diff --git a/vlib/builtin/rune.v b/vlib/builtin/rune.v
index 0f78a11412..bc2a9ba7e4 100644
--- a/vlib/builtin/rune.v
+++ b/vlib/builtin/rune.v
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 // Use of this source code is governed by an MIT license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
 module builtin
 
+import strings
+
 // This was never working correctly, the issue is now
 // fixed however the type checks in checker need to be
 // updated. if you uncomment it you will see the issue
@@ -29,11 +31,14 @@ pub fn (c rune) str() string {
 }
 
 // string converts a rune array to a string
+[manualfree]
 pub fn (ra []rune) string() string {
-	mut res := ''
+	mut sb := strings.new_builder(ra.len)
 	for r in ra {
-		res += r.str()
+		sb.write_string(r.str())
 	}
+	res := sb.str()
+	unsafe { sb.free() }
 	return res
 }