diff --git a/libcxx/include/string b/libcxx/include/string
--- a/libcxx/include/string
+++ b/libcxx/include/string
@@ -1549,6 +1549,11 @@
     inline
     void __init(size_type __n, value_type __c);
 
+    // Identical to __init(s, sz), except that this function is always
+    // externally instantiated and not inlined: this function is the
+    // slow path for the (inlined) copy constructor.
+    void __init_long_external(const value_type* __s, size_type __sz);
+
     template <class _InputIterator>
     inline
     _EnableIf
@@ -1797,6 +1802,18 @@
     traits_type::assign(__p[__sz], value_type());
 }
 
+template <class _CharT, class _Traits, class _Allocator>
+void basic_string<_CharT, _Traits, _Allocator>::__init_long_external(
+    const _CharT* __s, size_type __sz) {
+  size_type __cap = __recommend(__sz);
+  pointer __p = __alloc_traits::allocate(__alloc(), __cap + 1);
+  __set_long_pointer(__p);
+  __set_long_cap(__cap + 1);
+  __set_long_size(__sz);
+  traits_type::copy(_VSTD::__to_address(__p), __s, __sz);
+  traits_type::assign(__p[__sz], value_type());
+}
+
 template <class _CharT, class _Traits, class _Allocator>
 template <class>
 basic_string<_CharT, _Traits, _Allocator>::basic_string(const _CharT* __s, const _Allocator& __a)
@@ -1840,7 +1857,7 @@
     if (!__str.__is_long())
         __r_.first().__r = __str.__r_.first().__r;
     else
-        __init(_VSTD::__to_address(__str.__get_long_pointer()), __str.__get_long_size());
+        __init_long_external(_VSTD::__to_address(__str.__get_long_pointer()), __str.__get_long_size());
 #if _LIBCPP_DEBUG_LEVEL >= 2
     __get_db()->__insert_c(this);
 #endif
@@ -1854,7 +1871,7 @@
     if (!__str.__is_long())
         __r_.first().__r = __str.__r_.first().__r;
     else
-        __init(_VSTD::__to_address(__str.__get_long_pointer()), __str.__get_long_size());
+        __init_long_external(_VSTD::__to_address(__str.__get_long_pointer()), __str.__get_long_size());
 #if _LIBCPP_DEBUG_LEVEL >= 2
     __get_db()->__insert_c(this);
 #endif