diff --git a/src/string.cr b/src/string.cr
index 9454f6d1ea03..61237013800f 100644
--- a/src/string.cr
+++ b/src/string.cr
@@ -143,10 +143,9 @@ require "c/string"
 # remove the offending byte sequences first.
 class String
   # :nodoc:
-  TYPE_ID = "".crystal_type_id
-
-  # :nodoc:
-  HEADER_SIZE = sizeof({Int32, Int32, Int32})
+  #
+  # Holds the offset to the first character byte.
+  HEADER_SIZE = offsetof(String, @c)
 
   include Comparable(self)
 
@@ -266,9 +265,18 @@ class String
       str = GC.realloc(str, bytesize.to_u32 + HEADER_SIZE + 1)
     end
 
-    str_header = str.as({Int32, Int32, Int32}*)
-    str_header.value = {TYPE_ID, bytesize.to_i, size.to_i}
-    str.as(String)
+    set_crystal_type_id(str)
+    str = str.as(String)
+    str.initialize_header(bytesize.to_i, size.to_i)
+    str
+  end
+
+  # :nodoc:
+  #
+  # Initializes the header information of a `String` instance.
+  # The actual character content at `@c` is expected to be already filled and is
+  # unaffected by this method.
+  def initialize_header(@bytesize : Int32, @length : Int32 = 0)
   end
 
   # Builds a `String` by creating a `String::Builder` with the given initial capacity, yielding
diff --git a/src/string/builder.cr b/src/string/builder.cr
index d1add8dc9be2..0fb77f4ca41b 100644
--- a/src/string/builder.cr
+++ b/src/string/builder.cr
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ class String::Builder < IO
     # Make sure to also be able to hold
     # the header size plus the trailing zero byte
     capacity += String::HEADER_SIZE + 1
-    String.check_capacity_in_bounds(capacity)
 
     @buffer = GC.malloc_atomic(capacity.to_u32).as(UInt8*)
     @bytesize = 0
@@ -117,9 +116,10 @@ class String::Builder < IO
       resize_to_capacity(real_bytesize)
     end
 
-    header = @buffer.as({Int32, Int32, Int32}*)
-    header.value = {String::TYPE_ID, @bytesize - 1, 0}
-    @buffer.as(String)
+    String.set_crystal_type_id(@buffer)
+    str = @buffer.as(String)
+    str.initialize_header((bytesize - 1).to_i)
+    str
   end
 
   private def real_bytesize