diff --git a/src/kits/mail/mail_util.cpp b/src/kits/mail/mail_util.cpp
index 1ae92c7ac8..42283dee55 100644
--- a/src/kits/mail/mail_util.cpp
+++ b/src/kits/mail/mail_util.cpp
@@ -171,10 +171,9 @@ write_read_attr(BNode& node, read_flags flag)
 		return B_OK;
 	}
 
-	const char* statusString = flag == B_READ ? "Read"
-		: flag  == B_SEEN ? "Seen" : "New";
-	if (node.WriteAttr(B_MAIL_ATTR_STATUS, B_STRING_TYPE, 0, statusString,
-			strlen(statusString)) < 0)
+	BString statusString = flag == B_READ ? "Read"
+		: flag == B_SEEN ? "Seen" : "New";
+	if (node.WriteAttrString(B_MAIL_ATTR_STATUS, &statusString) < 0)
 		return B_ERROR;
 
 	return B_OK;