diff --git a/src/libcollections/borrow.rs b/src/libcollections/borrow.rs
index 2fe769b73f5..4503ad14e92 100644
--- a/src/libcollections/borrow.rs
+++ b/src/libcollections/borrow.rs
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ fn into_cow(self) -> Cow<'a, B> {
 }
 
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-impl<'a, T: Clone> AsRef<T> for Cow<'a, T> {
+impl<'a, T: ?Sized + ToOwned> AsRef<T> for Cow<'a, T> {
     fn as_ref(&self) -> &T {
         self
     }