diff --git a/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/AbstractBinaryMemcacheDecoder.java b/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/AbstractBinaryMemcacheDecoder.java
index 47e77eef4d..c09daec13d 100644
--- a/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/AbstractBinaryMemcacheDecoder.java
+++ b/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/AbstractBinaryMemcacheDecoder.java
@@ -24,12 +24,9 @@ import io.netty.handler.codec.memcache.DefaultLastMemcacheContent;
 import io.netty.handler.codec.memcache.DefaultMemcacheContent;
 import io.netty.handler.codec.memcache.LastMemcacheContent;
 import io.netty.handler.codec.memcache.MemcacheContent;
-import io.netty.util.CharsetUtil;
 
 import java.util.List;
 
-import static io.netty.buffer.ByteBufUtil.*;
-
 /**
  * Decoder for both {@link BinaryMemcacheRequest} and {@link BinaryMemcacheResponse}.
  * <p/>
@@ -90,7 +87,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractBinaryMemcacheDecoder<M extends BinaryMemcacheMess
                         return;
                     }
 
-                    currentMessage.setExtras(readBytes(ctx.alloc(), in, extrasLength));
+                    currentMessage.setExtras(in.readSlice(extrasLength).retain());
                 }
 
                 state = State.READ_KEY;
@@ -106,8 +103,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractBinaryMemcacheDecoder<M extends BinaryMemcacheMess
                         return;
                     }
 
-                    currentMessage.setKey(in.toString(in.readerIndex(), keyLength, CharsetUtil.UTF_8));
-                    in.skipBytes(keyLength);
+                    currentMessage.setKey(in.readSlice(keyLength).retain());
                 }
                 out.add(currentMessage.retain());
                 state = State.READ_CONTENT;
@@ -135,7 +131,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractBinaryMemcacheDecoder<M extends BinaryMemcacheMess
                         toRead = remainingLength;
                     }
 
-                    ByteBuf chunkBuffer = readBytes(ctx.alloc(), in, toRead);
+                    ByteBuf chunkBuffer = in.readSlice(toRead).retain();
 
                     MemcacheContent chunk;
                     if ((alreadyReadChunkSize += toRead) >= valueLength) {
diff --git a/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/AbstractBinaryMemcacheEncoder.java b/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/AbstractBinaryMemcacheEncoder.java
index dd5e4c9eed..ad06e8c2bf 100644
--- a/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/AbstractBinaryMemcacheEncoder.java
+++ b/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/AbstractBinaryMemcacheEncoder.java
@@ -64,12 +64,12 @@ public abstract class AbstractBinaryMemcacheEncoder<M extends BinaryMemcacheMess
      * @param buf the {@link ByteBuf} to write into.
      * @param key the key to encode.
      */
-    private static void encodeKey(ByteBuf buf, String key) {
-        if (key == null || key.isEmpty()) {
+    private static void encodeKey(ByteBuf buf, ByteBuf key) {
+        if (key == null || !key.isReadable()) {
             return;
         }
 
-        buf.writeBytes(key.getBytes(CharsetUtil.UTF_8));
+        buf.writeBytes(key);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/AbstractBinaryMemcacheMessage.java b/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/AbstractBinaryMemcacheMessage.java
index 5dc67e1d4d..1c12298a67 100644
--- a/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/AbstractBinaryMemcacheMessage.java
+++ b/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/AbstractBinaryMemcacheMessage.java
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractBinaryMemcacheMessage
     /**
      * Contains the optional key.
      */
-    private String key;
+    private ByteBuf key;
 
     /**
      * Contains the optional extras.
@@ -50,13 +50,13 @@ public abstract class AbstractBinaryMemcacheMessage
      * @param key    the message key.
      * @param extras the message extras.
      */
-    protected AbstractBinaryMemcacheMessage(String key, ByteBuf extras) {
+    protected AbstractBinaryMemcacheMessage(ByteBuf key, ByteBuf extras) {
         this.key = key;
         this.extras = extras;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public String key() {
+    public ByteBuf key() {
         return key;
     }
 
@@ -66,13 +66,19 @@ public abstract class AbstractBinaryMemcacheMessage
     }
 
     @Override
-    public BinaryMemcacheMessage setKey(String key) {
+    public BinaryMemcacheMessage setKey(ByteBuf key) {
+        if (this.key != null) {
+            this.key.release();
+        }
         this.key = key;
         return this;
     }
 
     @Override
     public BinaryMemcacheMessage setExtras(ByteBuf extras) {
+        if (this.extras != null) {
+            this.extras.release();
+        }
         this.extras = extras;
         return this;
     }
@@ -179,6 +185,9 @@ public abstract class AbstractBinaryMemcacheMessage
 
     @Override
     protected void deallocate() {
+        if (key != null) {
+            key.release();
+        }
         if (extras != null) {
             extras.release();
         }
@@ -192,6 +201,9 @@ public abstract class AbstractBinaryMemcacheMessage
 
     @Override
     public BinaryMemcacheMessage touch(Object hint) {
+        if (key != null) {
+            key.touch(hint);
+        }
         if (extras != null) {
             extras.touch(hint);
         }
diff --git a/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheMessage.java b/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheMessage.java
index 7e310b9e3a..03b14417c4 100644
--- a/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheMessage.java
+++ b/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheMessage.java
@@ -160,14 +160,16 @@ public interface BinaryMemcacheMessage extends MemcacheMessage {
      *
      * @return the key of the document.
      */
-    String key();
+    ByteBuf key();
 
     /**
-     * Sets the key of the document.
+     * Sets the key of the document. {@link ByteBuf#release()} ownership of {@code key}
+     * is transferred to this {@link BinaryMemcacheMessage}.
      *
-     * @param key the key of the message.
+     * @param key the key of the message. {@link ByteBuf#release()} ownership is transferred
+     *            to this {@link BinaryMemcacheMessage}.
      */
-    BinaryMemcacheMessage setKey(String key);
+    BinaryMemcacheMessage setKey(ByteBuf key);
 
     /**
      * Returns a {@link ByteBuf} representation of the optional extras.
@@ -177,9 +179,11 @@ public interface BinaryMemcacheMessage extends MemcacheMessage {
     ByteBuf extras();
 
     /**
-     * Sets the extras buffer on the message.
+     * Sets the extras buffer on the message. {@link ByteBuf#release()} ownership of {@code extras}
+     * is transferred to this {@link BinaryMemcacheMessage}.
      *
-     * @param extras the extras buffer of the document.
+     * @param extras the extras buffer of the document. {@link ByteBuf#release()} ownership is transferred
+     *               to this {@link BinaryMemcacheMessage}.
      */
     BinaryMemcacheMessage setExtras(ByteBuf extras);
 
diff --git a/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheObjectAggregator.java b/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheObjectAggregator.java
index 65b099468b..55aaf9b75e 100644
--- a/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheObjectAggregator.java
+++ b/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheObjectAggregator.java
@@ -53,9 +53,10 @@ public class BinaryMemcacheObjectAggregator extends AbstractMemcacheObjectAggreg
     }
 
     private static FullBinaryMemcacheRequest toFullRequest(BinaryMemcacheRequest request, ByteBuf content) {
+        ByteBuf key = request.key() == null ? null : request.key().retain();
         ByteBuf extras = request.extras() == null ? null : request.extras().retain();
         FullBinaryMemcacheRequest fullRequest =
-                new DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheRequest(request.key(), extras, content);
+                new DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheRequest(key, extras, content);
 
         fullRequest.setMagic(request.magic());
         fullRequest.setOpcode(request.opcode());
@@ -71,9 +72,10 @@ public class BinaryMemcacheObjectAggregator extends AbstractMemcacheObjectAggreg
     }
 
     private static FullBinaryMemcacheResponse toFullResponse(BinaryMemcacheResponse response, ByteBuf content) {
+        ByteBuf key = response.key() == null ? null : response.key().retain();
         ByteBuf extras = response.extras() == null ? null : response.extras().retain();
         FullBinaryMemcacheResponse fullResponse =
-                new DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheResponse(response.key(), extras, content);
+                new DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheResponse(key, extras, content);
 
         fullResponse.setMagic(response.magic());
         fullResponse.setOpcode(response.opcode());
diff --git a/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheRequestDecoder.java b/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheRequestDecoder.java
index 08e6656a98..f4c66ec98a 100644
--- a/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheRequestDecoder.java
+++ b/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheRequestDecoder.java
@@ -49,6 +49,6 @@ public class BinaryMemcacheRequestDecoder
 
     @Override
     protected BinaryMemcacheRequest buildInvalidMessage() {
-        return new DefaultBinaryMemcacheRequest("", Unpooled.EMPTY_BUFFER);
+        return new DefaultBinaryMemcacheRequest(Unpooled.EMPTY_BUFFER, Unpooled.EMPTY_BUFFER);
     }
 }
diff --git a/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheResponseDecoder.java b/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheResponseDecoder.java
index 5c5d68b576..61a5e78161 100644
--- a/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheResponseDecoder.java
+++ b/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheResponseDecoder.java
@@ -49,6 +49,6 @@ public class BinaryMemcacheResponseDecoder
 
     @Override
     protected BinaryMemcacheResponse buildInvalidMessage() {
-        return new DefaultBinaryMemcacheResponse("", Unpooled.EMPTY_BUFFER);
+        return new DefaultBinaryMemcacheResponse(Unpooled.EMPTY_BUFFER, Unpooled.EMPTY_BUFFER);
     }
 }
diff --git a/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/DefaultBinaryMemcacheRequest.java b/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/DefaultBinaryMemcacheRequest.java
index dfa7843785..e370befc9b 100644
--- a/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/DefaultBinaryMemcacheRequest.java
+++ b/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/DefaultBinaryMemcacheRequest.java
@@ -41,26 +41,17 @@ public class DefaultBinaryMemcacheRequest extends AbstractBinaryMemcacheMessage
      *
      * @param key    the key to use.
      */
-    public DefaultBinaryMemcacheRequest(String key) {
+    public DefaultBinaryMemcacheRequest(ByteBuf key) {
         this(key, null);
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Create a new {@link DefaultBinaryMemcacheRequest} with the header and extras.
-     *
-     * @param extras the extras to use.
-     */
-    public DefaultBinaryMemcacheRequest(ByteBuf extras) {
-        this(null, extras);
-    }
-
     /**
      * Create a new {@link DefaultBinaryMemcacheRequest} with the header only.
      *
      * @param key    the key to use.
      * @param extras the extras to use.
      */
-    public DefaultBinaryMemcacheRequest(String key, ByteBuf extras) {
+    public DefaultBinaryMemcacheRequest(ByteBuf key, ByteBuf extras) {
         super(key, extras);
         setMagic(REQUEST_MAGIC_BYTE);
     }
diff --git a/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/DefaultBinaryMemcacheResponse.java b/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/DefaultBinaryMemcacheResponse.java
index d449214f3b..57bcb09b4e 100644
--- a/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/DefaultBinaryMemcacheResponse.java
+++ b/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/DefaultBinaryMemcacheResponse.java
@@ -41,26 +41,17 @@ public class DefaultBinaryMemcacheResponse extends AbstractBinaryMemcacheMessage
      *
      * @param key    the key to use
      */
-    public DefaultBinaryMemcacheResponse(String key) {
+    public DefaultBinaryMemcacheResponse(ByteBuf key) {
         this(key, null);
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Create a new {@link DefaultBinaryMemcacheResponse} with the header and extras.
-     *
-     * @param extras the extras to use.
-     */
-    public DefaultBinaryMemcacheResponse(ByteBuf extras) {
-        this(null, extras);
-    }
-
     /**
      * Create a new {@link DefaultBinaryMemcacheResponse} with the header, key and extras.
      *
      * @param key    the key to use.
      * @param extras the extras to use.
      */
-    public DefaultBinaryMemcacheResponse(String key, ByteBuf extras) {
+    public DefaultBinaryMemcacheResponse(ByteBuf key, ByteBuf extras) {
         super(key, extras);
         setMagic(RESPONSE_MAGIC_BYTE);
     }
diff --git a/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheRequest.java b/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheRequest.java
index 291af9e64a..fee2b9bf02 100644
--- a/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheRequest.java
+++ b/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheRequest.java
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ public class DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheRequest extends DefaultBinaryMemcacheReque
      * @param key    the key to use.
      * @param extras the extras to use.
      */
-    public DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheRequest(String key, ByteBuf extras) {
+    public DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheRequest(ByteBuf key, ByteBuf extras) {
         this(key, extras, Unpooled.buffer(0));
     }
 
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ public class DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheRequest extends DefaultBinaryMemcacheReque
      * @param extras  the extras to use.
      * @param content the content of the full request.
      */
-    public DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheRequest(String key, ByteBuf extras,
+    public DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheRequest(ByteBuf key, ByteBuf extras,
                                             ByteBuf content) {
         super(key, extras);
         if (content == null) {
@@ -91,19 +91,27 @@ public class DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheRequest extends DefaultBinaryMemcacheReque
 
     @Override
     public FullBinaryMemcacheRequest copy() {
+        ByteBuf key = key();
+        if (key != null) {
+            key = key.copy();
+        }
         ByteBuf extras = extras();
         if (extras != null) {
             extras = extras.copy();
         }
-        return new DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheRequest(key(), extras, content().copy());
+        return new DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheRequest(key, extras, content().copy());
     }
 
     @Override
     public FullBinaryMemcacheRequest duplicate() {
+        ByteBuf key = key();
+        if (key != null) {
+            key = key.duplicate();
+        }
         ByteBuf extras = extras();
         if (extras != null) {
             extras = extras.duplicate();
         }
-        return new DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheRequest(key(), extras, content().duplicate());
+        return new DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheRequest(key, extras, content().duplicate());
     }
 }
diff --git a/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheResponse.java b/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheResponse.java
index 228f84ebbc..7bf6cff6a9 100644
--- a/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheResponse.java
+++ b/codec-memcache/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheResponse.java
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ public class DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheResponse extends DefaultBinaryMemcacheResp
      * @param key    the key to use.
      * @param extras the extras to use.
      */
-    public DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheResponse(String key, ByteBuf extras) {
+    public DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheResponse(ByteBuf key, ByteBuf extras) {
         this(key, extras, Unpooled.buffer(0));
     }
 
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ public class DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheResponse extends DefaultBinaryMemcacheResp
      * @param extras  the extras to use.
      * @param content the content of the full request.
      */
-    public DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheResponse(String key, ByteBuf extras,
+    public DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheResponse(ByteBuf key, ByteBuf extras,
         ByteBuf content) {
         super(key, extras);
         if (content == null) {
@@ -91,19 +91,27 @@ public class DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheResponse extends DefaultBinaryMemcacheResp
 
     @Override
     public FullBinaryMemcacheResponse copy() {
+        ByteBuf key = key();
+        if (key != null) {
+            key = key.copy();
+        }
         ByteBuf extras = extras();
         if (extras != null) {
             extras = extras.copy();
         }
-        return new DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheResponse(key(), extras, content().copy());
+        return new DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheResponse(key, extras, content().copy());
     }
 
     @Override
     public FullBinaryMemcacheResponse duplicate() {
+        ByteBuf key = key();
+        if (key != null) {
+            key = key.duplicate();
+        }
         ByteBuf extras = extras();
         if (extras != null) {
             extras = extras.duplicate();
         }
-        return new DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheResponse(key(), extras, content().duplicate());
+        return new DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheResponse(key, extras, content().duplicate());
     }
 }
diff --git a/codec-memcache/src/test/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheDecoderTest.java b/codec-memcache/src/test/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheDecoderTest.java
index d7f15f31ac..7e1ec180bf 100644
--- a/codec-memcache/src/test/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheDecoderTest.java
+++ b/codec-memcache/src/test/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheDecoderTest.java
@@ -256,10 +256,10 @@ public class BinaryMemcacheDecoderTest {
                 new BinaryMemcacheRequestEncoder(),
                 new BinaryMemcacheRequestDecoder());
 
-        String key = "Netty";
+        ByteBuf key = Unpooled.copiedBuffer("Netty", CharsetUtil.UTF_8);
         ByteBuf extras = Unpooled.copiedBuffer("extras", CharsetUtil.UTF_8);
         BinaryMemcacheRequest request = new DefaultBinaryMemcacheRequest(key, extras);
-        request.setKeyLength((short) key.length());
+        request.setKeyLength((short) key.readableBytes());
         request.setExtrasLength((byte) extras.readableBytes());
 
         assertTrue(channel.writeOutbound(request));
diff --git a/codec-memcache/src/test/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheEncoderTest.java b/codec-memcache/src/test/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheEncoderTest.java
index 79c5ad671b..df7d12bb91 100644
--- a/codec-memcache/src/test/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheEncoderTest.java
+++ b/codec-memcache/src/test/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheEncoderTest.java
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ public class BinaryMemcacheEncoderTest {
         ByteBuf extras = Unpooled.copiedBuffer(extrasContent, CharsetUtil.UTF_8);
         int extrasLength = extras.readableBytes();
 
-        BinaryMemcacheRequest request = new DefaultBinaryMemcacheRequest(extras);
+        BinaryMemcacheRequest request = new DefaultBinaryMemcacheRequest(Unpooled.EMPTY_BUFFER, extras);
         request.setExtrasLength((byte) extrasLength);
 
         boolean result = channel.writeOutbound(request);
@@ -100,8 +100,8 @@ public class BinaryMemcacheEncoderTest {
 
     @Test
     public void shouldEncodeKey() {
-        String key = "netty";
-        int keyLength = key.length();
+        ByteBuf key = Unpooled.copiedBuffer("netty", CharsetUtil.UTF_8);
+        int keyLength = key.readableBytes();
 
         BinaryMemcacheRequest request = new DefaultBinaryMemcacheRequest(key);
         request.setKeyLength((byte) keyLength);
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ public class BinaryMemcacheEncoderTest {
         ByteBuf written = channel.readOutbound();
         assertThat(written.readableBytes(), is(DEFAULT_HEADER_SIZE + keyLength));
         written.readBytes(DEFAULT_HEADER_SIZE);
-        assertThat(written.readBytes(keyLength).toString(CharsetUtil.UTF_8), equalTo(key));
+        assertThat(written.readBytes(keyLength).toString(CharsetUtil.UTF_8), equalTo("netty"));
         written.release();
     }
 
diff --git a/codec-memcache/src/test/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheObjectAggregatorTest.java b/codec-memcache/src/test/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheObjectAggregatorTest.java
index 29e231a1c5..9043bb6f4e 100644
--- a/codec-memcache/src/test/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheObjectAggregatorTest.java
+++ b/codec-memcache/src/test/java/io/netty/handler/codec/memcache/binary/BinaryMemcacheObjectAggregatorTest.java
@@ -86,17 +86,17 @@ public class BinaryMemcacheObjectAggregatorTest {
                 new BinaryMemcacheRequestDecoder(),
                 new BinaryMemcacheObjectAggregator(MAX_CONTENT_SIZE));
 
-        String key = "Netty";
+        ByteBuf key = Unpooled.copiedBuffer("Netty", CharsetUtil.UTF_8);
         ByteBuf extras = Unpooled.copiedBuffer("extras", CharsetUtil.UTF_8);
         BinaryMemcacheRequest request = new DefaultBinaryMemcacheRequest(key, extras);
-        request.setKeyLength((short) key.length());
+        request.setKeyLength((short) key.readableBytes());
         request.setExtrasLength((byte) extras.readableBytes());
 
         DefaultMemcacheContent content1 =
                 new DefaultMemcacheContent(Unpooled.copiedBuffer("Netty", CharsetUtil.UTF_8));
         DefaultLastMemcacheContent content2 =
                 new DefaultLastMemcacheContent(Unpooled.copiedBuffer(" Rocks!", CharsetUtil.UTF_8));
-        int totalBodyLength = key.length() + extras.readableBytes() +
+        int totalBodyLength = key.readableBytes() + extras.readableBytes() +
                 content1.content().readableBytes() + content2.content().readableBytes();
         request.setTotalBodyLength(totalBodyLength);
 
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ public class BinaryMemcacheObjectAggregatorTest {
 
         FullBinaryMemcacheRequest read = channel.readInbound();
         assertThat(read, notNullValue());
-        assertThat(read.key(), is("Netty"));
+        assertThat(read.key().toString(CharsetUtil.UTF_8), is("Netty"));
         assertThat(read.extras().toString(CharsetUtil.UTF_8), is("extras"));
         assertThat(read.content().toString(CharsetUtil.UTF_8), is("Netty Rocks!"));
 
diff --git a/example/src/main/java/io/netty/example/memcache/binary/MemcacheClientHandler.java b/example/src/main/java/io/netty/example/memcache/binary/MemcacheClientHandler.java
index 888fc8e048..cf9a280966 100644
--- a/example/src/main/java/io/netty/example/memcache/binary/MemcacheClientHandler.java
+++ b/example/src/main/java/io/netty/example/memcache/binary/MemcacheClientHandler.java
@@ -36,12 +36,13 @@ public class MemcacheClientHandler extends ChannelDuplexHandler {
     public void write(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, Object msg, ChannelPromise promise) {
         String command = (String) msg;
         if (command.startsWith("get ")) {
-            String key = command.substring("get ".length());
+            String keyString = command.substring("get ".length());
+            ByteBuf key = Unpooled.wrappedBuffer(keyString.getBytes(CharsetUtil.UTF_8));
 
             BinaryMemcacheRequest req = new DefaultBinaryMemcacheRequest(key);
             req.setOpcode(BinaryMemcacheOpcodes.GET);
-            req.setKeyLength((short) key.length());
-            req.setTotalBodyLength(key.length());
+            req.setKeyLength((short) key.readableBytes());
+            req.setTotalBodyLength(key.readableBytes());
 
             ctx.write(req, promise);
         } else if (command.startsWith("set ")) {
@@ -49,18 +50,19 @@ public class MemcacheClientHandler extends ChannelDuplexHandler {
             if (parts.length < 3) {
                 throw new IllegalArgumentException("Malformed Command: " + command);
             }
-            String key = parts[1];
+            String keyString = parts[1];
             String value = parts[2];
 
+            ByteBuf key = Unpooled.wrappedBuffer(keyString.getBytes(CharsetUtil.UTF_8));
             ByteBuf content = Unpooled.wrappedBuffer(value.getBytes(CharsetUtil.UTF_8));
             ByteBuf extras = ctx.alloc().buffer(8);
             extras.writeZero(8);
 
             BinaryMemcacheRequest req = new DefaultFullBinaryMemcacheRequest(key, extras, content);
             req.setOpcode(BinaryMemcacheOpcodes.SET);
-            req.setKeyLength((short) key.length());
+            req.setKeyLength((short) key.readableBytes());
             req.setExtrasLength((byte) 8);
-            req.setTotalBodyLength(key.length() + 8 + value.length());
+            req.setTotalBodyLength(key.readableBytes() + 8 + value.length());
 
             ctx.write(req, promise);
         } else {