diff --git a/benches/jwt.rs b/benches/jwt.rs
index ad0a2ab..1de9124 100644
--- a/benches/jwt.rs
+++ b/benches/jwt.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ fn bench_encode(b: &mut test::Bencher) {
         company: "ACME".to_owned()
     };
 
-    b.iter(|| encode(&claim, "secret", Header::default()));
+    b.iter(|| encode(&claim, "secret".as_ref(), Header::default()));
 }
 
 #[bench]
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index d030f6e..34f94ae 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ fn verify(signature: &str, data: &str, secret: &[u8], algorithm: Algorithm) -> b
 }
 
 /// Encode the claims passed and sign the payload using the algorithm and the secret
-pub fn encode<T: Part, B: AsRef<[u8]>>(claims: &T, secret: B, header: Header) -> Result<String, Error> {
+pub fn encode<T: Part>(claims: &T, secret: &[u8], header: Header) -> Result<String, Error> {
     let encoded_header = try!(header.to_base64());
     let encoded_claims = try!(claims.to_base64());
     // seems to be a tiny bit faster than format!("{}.{}", x, y)
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ mod tests {
         };
         let mut header = Header::default();
         header.kid = Some("kid".to_owned());
-        let token = encode(&my_claims, "secret", header).unwrap();
+        let token = encode(&my_claims, "secret".as_ref(), header).unwrap();
         let token_data = decode::<Claims>(&token, "secret".as_ref(), Algorithm::HS256).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(my_claims, token_data.claims);
         assert_eq!("kid", token_data.header.kid.unwrap());
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ mod tests {
             sub: "b@b.com".to_owned(),
             company: "ACME".to_owned()
         };
-        let token = encode(&my_claims, "secret", Header::default()).unwrap();
+        let token = encode(&my_claims, "secret".as_ref(), Header::default()).unwrap();
         let token_data = decode::<Claims>(&token, "secret".as_ref(), Algorithm::HS256).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(my_claims, token_data.claims);
         assert!(token_data.header.kid.is_none());