diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 06ba3c7..08aff6e 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -79,6 +79,10 @@ impl <'a> LuaPattern<'a> {
         LuaPattern::from_bytes_try(bytes).expect("bad pattern")
     }
 
+    pub fn as_str(self) -> &'a str {
+        &String::from_utf8_lossy(self.patt)
+    }
+
     /// Match a slice of bytes with a pattern
     ///
     /// ```