decoded = getDecodedObject(o);
-            o = createStringObject(decoded->ptr, sdslen(decoded->ptr));
+            o = createRawStringObject(decoded->ptr, sdslen(decoded->ptr));
             decrRefCount(decoded);
             dbOverwrite(c->db,c->argv[1],o);
         }
@@ -174,12 +174,12 @@ void getbitCommand(redisClient *c) {
 
     byte = bitoffset >> 3;
     bit = 7 - (bitoffset & 0x7);
-    if (o->encoding != REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) {
-        if (byte < (size_t)ll2string(llbuf,sizeof(llbuf),(long)o->ptr))
-            bitval = llbuf[byte] & (1 << bit);
-    } else {
+    if (sdsEncodedObject(o)) {
         if (byte < sdslen(o->ptr))
             bitval = ((uint8_t*)o->ptr)[byte] & (1 << bit);
+    } else {
+        if (byte < (size_t)ll2string(llbuf,sizeof(llbuf),(long)o->ptr))
+            bitval = llbuf[byte] & (1 << bit);
     }
 
     addReply(c, bitval ? shared.cone : shared.czero);
diff --git a/src/cluster.c b/src/cluster.c
index 76ab67112..017989df3 100644
--- a/src/cluster.c
+++ b/src/cluster.c
@@ -2691,7 +2691,7 @@ try_again:
             rioWriteBulkString(&cmd,"RESTORE-ASKING",14));
     else
         redisAssertWithInfo(c,NULL,rioWriteBulkString(&cmd,"RESTORE",7));
-    redisAssertWithInfo(c,NULL,c->argv[3]->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW);
+    redisAssertWithInfo(c,NULL,sdsEncodedObject(c->argv[3]));
     redisAssertWithInfo(c,NULL,rioWriteBulkString(&cmd,c->argv[3]->ptr,sdslen(c->argv[3]->ptr)));
     redisAssertWithInfo(c,NULL,rioWriteBulkLongLong(&cmd,ttl));
 
diff --git a/src/config.c b/src/config.c
index 78b458dcc..3a14a6e94 100644
--- a/src/config.c
+++ b/src/config.c
@@ -550,8 +550,8 @@ void loadServerConfig(char *filename, char *options) {
 void configSetCommand(redisClient *c) {
     robj *o;
     long long ll;
-    redisAssertWithInfo(c,c->argv[2],c->argv[2]->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW);
-    redisAssertWithInfo(c,c->argv[2],c->argv[3]->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW);
+    redisAssertWithInfo(c,c->argv[2],sdsEncodedObject(c->argv[2]));
+    redisAssertWithInfo(c,c->argv[3],sdsEncodedObject(c->argv[3]));
     o = c->argv[3];
 
     if (!strcasecmp(c->argv[2]->ptr,"dbfilename")) {
@@ -918,7 +918,7 @@ void configGetCommand(redisClient *c) {
     char *pattern = o->ptr;
     char buf[128];
     int matches = 0;
-    redisAssertWithInfo(c,o,o->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW);
+    redisAssertWithInfo(c,o,sdsEncodedObject(o));
 
     /* String values */
     config_get_string_field("dbfilename",server.rdb_filename);
diff --git a/src/debug.c b/src/debug.c
index 0a947e564..a0352b5dd 100644
--- a/src/debug.c
+++ b/src/debug.c
@@ -373,9 +373,7 @@ void _redisAssertPrintClientInfo(redisClient *c) {
         char buf[128];
         char *arg;
 
-        if (c->argv[j]->type == REDIS_STRING &&
-            c->argv[j]->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW)
-        {
+        if (c->argv[j]->type == REDIS_STRING && sdsEncodedObject(c->argv[j])) {
             arg = (char*) c->argv[j]->ptr;
         } else {
             snprintf(buf,sizeof(buf),"Object type: %d, encoding: %d",
@@ -391,7 +389,7 @@ void redisLogObjectDebugInfo(robj *o) {
     redisLog(REDIS_WARNING,"Object type: %d", o->type);
     redisLog(REDIS_WARNING,"Object encoding: %d", o->encoding);
     redisLog(REDIS_WARNING,"Object refcount: %d", o->refcount);
-    if (o->type == REDIS_STRING && o->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) {
+    if (o->type == REDIS_STRING && sdsEncodedObject(o)) {
         redisLog(REDIS_WARNING,"Object raw string len: %zu", sdslen(o->ptr));
         if (sdslen(o->ptr) < 4096) {
             sds repr = sdscatrepr(sdsempty(),o->ptr,sdslen(o->ptr));
diff --git a/src/networking.c b/src/networking.c
index e2cbf9ad8..4066d69a8 100644
--- a/src/networking.c
+++ b/src/networking.c
@@ -184,12 +184,15 @@ void _addReplyObjectToList(redisClient *c, robj *o) {
     if (listLength(c->reply) == 0) {
         incrRefCount(o);
         listAddNodeTail(c->reply,o);
-        c->reply_bytes += zmalloc_size_sds(o->ptr);
+        c->reply_bytes += (o->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) ?
+                          zmalloc_size_sds(o->ptr) :
+                          sdslen(o->ptr);
     } else {
         tail = listNodeValue(listLast(c->reply));
 
         /* Append to this object when possible. */
         if (tail->ptr != NULL &&
+            tail->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW &&
             sdslen(tail->ptr)+sdslen(o->ptr) <= REDIS_REPLY_CHUNK_BYTES)
         {
             c->reply_bytes -= zmalloc_size_sds(tail->ptr);
@@ -199,7 +202,9 @@ void _addReplyObjectToList(redisClient *c, robj *o) {
         } else {
             incrRefCount(o);
             listAddNodeTail(c->reply,o);
-            c->reply_bytes += zmalloc_size_sds(o->ptr);
+            c->reply_bytes += (o->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) ?
+                              zmalloc_size_sds(o->ptr) :
+                              sdslen(o->ptr);
         }
     }
     asyncCloseClientOnOutputBufferLimitReached(c);
@@ -222,7 +227,7 @@ void _addReplySdsToList(redisClient *c, sds s) {
         tail = listNodeValue(listLast(c->reply));
 
         /* Append to this object when possible. */
-        if (tail->ptr != NULL &&
+        if (tail->ptr != NULL && tail->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW &&
             sdslen(tail->ptr)+sdslen(s) <= REDIS_REPLY_CHUNK_BYTES)
         {
             c->reply_bytes -= zmalloc_size_sds(tail->ptr);
@@ -247,12 +252,14 @@ void _addReplyStringToList(redisClient *c, char *s, size_t len) {
         robj *o = createStringObject(s,len);
 
         listAddNodeTail(c->reply,o);
-        c->reply_bytes += zmalloc_size_sds(o->ptr);
+        c->reply_bytes += (o->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) ?
+                          zmalloc_size_sds(o->ptr) :
+                          sdslen(o->ptr);
     } else {
         tail = listNodeValue(listLast(c->reply));
 
         /* Append to this object when possible. */
-        if (tail->ptr != NULL &&
+        if (tail->ptr != NULL && tail->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW &&
             sdslen(tail->ptr)+len <= REDIS_REPLY_CHUNK_BYTES)
         {
             c->reply_bytes -= zmalloc_size_sds(tail->ptr);
@@ -263,7 +270,9 @@ void _addReplyStringToList(redisClient *c, char *s, size_t len) {
             robj *o = createStringObject(s,len);
 
             listAddNodeTail(c->reply,o);
-            c->reply_bytes += zmalloc_size_sds(o->ptr);
+            c->reply_bytes += (o->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) ?
+                              zmalloc_size_sds(o->ptr) :
+                              sdslen(o->ptr);
         }
     }
     asyncCloseClientOnOutputBufferLimitReached(c);
@@ -284,7 +293,7 @@ void addReply(redisClient *c, robj *obj) {
      * If the encoding is RAW and there is room in the static buffer
      * we'll be able to send the object to the client without
      * messing with its page. */
-    if (obj->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) {
+    if (sdsEncodedObject(obj)) {
         if (_addReplyToBuffer(c,obj->ptr,sdslen(obj->ptr)) != REDIS_OK)
             _addReplyObjectToList(c,obj);
     } else if (obj->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_INT) {
@@ -396,6 +405,7 @@ void setDeferredMultiBulkLength(redisClient *c, void *node, long length) {
 
     len = listNodeValue(ln);
     len->ptr = sdscatprintf(sdsempty(),"*%ld\r\n",length);
+    len->encoding = REDIS_ENCODING_RAW; /* in case it was an EMBSTR. */
     c->reply_bytes += zmalloc_size_sds(len->ptr);
     if (ln->next != NULL) {
         next = listNodeValue(ln->next);
@@ -468,7 +478,7 @@ void addReplyMultiBulkLen(redisClient *c, long length) {
 void addReplyBulkLen(redisClient *c, robj *obj) {
     size_t len;
 
-    if (obj->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) {
+    if (sdsEncodedObject(obj)) {
         len = sdslen(obj->ptr);
     } else {
         long n = (long)obj->ptr;
@@ -765,7 +775,9 @@ void sendReplyToClient(aeEventLoop *el, int fd, void *privdata, int mask) {
         } else {
             o = listNodeValue(listFirst(c->reply));
             objlen = sdslen(o->ptr);
-            objmem = zmalloc_size_sds(o->ptr);
+            objmem = (o->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) ?
+                        zmalloc_size_sds(o->ptr) :
+                        sdslen(o->ptr);
 
             if (objlen == 0) {
                 listDelNode(c->reply,listFirst(c->reply));
diff --git a/src/object.c b/src/object.c
index 472d4a34b..9efb590f8 100644
--- a/src/object.c
+++ b/src/object.c
@@ -44,10 +44,47 @@ robj *createObject(int type, void *ptr) {
     return o;
 }
 
-robj *createStringObject(char *ptr, size_t len) {
+/* Create a string object with encoding REDIS_ENCODING_RAW, that is a plain
+ * string object where o->ptr points to a proper sds string. */
+robj *createRawStringObject(char *ptr, size_t len) {
     return createObject(REDIS_STRING,sdsnewlen(ptr,len));
 }
 
+/* Create a string object with encoding REDIS_ENCODING_EMBSTR, that is
+ * an object where the sds string is actually an unmodifiable string
+ * allocated in the same chunk as the object itself. */
+robj *createEmbeddedStringObject(char *ptr, size_t len) {
+    robj *o = zmalloc(sizeof(robj)+sizeof(struct sdshdr)+len+1);
+    struct sdshdr *sh = (void*)(o+1);
+
+    o->type = REDIS_STRING;
+    o->encoding = REDIS_ENCODING_EMBSTR;
+    o->ptr = sh+1;
+    o->refcount = 1;
+    o->lru = server.lruclock;
+
+    sh->len = len;
+    sh->free = 0;
+    if (ptr) {
+        memcpy(sh->buf,ptr,len);
+        sh->buf[len] = '\0';
+    } else {
+        memset(sh->buf,0,len+1);
+    }
+    return o;
+}
+
+/* Create a string object with EMBSTR encoding if it is smaller than
+ * REIDS_ENCODING_EMBSTR_SIZE_LIMIT, otherwise the RAW encoding is
+ * used. */
+#define REDIS_ENCODING_EMBSTR_SIZE_LIMIT 32
+robj *createStringObject(char *ptr, size_t len) {
+    if (len <= REDIS_ENCODING_EMBSTR_SIZE_LIMIT)
+        return createEmbeddedStringObject(ptr,len);
+    else
+        return createRawStringObject(ptr,len);
+}
+
 robj *createStringObjectFromLongLong(long long value) {
     robj *o;
     if (value >= 0 && value < REDIS_SHARED_INTEGERS) {
@@ -89,9 +126,33 @@ robj *createStringObjectFromLongDouble(long double value) {
     return createStringObject(buf,len);
 }
 
+/* Duplicate a string object, with the guarantee that the returned object
+ * has the same encoding as the original one.
+ *
+ * This function also guarantees that duplicating a small integere object
+ * (or a string object that contains a representation of a small integer)
+ * will always result in a fresh object that is unshared (refcount == 1).
+ *
+ * The resulting object always has refcount set to 1. */
 robj *dupStringObject(robj *o) {
-    redisAssertWithInfo(NULL,o,o->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW);
-    return createStringObject(o->ptr,sdslen(o->ptr));
+    robj *d;
+
+    redisAssert(o->type == REDIS_STRING);
+
+    switch(o->encoding) {
+    case REDIS_ENCODING_RAW:
+        return createRawStringObject(o->ptr,sdslen(o->ptr));
+    case REDIS_ENCODING_EMBSTR:
+        return createEmbeddedStringObject(o->ptr,sdslen(o->ptr));
+    case REDIS_ENCODING_INT:
+        d = createObject(REDIS_STRING, NULL);
+        d->encoding = REDIS_ENCODING_INT;
+        d->ptr = o->ptr;
+        return d;
+    default:
+        redisPanic("Wrong encoding.");
+        break;
+    }
 }
 
 robj *createListObject(void) {
@@ -279,7 +340,7 @@ robj *tryObjectEncoding(robj *o) {
     long value;
     sds s = o->ptr;
 
-    if (o->encoding != REDIS_ENCODING_RAW)
+    if (o->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_INT)
         return o; /* Already encoded */
 
     /* It's not safe to encode shared objects: shared objects can be shared
@@ -291,7 +352,17 @@ robj *tryObjectEncoding(robj *o) {
     redisAssertWithInfo(NULL,o,o->type == REDIS_STRING);
 
     /* Check if we can represent this string as a long integer */
-    if (!string2l(s,sdslen(s),&value)) return o;
+    if (!string2l(s,sdslen(s),&value)) {
+        /* Integer encoding not possible. Check if we can use EMBSTR. */
+        if (sdslen(s) <= REDIS_ENCODING_EMBSTR_SIZE_LIMIT) {
+            robj *emb = createEmbeddedStringObject(s,sdslen(s));
+            decrRefCount(o);
+            return emb;
+        } else {
+            /* Otherwise return the original object. */
+            return o;
+        }
+    }
 
     /* Ok, this object can be encoded...
      *
@@ -305,8 +376,8 @@ robj *tryObjectEncoding(robj *o) {
         incrRefCount(shared.integers[value]);
         return shared.integers[value];
     } else {
+        if (o->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) sdsfree(o->ptr);
         o->encoding = REDIS_ENCODING_INT;
-        sdsfree(o->ptr);
         o->ptr = (void*) value;
         return o;
     }
@@ -317,7 +388,7 @@ robj *tryObjectEncoding(robj *o) {
 robj *getDecodedObject(robj *o) {
     robj *dec;
 
-    if (o->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) {
+    if (sdsEncodedObject(o)) {
         incrRefCount(o);
         return o;
     }
@@ -350,21 +421,21 @@ int compareStringObjectsWithFlags(robj *a, robj *b, int flags) {
     int bothsds = 1;
 
     if (a == b) return 0;
-    if (a->encoding != REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) {
+    if (sdsEncodedObject(a)) {
+        astr = a->ptr;
+        alen = sdslen(astr);
+    } else {
         alen = ll2string(bufa,sizeof(bufa),(long) a->ptr);
         astr = bufa;
         bothsds = 0;
-    } else {
-        astr = a->ptr;
-        alen = sdslen(astr);
     }
-    if (b->encoding != REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) {
+    if (sdsEncodedObject(b)) {
+        bstr = b->ptr;
+        blen = sdslen(bstr);
+    } else {
         blen = ll2string(bufb,sizeof(bufb),(long) b->ptr);
         bstr = bufb;
         bothsds = 0;
-    } else {
-        bstr = b->ptr;
-        blen = sdslen(bstr);
     }
     if (flags & REDIS_COMPARE_COLL) {
         return strcoll(astr,bstr);
@@ -393,7 +464,10 @@ int collateStringObjects(robj *a, robj *b) {
  * this function is faster then checking for (compareStringObject(a,b) == 0)
  * because it can perform some more optimization. */
 int equalStringObjects(robj *a, robj *b) {
-    if (a->encoding != REDIS_ENCODING_RAW && b->encoding != REDIS_ENCODING_RAW){
+    if (a->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_INT &&
+        b->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_INT){
+        /* If both strings are integer encoded just check if the stored
+         * long is the same. */
         return a->ptr == b->ptr;
     } else {
         return compareStringObjects(a,b) == 0;
@@ -402,7 +476,7 @@ int equalStringObjects(robj *a, robj *b) {
 
 size_t stringObjectLen(robj *o) {
     redisAssertWithInfo(NULL,o,o->type == REDIS_STRING);
-    if (o->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) {
+    if (sdsEncodedObject(o)) {
         return sdslen(o->ptr);
     } else {
         char buf[32];
@@ -419,7 +493,7 @@ int getDoubleFromObject(robj *o, double *target) {
         value = 0;
     } else {
         redisAssertWithInfo(NULL,o,o->type == REDIS_STRING);
-        if (o->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) {
+        if (sdsEncodedObject(o)) {
             errno = 0;
             value = strtod(o->ptr, &eptr);
             if (isspace(((char*)o->ptr)[0]) ||
@@ -461,7 +535,7 @@ int getLongDoubleFromObject(robj *o, long double *target) {
         value = 0;
     } else {
         redisAssertWithInfo(NULL,o,o->type == REDIS_STRING);
-        if (o->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) {
+        if (sdsEncodedObject(o)) {
             errno = 0;
             value = strtold(o->ptr, &eptr);
             if (isspace(((char*)o->ptr)[0]) || eptr[0] != '\0' ||
@@ -499,7 +573,7 @@ int getLongLongFromObject(robj *o, long long *target) {
         value = 0;
     } else {
         redisAssertWithInfo(NULL,o,o->type == REDIS_STRING);
-        if (o->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) {
+        if (sdsEncodedObject(o)) {
             errno = 0;
             value = strtoll(o->ptr, &eptr, 10);
             if (isspace(((char*)o->ptr)[0]) || eptr[0] != '\0' ||
@@ -554,6 +628,7 @@ char *strEncoding(int encoding) {
     case REDIS_ENCODING_ZIPLIST: return "ziplist";
     case REDIS_ENCODING_INTSET: return "intset";
     case REDIS_ENCODING_SKIPLIST: return "skiplist";
+    case REDIS_ENCODING_EMBSTR: return "embstr";
     default: return "unknown";
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/rdb.c b/src/rdb.c
index c53c157c5..1c2b0ed0d 100644
--- a/src/rdb.c
+++ b/src/rdb.c
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ int rdbSaveStringObject(rio *rdb, robj *obj) {
     if (obj->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_INT) {
         return rdbSaveLongLongAsStringObject(rdb,(long)obj->ptr);
     } else {
-        redisAssertWithInfo(NULL,obj,obj->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW);
+        redisAssertWithInfo(NULL,obj,sdsEncodedObject(obj));
         return rdbSaveRawString(rdb,obj->ptr,sdslen(obj->ptr));
     }
 }
@@ -795,7 +795,7 @@ robj *rdbLoadObject(int rdbtype, rio *rdb) {
             /* If we are using a ziplist and the value is too big, convert
              * the object to a real list. */
             if (o->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_ZIPLIST &&
-                ele->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW &&
+                sdsEncodedObject(ele) &&
                 sdslen(ele->ptr) > server.list_max_ziplist_value)
                     listTypeConvert(o,REDIS_ENCODING_LINKEDLIST);
 
@@ -869,9 +869,8 @@ robj *rdbLoadObject(int rdbtype, rio *rdb) {
             if (rdbLoadDoubleValue(rdb,&score) == -1) return NULL;
 
             /* Don't care about integer-encoded strings. */
-            if (ele->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW &&
-                sdslen(ele->ptr) > maxelelen)
-                    maxelelen = sdslen(ele->ptr);
+            if (sdsEncodedObject(ele) && sdslen(ele->ptr) > maxelelen)
+                maxelelen = sdslen(ele->ptr);
 
             znode = zslInsert(zs->zsl,score,ele);
             dictAdd(zs->dict,ele,&znode->score);
@@ -903,10 +902,10 @@ robj *rdbLoadObject(int rdbtype, rio *rdb) {
             /* Load raw strings */
             field = rdbLoadStringObject(rdb);
             if (field == NULL) return NULL;
-            redisAssert(field->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW);
+            redisAssert(sdsEncodedObject(field));
             value = rdbLoadStringObject(rdb);
             if (value == NULL) return NULL;
-            redisAssert(field->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW);
+            redisAssert(sdsEncodedObject(value));
 
             /* Add pair to ziplist */
             o->ptr = ziplistPush(o->ptr, field->ptr, sdslen(field->ptr), ZIPLIST_TAIL);
diff --git a/src/redis.c b/src/redis.c
index 99955488e..8a833d509 100644
--- a/src/redis.c
+++ b/src/redis.c
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ int dictEncObjKeyCompare(void *privdata, const void *key1,
 unsigned int dictEncObjHash(const void *key) {
     robj *o = (robj*) key;
 
-    if (o->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) {
+    if (sdsEncodedObject(o)) {
         return dictGenHashFunction(o->ptr, sdslen((sds)o->ptr));
     } else {
         if (o->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_INT) {
diff --git a/src/redis.h b/src/redis.h
index e78dc528d..57e39ad2b 100644
--- a/src/redis.h
+++ b/src/redis.h
@@ -174,6 +174,7 @@
 #define REDIS_ENCODING_ZIPLIST 5 /* Encoded as ziplist */
 #define REDIS_ENCODING_INTSET 6  /* Encoded as intset */
 #define REDIS_ENCODING_SKIPLIST 7  /* Encoded as skiplist */
+#define REDIS_ENCODING_EMBSTR 8  /* Embedded sds string encoding */
 
 /* Defines related to the dump file format. To store 32 bits lengths for short
  * keys requires a lot of space, so we check the most significant 2 bits of
@@ -1138,6 +1139,8 @@ void freeZsetObject(robj *o);
 void freeHashObject(robj *o);
 robj *createObject(int type, void *ptr);
 robj *createStringObject(char *ptr, size_t len);
+robj *createRawStringObject(char *ptr, size_t len);
+robj *createEmbeddedStringObject(char *ptr, size_t len);
 robj *dupStringObject(robj *o);
 int isObjectRepresentableAsLongLong(robj *o, long long *llongval);
 robj *tryObjectEncoding(robj *o);
@@ -1164,6 +1167,7 @@ int compareStringObjects(robj *a, robj *b);
 int collateStringObjects(robj *a, robj *b);
 int equalStringObjects(robj *a, robj *b);
 unsigned long estimateObjectIdleTime(robj *o);
+#define sdsEncodedObject(objptr) (objptr->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW || objptr->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_EMBSTR)
 
 /* Synchronous I/O with timeout */
 ssize_t syncWrite(int fd, char *ptr, ssize_t size, long long timeout);
diff --git a/src/slowlog.c b/src/slowlog.c
index fdc18e579..ff6ccf472 100644
--- a/src/slowlog.c
+++ b/src/slowlog.c
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ slowlogEntry *slowlogCreateEntry(robj **argv, int argc, long long duration) {
         } else {
             /* Trim too long strings as well... */
             if (argv[j]->type == REDIS_STRING &&
-                argv[j]->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW &&
+                sdsEncodedObject(argv[j]) &&
                 sdslen(argv[j]->ptr) > SLOWLOG_ENTRY_MAX_STRING)
             {
                 sds s = sdsnewlen(argv[j]->ptr, SLOWLOG_ENTRY_MAX_STRING);
diff --git a/src/sort.c b/src/sort.c
index a4b062645..ebdf5469c 100644
--- a/src/sort.c
+++ b/src/sort.c
@@ -411,7 +411,7 @@ void sortCommand(redisClient *c) {
             if (alpha) {
                 if (sortby) vector[j].u.cmpobj = getDecodedObject(byval);
             } else {
-                if (byval->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) {
+                if (sdsEncodedObject(byval)) {
                     char *eptr;
 
                     vector[j].u.score = strtod(byval->ptr,&eptr);
diff --git a/src/t_hash.c b/src/t_hash.c
index 9484e531b..3b87b92ca 100644
--- a/src/t_hash.c
+++ b/src/t_hash.c
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ void hashTypeTryConversion(robj *o, robj **argv, int start, int end) {
     if (o->encoding != REDIS_ENCODING_ZIPLIST) return;
 
     for (i = start; i <= end; i++) {
-        if (argv[i]->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW &&
+        if (sdsEncodedObject(argv[i]) &&
             sdslen(argv[i]->ptr) > server.hash_max_ziplist_value)
         {
             hashTypeConvert(o, REDIS_ENCODING_HT);
diff --git a/src/t_list.c b/src/t_list.c
index 0413dc69b..a8ce9b976 100644
--- a/src/t_list.c
+++ b/src/t_list.c
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ void signalListAsReady(redisClient *c, robj *key);
  * objects are never too long. */
 void listTypeTryConversion(robj *subject, robj *value) {
     if (subject->encoding != REDIS_ENCODING_ZIPLIST) return;
-    if (value->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW &&
+    if (sdsEncodedObject(value) &&
         sdslen(value->ptr) > server.list_max_ziplist_value)
             listTypeConvert(subject,REDIS_ENCODING_LINKEDLIST);
 }
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ void listTypeInsert(listTypeEntry *entry, robj *value, int where) {
 int listTypeEqual(listTypeEntry *entry, robj *o) {
     listTypeIterator *li = entry->li;
     if (li->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_ZIPLIST) {
-        redisAssertWithInfo(NULL,o,o->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW);
+        redisAssertWithInfo(NULL,o,sdsEncodedObject(o));
         return ziplistCompare(entry->zi,o->ptr,sdslen(o->ptr));
     } else if (li->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_LINKEDLIST) {
         return equalStringObjects(o,listNodeValue(entry->ln));
diff --git a/src/t_set.c b/src/t_set.c
index a522cd88a..ab65e23f3 100644
--- a/src/t_set.c
+++ b/src/t_set.c
@@ -495,11 +495,8 @@ void srandmemberWithCountCommand(redisClient *c) {
 
             if (encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_INTSET) {
                 retval = dictAdd(d,createStringObjectFromLongLong(llele),NULL);
-            } else if (ele->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) {
+            } else {
                 retval = dictAdd(d,dupStringObject(ele),NULL);
-            } else if (ele->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_INT) {
-                retval = dictAdd(d,
-                    createStringObjectFromLongLong((long)ele->ptr),NULL);
             }
             redisAssert(retval == DICT_OK);
         }
@@ -527,10 +524,8 @@ void srandmemberWithCountCommand(redisClient *c) {
             encoding = setTypeRandomElement(set,&ele,&llele);
             if (encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_INTSET) {
                 ele = createStringObjectFromLongLong(llele);
-            } else if (ele->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) {
+            } else {
                 ele = dupStringObject(ele);
-            } else if (ele->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_INT) {
-                ele = createStringObjectFromLongLong((long)ele->ptr);
             }
             /* Try to add the object to the dictionary. If it already exists
              * free it, otherwise increment the number of objects we have
diff --git a/src/t_string.c b/src/t_string.c
index cbd069d3c..3645ae7c5 100644
--- a/src/t_string.c
+++ b/src/t_string.c
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ void setrangeCommand(redisClient *c) {
         /* Create a copy when the object is shared or encoded. */
         if (o->refcount != 1 || o->encoding != REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) {
             robj *decoded = getDecodedObject(o);
-            o = createStringObject(decoded->ptr, sdslen(decoded->ptr));
+            o = createRawStringObject(decoded->ptr, sdslen(decoded->ptr));
             decrRefCount(decoded);
             dbOverwrite(c->db,c->argv[1],o);
         }
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ void appendCommand(redisClient *c) {
         /* If the object is shared or encoded, we have to make a copy */
         if (o->refcount != 1 || o->encoding != REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) {
             robj *decoded = getDecodedObject(o);
-            o = createStringObject(decoded->ptr, sdslen(decoded->ptr));
+            o = createRawStringObject(decoded->ptr, sdslen(decoded->ptr));
             decrRefCount(decoded);
             dbOverwrite(c->db,c->argv[1],o);
         }
diff --git a/src/t_zset.c b/src/t_zset.c
index 8ef9c5376..291a7eacf 100644
--- a/src/t_zset.c
+++ b/src/t_zset.c
@@ -646,7 +646,7 @@ unsigned char *zzlInsertAt(unsigned char *zl, unsigned char *eptr, robj *ele, do
     int scorelen;
     size_t offset;
 
-    redisAssertWithInfo(NULL,ele,ele->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW);
+    redisAssertWithInfo(NULL,ele,sdsEncodedObject(ele));
     scorelen = d2string(scorebuf,sizeof(scorebuf),score);
     if (eptr == NULL) {
         zl = ziplistPush(zl,ele->ptr,sdslen(ele->ptr),ZIPLIST_TAIL);
@@ -1363,7 +1363,7 @@ int zuiLongLongFromValue(zsetopval *val) {
             if (val->ele->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_INT) {
                 val->ell = (long)val->ele->ptr;
                 val->flags |= OPVAL_VALID_LL;
-            } else if (val->ele->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) {
+            } else if (sdsEncodedObject(val->ele)) {
                 if (string2ll(val->ele->ptr,sdslen(val->ele->ptr),&val->ell))
                     val->flags |= OPVAL_VALID_LL;
             } else {
@@ -1398,7 +1398,7 @@ int zuiBufferFromValue(zsetopval *val) {
             if (val->ele->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_INT) {
                 val->elen = ll2string((char*)val->_buf,sizeof(val->_buf),(long)val->ele->ptr);
                 val->estr = val->_buf;
-            } else if (val->ele->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW) {
+            } else if (sdsEncodedObject(val->ele)) {
                 val->elen = sdslen(val->ele->ptr);
                 val->estr = val->ele->ptr;
             } else {
@@ -1624,9 +1624,10 @@ void zunionInterGenericCommand(redisClient *c, robj *dstkey, int op) {
                     dictAdd(dstzset->dict,tmp,&znode->score);
                     incrRefCount(tmp); /* added to dictionary */
 
-                    if (tmp->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW)
+                    if (sdsEncodedObject(tmp)) {
                         if (sdslen(tmp->ptr) > maxelelen)
                             maxelelen = sdslen(tmp->ptr);
+                    }
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -1666,9 +1667,10 @@ void zunionInterGenericCommand(redisClient *c, robj *dstkey, int op) {
                 dictAdd(dstzset->dict,tmp,&znode->score);
                 incrRefCount(zval.ele); /* added to dictionary */
 
-                if (tmp->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW)
+                if (sdsEncodedObject(tmp)) {
                     if (sdslen(tmp->ptr) > maxelelen)
                         maxelelen = sdslen(tmp->ptr);
+                }
             }
         }
     } else {
@@ -2146,7 +2148,8 @@ void zrankGenericCommand(redisClient *c, int reverse) {
         checkType(c,zobj,REDIS_ZSET)) return;
     llen = zsetLength(zobj);
 
-    redisAssertWithInfo(c,ele,ele->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_RAW);
+    redisAssertWithInfo(c,ele,sdsEncodedObject(ele));
+
     if (zobj->encoding == REDIS_ENCODING_ZIPLIST) {
         unsigned char *zl = zobj->ptr;
         unsigned char *eptr, *sptr;