diff --git a/openssl/src/asn1.rs b/openssl/src/asn1.rs
index 91f920a3..7e7cb3df 100644
--- a/openssl/src/asn1.rs
+++ b/openssl/src/asn1.rs
@@ -2,19 +2,48 @@ use libc::c_long;
 use std::{ptr, fmt};
 use std::marker::PhantomData;
 use std::ops::Deref;
+
 use ffi;
+use opaque::Opaque;
 
 use {cvt, cvt_p};
 use bio::MemBio;
 use error::ErrorStack;
 
+/// A borrowed Asn1Time
+pub struct Asn1TimeRef(Opaque);
+
+impl Asn1TimeRef {
+    /// Creates a new `Asn1TimeRef` wrapping the provided handle.
+    pub unsafe fn from_ptr<'a>(handle: *mut ffi::ASN1_TIME) -> &'a Asn1TimeRef {
+        &*(handle as *mut _)
+    }
+
+    /// Returns the raw handle
+    pub fn as_ptr(&self) -> *mut ffi::ASN1_TIME {
+        self as *const _ as *mut _
+    }
+}
+
+impl fmt::Display for Asn1TimeRef {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter) -> fmt::Result {
+        let mem_bio = try!(MemBio::new());
+        let as_str = unsafe {
+            try!(cvt(ffi::ASN1_TIME_print(mem_bio.as_ptr(), self.as_ptr())));
+            String::from_utf8_unchecked(mem_bio.get_buf().to_owned())
+        };
+        write!(f, "{}", as_str)
+    }
+}
+
+
 /// Corresponds to the ASN.1 structure Time defined in RFC5280
-pub struct Asn1Time(Asn1TimeRef<'static>);
+pub struct Asn1Time(*mut ffi::ASN1_TIME);
 
 impl Asn1Time {
     /// Wraps existing ASN1_TIME and takes ownership
     pub unsafe fn from_ptr(handle: *mut ffi::ASN1_TIME) -> Asn1Time {
-        Asn1Time(Asn1TimeRef::from_ptr(handle))
+        Asn1Time(handle)
     }
 
     fn from_period(period: c_long) -> Result<Asn1Time, ErrorStack> {
@@ -33,36 +62,12 @@ impl Asn1Time {
 }
 
 impl Deref for Asn1Time {
-    type Target = Asn1TimeRef<'static>;
+    type Target = Asn1TimeRef;
 
-    fn deref(&self) -> &Asn1TimeRef<'static> {
-        &self.0
-    }
-}
-
-/// A borrowed Asn1Time
-pub struct Asn1TimeRef<'a>(*mut ffi::ASN1_TIME, PhantomData<&'a ()>);
-
-impl<'a> Asn1TimeRef<'a> {
-    /// Creates a new `Asn1TimeRef` wrapping the provided handle.
-    pub unsafe fn from_ptr(handle: *mut ffi::ASN1_TIME) -> Asn1TimeRef<'a> {
-        Asn1TimeRef(handle, PhantomData)
-    }
-
-    /// Returns the raw handle
-    pub fn as_ptr(&self) -> *mut ffi::ASN1_TIME {
-        self.0
-    }
-}
-
-impl<'a> fmt::Display for Asn1TimeRef<'a> {
-    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter) -> fmt::Result {
-        let mem_bio = try!(MemBio::new());
-        let as_str = unsafe {
-            try!(cvt(ffi::ASN1_TIME_print(mem_bio.as_ptr(), self.0)));
-            String::from_utf8_unchecked(mem_bio.get_buf().to_owned())
-        };
-        write!(f, "{}", as_str)
+    fn deref(&self) -> &Asn1TimeRef {
+        unsafe {
+            Asn1TimeRef::from_ptr(self.0)
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/openssl/src/x509/mod.rs b/openssl/src/x509/mod.rs
index 99710fc4..9c91bfc1 100644
--- a/openssl/src/x509/mod.rs
+++ b/openssl/src/x509/mod.rs
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ impl X509Ref {
     }
 
     /// Returns certificate Not After validity period.
-    pub fn not_after<'a>(&'a self) -> Asn1TimeRef<'a> {
+    pub fn not_after<'a>(&'a self) -> &'a Asn1TimeRef {
         unsafe {
             let date = compat::X509_get_notAfter(self.as_ptr());
             assert!(!date.is_null());
@@ -455,7 +455,7 @@ impl X509Ref {
     }
 
     /// Returns certificate Not Before validity period.
-    pub fn not_before<'a>(&'a self) -> Asn1TimeRef<'a> {
+    pub fn not_before<'a>(&'a self) -> &'a Asn1TimeRef {
         unsafe {
             let date = compat::X509_get_notBefore(self.as_ptr());
             assert!(!date.is_null());