diff --git a/lib/client.js b/lib/client.js
index 9691da4..029f527 100644
--- a/lib/client.js
+++ b/lib/client.js
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ Client.prototype.bind = function(name, credentials, controls, callback, conn) {
   var self = this;
 
   var req = new BindRequest({
-    name: (typeof(name) === 'string') ? dn.parse(name) : name,
+    name: name,
     authentication: 'Simple',
     credentials: credentials,
     controls: controls
diff --git a/lib/messages/bind_request.js b/lib/messages/bind_request.js
index adddb86..086ddfb 100644
--- a/lib/messages/bind_request.js
+++ b/lib/messages/bind_request.js
@@ -24,15 +24,10 @@ var LDAP_BIND_SASL = 'sasl';
 ///--- API
 
 function BindRequest(options) {
-  if (options) {
-    if (typeof(options) !== 'object')
-      throw new TypeError('options must be an object');
-    if (options.name && !(options.name instanceof dn.DN))
-      throw new TypeError('options.entry must be a DN');
+  if (options && typeof(options) !== 'object')
+    throw new TypeError('options must be an object');
 
-  } else {
-    options = {};
-  }
+  options = options || {};
 
   options.protocolOp = Protocol.LDAP_REQ_BIND;
   LDAPMessage.call(this, options);