diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 505a47c..a87989f 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ impl <'a> LuaPattern<'a> {
         LuaPattern::from_bytes_try(bytes).expect("bad pattern")
     }
 
-    pub fn as_string(self) -> String {
+    pub fn as_string(&self) -> String {
         String::from_utf8_lossy(self.patt).to_string()
     }