diff --git a/crates/test-support/src/lib.rs b/crates/test-support/src/lib.rs
index 54f3c8e2..630a3f84 100644
--- a/crates/test-support/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/test-support/src/lib.rs
@@ -134,6 +134,7 @@ impl Project {
 
         let obj = cli::Bindgen::new()
             .input_path(&out)
+            .nodejs(true)
             .generate()
             .expect("failed to run bindgen");
         obj.write_js_to(root.join("out.js")).expect("failed to write js");
diff --git a/crates/wasm-bindgen-cli-support/src/lib.rs b/crates/wasm-bindgen-cli-support/src/lib.rs
index 767f838f..820d013f 100644
--- a/crates/wasm-bindgen-cli-support/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/wasm-bindgen-cli-support/src/lib.rs
@@ -13,17 +13,20 @@ use parity_wasm::elements::*;
 
 pub struct Bindgen {
     path: Option<PathBuf>,
+    nodejs: bool,
 }
 
 pub struct Object {
     module: Module,
     items: Vec<shared::Function>,
+    nodejs: bool,
 }
 
 impl Bindgen {
     pub fn new() -> Bindgen {
         Bindgen {
             path: None,
+            nodejs: false,
         }
     }
 
@@ -32,6 +35,11 @@ impl Bindgen {
         self
     }
 
+    pub fn nodejs(&mut self, node: bool) -> &mut Bindgen {
+        self.nodejs = node;
+        self
+    }
+
     pub fn generate(&mut self) -> Result<Object, Error> {
         let input = match self.path {
             Some(ref path) => path,
@@ -44,6 +52,7 @@ impl Bindgen {
         Ok(Object {
             module,
             items,
+            nodejs: self.nodejs,
         })
     }
 }
@@ -75,16 +84,114 @@ impl Object {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn generate_js(&self) -> String {
+    pub fn generate_js(&self) -> String {
+        let mut set_exports = String::new();
+        for func in self.items.iter() {
+            self.add_export(func, &mut set_exports);
+        }
+
         format!("\
 const xform = (obj) => {{
-    obj.exports = obj.instance.exports;
+    const exports = obj.instance.exports;
+    const memory = obj.instance.exports.memory;
+    {set_exports}
     return obj;
 }};
 export const instantiate = (bytes, imports) => {{
     return WebAssembly.instantiate(bytes, imports).then(xform);
 }};
-")
+",
+    set_exports = set_exports,
+)
+    }
+
+    fn add_export(&self, func: &shared::Function, dst: &mut String) {
+        let simple = func.arguments.iter().all(|t| t.is_number()) &&
+            func.ret.as_ref().map(|t| t.is_number()).unwrap_or(true);
+
+        if simple {
+            dst.push_str(&format!("\n\
+                obj.{f} = obj.instance.exports.{f};\
+            ", f = func.name));
+            return
+        }
+
+        dst.push_str(&format!("\n    obj.{f} = function {f}(",
+                                      f = func.name));
+        let mut passed_args = String::new();
+        let mut arg_conversions = String::new();
+        let mut destructors = String::new();
+
+        for (i, arg) in func.arguments.iter().enumerate() {
+            let name = format!("arg{}", i);
+            if i > 0 {
+                dst.push_str(", ");
+            }
+            dst.push_str(&name);
+
+            let mut pass = |arg: &str| {
+                if passed_args.len() > 0 {
+                    passed_args.push_str(", ");
+                }
+                passed_args.push_str(arg);
+            };
+            match *arg {
+                shared::Type::Number => pass(&name),
+                shared::Type::BorrowedStr |
+                shared::Type::String => {
+                    if self.nodejs {
+                        arg_conversions.push_str(&format!("\
+                            const buf{i} = Buffer.from({arg});
+                            const len{i} = buf{i}.length;
+                            const ptr{i} = exports.__wbindgen_malloc(len{i});
+                            let memory{i} = new Uint8Array(memory.buffer);
+                            buf{i}.copy(memory{i}, ptr{i});
+                        ", i = i, arg = name));
+                        pass(&format!("ptr{}", i));
+                        pass(&format!("len{}", i));
+                        if let shared::Type::BorrowedStr = *arg {
+                            destructors.push_str(&format!("\n\
+                                exports.__wbindgen_free(ptr{i}, len{i});\n\
+                            ", i = i));
+                        }
+                    } else {
+                        panic!("strings not implemented for browser");
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        let convert_ret = match func.ret {
+            None |
+            Some(shared::Type::Number) => format!("return ret;"),
+            Some(shared::Type::BorrowedStr) => panic!(),
+            Some(shared::Type::String) => {
+                if self.nodejs {
+                    format!("\
+                        const mem = new Uint8Array(memory.buffer);
+                        const ptr = exports.__wbindgen_boxed_str_ptr(ret);
+                        const len = exports.__wbindgen_boxed_str_len(ret);
+                        const buf = Buffer.from(mem.slice(ptr, ptr + len));
+                        const realRet = buf.toString();
+                        exports.__wbindgen_boxed_str_free(ret);
+                        return realRet;
+                    ")
+                } else {
+                    panic!("strings not implemented for browser");
+                }
+            }
+        };
+        dst.push_str(") {\n        ");
+        dst.push_str(&arg_conversions);
+        dst.push_str(&format!("\
+            try {{
+                const ret = exports.{f}({passed});
+                {convert_ret}
+            }} finally {{
+                {destructors}
+            }}
+        ", f = func.name, passed = passed_args, destructors = destructors,
+            convert_ret = convert_ret));
+        dst.push_str("};");
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/wasm-bindgen-cli/src/main.rs b/crates/wasm-bindgen-cli/src/main.rs
index 54802f84..61c4b083 100644
--- a/crates/wasm-bindgen-cli/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/wasm-bindgen-cli/src/main.rs
@@ -18,12 +18,14 @@ Options:
     -h --help               Show this screen.
     --output-js FILE        Output JS file
     --output-wasm FILE      Output WASM file
+    --nodejs                Generate output for node.js, not the browser
 ";
 
 #[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
 struct Args {
     flag_output_js: Option<PathBuf>,
     flag_output_wasm: Option<PathBuf>,
+    flag_nodejs: bool,
     arg_input: PathBuf,
 }
 
@@ -34,9 +36,12 @@ fn main() {
 
     let mut b = Bindgen::new();
     b.input_path(&args.arg_input);
+    b.nodejs(args.flag_nodejs);
     let ret = b.generate().expect("failed to generate bindings");
     if let Some(ref js) = args.flag_output_js {
         ret.write_js_to(js).expect("failed to write JS output file");
+    } else {
+        println!("{}", ret.generate_js());
     }
     if let Some(ref wasm) = args.flag_output_wasm {
         ret.write_wasm_to(wasm).expect("failed to write wasm output file");
diff --git a/crates/wasm-bindgen-macro/Cargo.toml b/crates/wasm-bindgen-macro/Cargo.toml
index 38017ce0..20ecb718 100644
--- a/crates/wasm-bindgen-macro/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/wasm-bindgen-macro/Cargo.toml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ proc-macro = true
 
 [dependencies]
 syn = { git = 'https://github.com/dtolnay/syn', features = ['full'] }
+synom = { git = 'https://github.com/dtolnay/syn' }
 quote = { git = 'https://github.com/dtolnay/quote' }
 proc-macro2 = "0.1"
 serde_json = "1"
diff --git a/crates/wasm-bindgen-macro/src/ast.rs b/crates/wasm-bindgen-macro/src/ast.rs
index c5d4eaac..672f4197 100644
--- a/crates/wasm-bindgen-macro/src/ast.rs
+++ b/crates/wasm-bindgen-macro/src/ast.rs
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ pub struct Function {
 
 pub enum Type {
     Integer(syn::Ident),
+    BorrowedStr,
+    String,
 }
 
 impl Function {
@@ -100,21 +102,41 @@ impl Function {
 
 impl Type {
     pub fn from(ty: &syn::Type) -> Type {
+        let extract_path_ident = |path: &syn::Path| {
+            if path.leading_colon.is_some() {
+                panic!("unsupported leading colon in path")
+            }
+            if path.segments.len() != 1 {
+                panic!("unsupported path that needs name resolution")
+            }
+            match path.segments.get(0).item().arguments {
+                syn::PathArguments::None => {}
+                _ => panic!("unsupported path that has path arguments")
+            }
+            path.segments.get(0).item().ident
+        };
         match *ty {
-            // syn::Type::Reference(ref r) => {
-            // }
+            syn::Type::Reference(ref r) => {
+                if r.lifetime.is_some() {
+                    panic!("can't have lifetimes on references yet");
+                }
+                match r.ty.mutability {
+                    syn::Mutability::Immutable => {}
+                    _ => panic!("can't have mutable references yet"),
+                }
+                match r.ty.ty {
+                    syn::Type::Path(syn::TypePath { qself: None, ref path }) => {
+                        let ident = extract_path_ident(path);
+                        match ident.sym.as_str() {
+                            "str" => Type::BorrowedStr,
+                            _ => panic!("unsupported reference type"),
+                        }
+                    }
+                    _ => panic!("unsupported reference type"),
+                }
+            }
             syn::Type::Path(syn::TypePath { qself: None, ref path }) => {
-                if path.leading_colon.is_some() {
-                    panic!("unsupported leading colon in path")
-                }
-                if path.segments.len() != 1 {
-                    panic!("unsupported path that needs name resolution")
-                }
-                match path.segments.get(0).item().arguments {
-                    syn::PathArguments::None => {}
-                    _ => panic!("unsupported path that has path arguments")
-                }
-                let ident = path.segments.get(0).item().ident;
+                let ident = extract_path_ident(path);
                 match ident.sym.as_str() {
                     "i8" |
                     "u8" |
@@ -128,6 +150,7 @@ impl Type {
                     "f64" => {
                         Type::Integer(ident)
                     }
+                    "String" => Type::String,
                     s => panic!("unsupported type: {}", s),
                 }
             }
@@ -138,6 +161,8 @@ impl Type {
     fn shared(&self) -> shared::Type {
         match *self {
             Type::Integer(_) => shared::Type::Number,
+            Type::BorrowedStr => shared::Type::BorrowedStr,
+            Type::String => shared::Type::String,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -146,6 +171,13 @@ impl ToTokens for Type {
     fn to_tokens(&self, tokens: &mut Tokens) {
         match *self {
             Type::Integer(i) => i.to_tokens(tokens),
+            Type::String => {
+                syn::Ident::from("String").to_tokens(tokens);
+            }
+            Type::BorrowedStr => {
+                <Token![&]>::default().to_tokens(tokens);
+                syn::Ident::from("str").to_tokens(tokens);
+            }
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/wasm-bindgen-macro/src/lib.rs b/crates/wasm-bindgen-macro/src/lib.rs
index 8b96f24e..44db7835 100644
--- a/crates/wasm-bindgen-macro/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/wasm-bindgen-macro/src/lib.rs
@@ -2,24 +2,30 @@
 
 extern crate syn;
 #[macro_use]
+extern crate synom;
+#[macro_use]
 extern crate quote;
 extern crate proc_macro;
 extern crate proc_macro2;
 extern crate serde_json;
 extern crate wasm_bindgen_shared;
 
+use std::sync::atomic::*;
+
 use proc_macro::TokenStream;
 use proc_macro2::Literal;
 use quote::{Tokens, ToTokens};
 
 mod ast;
 
+static MALLOC_GENERATED: AtomicBool = ATOMIC_BOOL_INIT;
+static BOXED_STR_GENERATED: AtomicBool = ATOMIC_BOOL_INIT;
+
 #[proc_macro]
 pub fn wasm_bindgen(input: TokenStream) -> TokenStream {
     let file = syn::parse::<syn::File>(input)
         .expect("expected a set of valid Rust items");
 
-
     let mut ret = Tokens::new();
 
     for item in file.items.iter() {
@@ -39,19 +45,48 @@ fn bindgen_fn(input: &syn::ItemFn, into: &mut Tokens) {
     let export_name = function.export_name();
     let generated_name = function.rust_symbol();
     let mut args = vec![];
-    let arg_conversions = vec![quote!{}];
+    let mut arg_conversions = vec![];
     let real_name = &input.ident;
     let mut converted_arguments = vec![];
     let ret = syn::Ident::from("_ret");
 
+    let mut malloc = false;
+    let mut boxed_str = false;
+
     for (i, ty) in function.arguments.iter().enumerate() {
         let ident = syn::Ident::from(format!("arg{}", i));
         match *ty {
             ast::Type::Integer(i) => {
                 args.push(quote! { #ident: #i });
-                converted_arguments.push(quote! { #ident });
+            }
+            ast::Type::BorrowedStr => {
+                malloc = !MALLOC_GENERATED.swap(true, Ordering::SeqCst);
+                let ptr = syn::Ident::from(format!("arg{}_ptr", i));
+                let len = syn::Ident::from(format!("arg{}_len", i));
+                args.push(quote! { #ptr: *const u8 });
+                args.push(quote! { #len: usize });
+                arg_conversions.push(quote! {
+                    let #ident = unsafe {
+                        let slice = ::std::slice::from_raw_parts(#ptr, #len);
+                        ::std::str::from_utf8_unchecked(slice)
+                    };
+                });
+            }
+            ast::Type::String => {
+                malloc = !MALLOC_GENERATED.swap(true, Ordering::SeqCst);
+                let ptr = syn::Ident::from(format!("arg{}_ptr", i));
+                let len = syn::Ident::from(format!("arg{}_len", i));
+                args.push(quote! { #ptr: *mut u8 });
+                args.push(quote! { #len: usize });
+                arg_conversions.push(quote! {
+                    let #ident = unsafe {
+                        let vec = ::std::vec::Vec::from_raw_parts(#ptr, #len, #len);
+                        ::std::string::String::from_utf8_unchecked(vec)
+                    };
+                });
             }
         }
+        converted_arguments.push(quote! { #ident });
     }
     let ret_ty;
     let convert_ret;
@@ -60,6 +95,12 @@ fn bindgen_fn(input: &syn::ItemFn, into: &mut Tokens) {
             ret_ty = quote! { -> #i };
             convert_ret = quote! { #ret };
         }
+        Some(ast::Type::BorrowedStr) => panic!("can't return a borrowed string"),
+        Some(ast::Type::String) => {
+            boxed_str = !BOXED_STR_GENERATED.swap(true, Ordering::SeqCst);
+            ret_ty = quote! { -> *mut String };
+            convert_ret = quote! { Box::into_raw(Box::new(#ret)) };
+        }
         None => {
             ret_ty = quote! {};
             convert_ret = quote! {};
@@ -74,8 +115,52 @@ fn bindgen_fn(input: &syn::ItemFn, into: &mut Tokens) {
     };
     let generated_static_length = generated_static.len();
 
+    let malloc = if malloc {
+        quote! {
+            #[no_mangle]
+            pub extern fn __wbindgen_malloc(size: usize) -> *mut u8 {
+                let mut ret = Vec::with_capacity(size);
+                let ptr = ret.as_mut_ptr();
+                ::std::mem::forget(ret);
+                return ptr
+            }
+
+            #[no_mangle]
+            pub unsafe extern fn __wbindgen_free(ptr: *mut u8, size: usize) {
+                drop(Vec::<u8>::from_raw_parts(ptr, 0, size));
+            }
+        }
+    } else {
+        quote! {
+        }
+    };
+
+    let boxed_str = if boxed_str {
+        quote! {
+            #[no_mangle]
+            pub unsafe extern fn __wbindgen_boxed_str_len(ptr: *mut String) -> usize {
+                (*ptr).len()
+            }
+
+            #[no_mangle]
+            pub unsafe extern fn __wbindgen_boxed_str_ptr(ptr: *mut String) -> *const u8 {
+                (*ptr).as_ptr()
+            }
+
+            #[no_mangle]
+            pub unsafe extern fn __wbindgen_boxed_str_free(ptr: *mut String) {
+                drop(Box::from_raw(ptr));
+            }
+        }
+    } else {
+        quote! {
+        }
+    };
 
     let tokens = quote! {
+        #malloc
+        #boxed_str
+
         #[no_mangle]
         #[allow(non_upper_case_globals)]
         pub static #generated_static_name: [u8; #generated_static_length] =
@@ -84,10 +169,11 @@ fn bindgen_fn(input: &syn::ItemFn, into: &mut Tokens) {
         #[no_mangle]
         #[export_name = #export_name]
         pub extern fn #generated_name(#(#args),*) #ret_ty {
-            #(#arg_conversions);*
+            #(#arg_conversions)*
             let #ret = #real_name(#(#converted_arguments),*);
             #convert_ret
         }
     };
+    // println!("{}", tokens);
     tokens.to_tokens(into);
 }
diff --git a/crates/wasm-bindgen-shared/src/lib.rs b/crates/wasm-bindgen-shared/src/lib.rs
index 29269ea7..2f2e9f01 100644
--- a/crates/wasm-bindgen-shared/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/wasm-bindgen-shared/src/lib.rs
@@ -11,4 +11,15 @@ pub struct Function {
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub enum Type {
     Number,
+    BorrowedStr,
+    String,
+}
+
+impl Type {
+    pub fn is_number(&self) -> bool {
+        match *self {
+            Type::Number => true,
+            _ => false,
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/tests/simple.rs b/tests/simple.rs
index b1b4b0da..bcdd938e 100644
--- a/tests/simple.rs
+++ b/tests/simple.rs
@@ -28,10 +28,73 @@ fn add() {
             import * as assert from "assert";
 
             export function test(wasm) {
-                assert.strictEqual(wasm.exports.add(1, 2), 3);
-                assert.strictEqual(wasm.exports.add(2, 3), 5);
-                assert.strictEqual(wasm.exports.add3(2), 5);
-                assert.strictEqual(wasm.exports.get2(), 2);
+                assert.strictEqual(wasm.add(1, 2), 3);
+                assert.strictEqual(wasm.add(2, 3), 5);
+                assert.strictEqual(wasm.add3(2), 5);
+                assert.strictEqual(wasm.get2(), 2);
+            }
+        "#)
+        .test();
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn string_arguments() {
+    test_support::project()
+        .file("src/lib.rs", r#"
+            #![feature(proc_macro)]
+
+            extern crate wasm_bindgen;
+
+            use wasm_bindgen::prelude::*;
+
+            wasm_bindgen! {
+                pub fn assert_foo(a: &str) {
+                    assert_eq!(a, "foo");
+                }
+
+                pub fn assert_foo_and_bar(a: &str, b: &str) {
+                    assert_eq!(a, "foo2");
+                    assert_eq!(b, "bar");
+                }
+            }
+        "#)
+        .file("test.js", r#"
+            export function test(wasm) {
+                wasm.assert_foo("foo");
+                wasm.assert_foo_and_bar("foo2", "bar");
+            }
+        "#)
+        .test();
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn return_a_string() {
+    test_support::project()
+        .file("src/lib.rs", r#"
+            #![feature(proc_macro)]
+
+            extern crate wasm_bindgen;
+
+            use wasm_bindgen::prelude::*;
+
+            wasm_bindgen! {
+                pub fn clone(a: &str) -> String {
+                    a.to_string()
+                }
+
+                pub fn concat(a: &str, b: &str, c: i8) -> String {
+                    format!("{} {} {}", a, b, c)
+                }
+            }
+        "#)
+        .file("test.js", r#"
+            import * as assert from "assert";
+
+            export function test(wasm) {
+                assert.strictEqual(wasm.clone("foo"), "foo");
+                assert.strictEqual(wasm.clone("another"), "another");
+                assert.strictEqual(wasm.concat("a", "b", 3), "a b 3");
+                assert.strictEqual(wasm.concat("c", "d", -2), "c d -2");
             }
         "#)
         .test();