diff --git a/oqs/src/macros.rs b/oqs/src/macros.rs
index fce3be7c2c..baeb9c45cf 100644
--- a/oqs/src/macros.rs
+++ b/oqs/src/macros.rs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ macro_rules! newtype_buffer {
 
         impl<'a> $name_ref<'a> {
             /// Construct a new container around this reference version
-            fn new(bytes: &'a [u8]) -> $name_ref<'a> {
+            pub fn new(bytes: &'a [u8]) -> $name_ref<'a> {
                 $name_ref { bytes }
             }