diff --git a/src/asn1helpers.c b/src/asn1helpers.c
index a4ced70..4e5e08d 100644
--- a/src/asn1helpers.c
+++ b/src/asn1helpers.c
@@ -65,9 +65,6 @@ int BIT_STRING_fromBuf(BIT_STRING_t *st, const uint8_t *str, unsigned int bit_le
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	if (len < 0)
-		len = strlen((char*)str);
-
 	buf = MALLOC(len);
 	if (!buf) {
 		errno = ENOMEM;