diff --git a/godot.nimble b/godot.nimble
index c5472c9..71cfda5 100644
--- a/godot.nimble
+++ b/godot.nimble
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-version = "0.7.21"
+version = "0.7.22"
 author = "Xored Software, Inc."
 description = "Godot Engine bindings"
 license = "MIT"
diff --git a/godot/core/variants.nim b/godot/core/variants.nim
index ce1d945..fcb2b04 100644
--- a/godot/core/variants.nim
+++ b/godot/core/variants.nim
@@ -73,6 +73,10 @@ proc newVariant*(r: cdouble): Variant {.inline.} =
 
 proc newVariant*(s: string): Variant {.inline.} =
   new(result, variantFinalizer)
+  when (NimMajor, NimMinor, NimPatch) < (0, 19, 0):
+    if s.isNil:
+      initGodotVariant(result.godotVariant)
+      return
   var godotStr = s.toGodotString()
   initGodotVariant(result.godotVariant, godotStr)
   godotStr.deinit()