diff --git a/openssl/src/crypto.rs b/openssl/src/crypto.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0a121fa0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openssl/src/crypto.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+use ffi;
+use libc::{c_int, c_void};
+use std::fmt;
+use std::slice;
+use std::ops::Deref;
+use std::str;
+
+pub struct CryptoString(&'static str);
+
+impl<'s> Drop for CryptoString {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        unsafe {
+            CRYPTO_free!(self.0.as_ptr() as *mut c_void);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Deref for CryptoString {
+    type Target = str;
+
+    fn deref(&self) -> &str {
+        self.0
+    }
+}
+
+impl CryptoString {
+    pub unsafe fn from_raw_parts(buf: *const u8, len: usize) -> CryptoString {
+        let slice = slice::from_raw_parts(buf, len);
+        CryptoString(str::from_utf8_unchecked(slice))
+    }
+}
+
+impl fmt::Display for CryptoString {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter) -> fmt::Result {
+        fmt::Display::fmt(self.0, f)
+    }
+}
+
+impl fmt::Debug for CryptoString {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter) -> fmt::Result {
+        fmt::Debug::fmt(self.0, f)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/openssl/src/lib.rs b/openssl/src/lib.rs
index 9ed02207..b8ab3da1 100644
--- a/openssl/src/lib.rs
+++ b/openssl/src/lib.rs
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ mod opaque;
 mod util;
 pub mod asn1;
 pub mod bn;
+pub mod crypto;
 pub mod dh;
 pub mod dsa;
 pub mod error;
diff --git a/openssl/src/x509/mod.rs b/openssl/src/x509/mod.rs
index af5c722a..b92462d4 100644
--- a/openssl/src/x509/mod.rs
+++ b/openssl/src/x509/mod.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ use {cvt, cvt_p};
 use asn1::Asn1Time;
 use asn1::Asn1TimeRef;
 use bio::{MemBio, MemBioSlice};
+use crypto::CryptoString;
 use hash::MessageDigest;
 use pkey::PKey;
 use rand::rand_bytes;
@@ -46,43 +47,6 @@ use self::extension::{ExtensionType, Extension};
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests;
 
-pub struct SslString(&'static str);
-
-impl<'s> Drop for SslString {
-    fn drop(&mut self) {
-        unsafe {
-            CRYPTO_free!(self.0.as_ptr() as *mut c_void);
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-impl Deref for SslString {
-    type Target = str;
-
-    fn deref(&self) -> &str {
-        self.0
-    }
-}
-
-impl SslString {
-    unsafe fn new(buf: *const u8, len: c_int) -> SslString {
-        let slice = slice::from_raw_parts(buf, len as usize);
-        SslString(str::from_utf8_unchecked(slice))
-    }
-}
-
-impl fmt::Display for SslString {
-    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter) -> fmt::Result {
-        fmt::Display::fmt(self.0, f)
-    }
-}
-
-impl fmt::Debug for SslString {
-    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter) -> fmt::Result {
-        fmt::Debug::fmt(self.0, f)
-    }
-}
-
 #[derive(Copy, Clone)]
 #[repr(i32)]
 pub enum X509FileType {
@@ -551,7 +515,7 @@ impl X509NameRef {
         self as *const _ as *mut _
     }
 
-    pub fn text_by_nid(&self, nid: Nid) -> Option<SslString> {
+    pub fn text_by_nid(&self, nid: Nid) -> Option<CryptoString> {
         unsafe {
             let loc = ffi::X509_NAME_get_index_by_NID(self.as_ptr(), nid.as_raw(), -1);
             if loc == -1 {
@@ -577,7 +541,7 @@ impl X509NameRef {
 
             assert!(!str_from_asn1.is_null());
 
-            Some(SslString::new(str_from_asn1, len))
+            Some(CryptoString::from_raw_parts(str_from_asn1, len as usize))
         }
     }
 }