diff --git a/rmpv/src/lib.rs b/rmpv/src/lib.rs
index cb2ae98..1bc61f8 100644
--- a/rmpv/src/lib.rs
+++ b/rmpv/src/lib.rs
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ impl<'a> Utf8StringRef<'a> {
     /// Returns the string reference if the string is valid UTF-8, or else `None`.
     #[inline]
     #[must_use]
-    pub fn as_str(&self) -> Option<&str> {
+    pub fn as_str(&self) -> Option<&'a str> {
         self.s.ok()
     }
 
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ impl<'a> Utf8StringRef<'a> {
     /// Returns a byte slice of this string contents no matter whether it's valid or not UTF-8.
     #[inline]
     #[must_use]
-    pub const fn as_bytes(&self) -> &[u8] {
+    pub const fn as_bytes(&self) -> &'a [u8] {
         match self.s {
             Ok(s) => s.as_bytes(),
             Err(ref err) => err.0,