diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 89c326c..03f3541 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -79,8 +79,8 @@ impl <'a> LuaPattern<'a> {
         LuaPattern::from_bytes_try(bytes).expect("bad pattern")
     }
 
-    pub fn as_str(self) -> &'a str {
-        &'a String::from_utf8_lossy(self.patt)
+    pub fn as_str(self) -> String {
+        String::from_utf8_lossy(self.patt)
     }
 
     /// Match a slice of bytes with a pattern