diff --git a/lib/em-websocket/framing07.rb b/lib/em-websocket/framing07.rb
index 58318e4..d744812 100644
--- a/lib/em-websocket/framing07.rb
+++ b/lib/em-websocket/framing07.rb
@@ -3,13 +3,13 @@
 module EventMachine
   module WebSocket
     module Framing07
-      
+
       def initialize_framing
         @data = MaskedString.new
         @application_data_buffer = '' # Used for MORE frames
         @frame_type = nil
       end
-      
+
       def process_data
         error = false
 
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ def process_data
               error = true
               next
             end
-            
+
             # Only using the last 4 bytes for now, till I work out how to
             # unpack 8 bytes. I'm sure 4GB frames will do for now :)
             l = @data.getbytes(pointer+4, 4).unpack('N').first
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ def process_data
               error = true
               next
             end
-            
+
             l = @data.getbytes(pointer, 2).unpack('n').first
             pointer += 2
             l
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ def process_data
           application_data = @data.getbytes(pointer, payload_length)
           pointer += payload_length
           @data.unset_mask if mask
-          
+
           # Throw away data up to pointer
           @data.slice!(0...pointer)
 
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ def process_data
           end
         end # end while
       end
-      
+
       def send_frame(frame_type, application_data)
         debug [:sending_frame, frame_type, application_data]
 
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ def send_frame(frame_type, application_data)
           raise WebSocketError, "Cannot send data frame since connection is closing"
         end
 
-        frame = ''
+        frame = String.new
 
         opcode = type_to_opcode(frame_type)
         byte1 = opcode | 0b10000000 # fin bit set, rsv1-3 are 0
diff --git a/lib/em-websocket/masking04.rb b/lib/em-websocket/masking04.rb
index ad050e9..27104a5 100644
--- a/lib/em-websocket/masking04.rb
+++ b/lib/em-websocket/masking04.rb
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ def getbyte(index)
       end
 
       def getbytes(start_index, count)
-        data = ''
+        data = String.new
         data.force_encoding('ASCII-8BIT') if data.respond_to?(:force_encoding)
         count.times do |i|
           data << getbyte(start_index + i)