diff --git a/examples/claims.rs b/examples/claims.rs
index 850b828..d24c056 100644
--- a/examples/claims.rs
+++ b/examples/claims.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ fn main() {
         company: "ACME".to_owned()
     };
     let key = "secret";
-    let token = match encode(Header::default(), &my_claims, key.as_ref()) {
+    let token = match encode(&Header::default(), &my_claims, key.as_ref()) {
         Ok(t) => t,
         Err(_) => panic!() // in practice you would return the error
     };
diff --git a/examples/custom_header.rs b/examples/custom_header.rs
index b09def8..c93bccc 100644
--- a/examples/custom_header.rs
+++ b/examples/custom_header.rs
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ fn main() {
     header.kid = Some("signing_key".to_owned());
     header.alg = Algorithm::HS512;
 
-    let token = match encode(header, &my_claims, key.as_ref()) {
+    let token = match encode(&header, &my_claims, key.as_ref()) {
         Ok(t) => t,
         Err(_) => panic!() // in practice you would return the error
     };
diff --git a/src/crypto.rs b/src/crypto.rs
index 7161c69..f93e653 100644
--- a/src/crypto.rs
+++ b/src/crypto.rs
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ pub fn sign(signing_input: &str, key: &[u8], algorithm: Algorithm) -> Result<Str
 }
 
 /// Encode the claims passed and sign the payload using the algorithm from the header and the key
-pub fn encode<T: Serialize>(header: Header, claims: &T, key: &[u8]) -> Result<String> {
+pub fn encode<T: Serialize>(header: &Header, claims: &T, key: &[u8]) -> Result<String> {
     let encoded_header = to_jwt_part(&header)?;
     let encoded_claims = to_jwt_part(&claims)?;
     let signing_input = [encoded_header.as_ref(), encoded_claims.as_ref()].join(".");
diff --git a/src/serialization.rs b/src/serialization.rs
index fb22d23..be4d736 100644
--- a/src/serialization.rs
+++ b/src/serialization.rs
@@ -15,13 +15,13 @@ pub struct TokenData<T: Deserialize> {
     pub claims: T
 }
 
-/// Serializes and encodes to base64
+/// Serializes to JSON and encodes to base64
 pub fn to_jwt_part<T: Serialize>(input: &T) -> Result<String> {
     let encoded = serde_json::to_string(input)?;
     Ok(base64::encode_config(encoded.as_bytes(), base64::URL_SAFE_NO_PAD))
 }
 
-/// Decodes from base64 and deserializes
+/// Decodes from base64 and deserializes from JSON
 pub fn from_jwt_part<B: AsRef<str>, T: Deserialize>(encoded: B) -> Result<T> {
     let decoded = base64::decode_config(encoded.as_ref(), base64::URL_SAFE_NO_PAD)?;
     let s = String::from_utf8(decoded)?;
diff --git a/tests/lib.rs b/tests/lib.rs
index 091ee46..abca7f1 100644
--- a/tests/lib.rs
+++ b/tests/lib.rs
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ fn encode_with_custom_header() {
     };
     let mut header = Header::default();
     header.kid = Some("kid".to_string());
-    let token = encode(header, &my_claims, "secret".as_ref()).unwrap();
+    let token = encode(&header, &my_claims, "secret".as_ref()).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());
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ fn round_trip_claim() {
         sub: "b@b.com".to_string(),
         company: "ACME".to_string()
     };
-    let token = encode(Header::default(), &my_claims, "secret".as_ref()).unwrap();
+    let token = encode(&Header::default(), &my_claims, "secret".as_ref()).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());
diff --git a/tests/rsa.rs b/tests/rsa.rs
index ce8fa07..6d678ce 100644
--- a/tests/rsa.rs
+++ b/tests/rsa.rs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ fn round_trip_claim() {
         sub: "b@b.com".to_string(),
         company: "ACME".to_string()
     };
-    let token = encode(Header::new(Algorithm::RS256), &my_claims, include_bytes!("private_rsa_key.der")).unwrap();
+    let token = encode(&Header::new(Algorithm::RS256), &my_claims, include_bytes!("private_rsa_key.der")).unwrap();
     let token_data = decode::<Claims>(&token, include_bytes!("public_rsa_key.der"), Algorithm::RS256).unwrap();
     assert_eq!(my_claims, token_data.claims);
     assert!(token_data.header.kid.is_none());