diff --git a/rcgen/examples/simple.rs b/rcgen/examples/simple.rs
index fea09381..63a0ec70 100644
--- a/rcgen/examples/simple.rs
+++ b/rcgen/examples/simple.rs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
 	fs::write("certs/cert.der", der_serialized)?;
 	fs::write(
 		"certs/key.pem",
-		&cert.serialize_private_key_pem().as_bytes(),
+		cert.serialize_private_key_pem().as_bytes(),
 	)?;
 	fs::write("certs/key.der", &cert.serialize_private_key_der())?;
 	Ok(())