diff --git a/src/field.rs b/src/field.rs
index 865d633..e0e4767 100644
--- a/src/field.rs
+++ b/src/field.rs
@@ -803,7 +803,7 @@ impl FieldElement {
 mod test {
     use field::*;
     use test::Bencher;
-    use util::conditional_negate;
+    use util::CTNegateable;
 
     #[bench]
     fn bench_fieldelement_a_mul_a(b: &mut Bencher) {
@@ -939,11 +939,11 @@ mod test {
         let       one = FieldElement([ 1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]);
         let minus_one = FieldElement([-1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]);
         let mut x = one;
-        conditional_negate(&mut x,1u8);
+        x.conditional_negate(1u8);
         assert_eq!(x, minus_one);
-        conditional_negate(&mut x,0u8);
+        x.conditional_negate(0u8);
         assert_eq!(x, minus_one);
-        conditional_negate(&mut x,1u8);
+        x.conditional_negate(1u8);
         assert_eq!(x, one);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/util.rs b/src/util.rs
index 86d91aa..2d08f79 100644
--- a/src/util.rs
+++ b/src/util.rs
@@ -21,13 +21,24 @@ pub trait CTAssignable {
     fn conditional_assign(&mut self, other: &Self, choice: u8);
 }
 
-/// Conditionally negate an element if `choice == 1u8`.
-pub fn conditional_negate<T>(x: &mut T, choice: u8)
+/// Trait for items which can be conditionally negated in constant time.
+///
+/// Note: it is not necessary to implement this trait, as a generic
+/// implementation is provided.
+pub trait CTNegateable
+{
+    /// Conditionally negate an element if `choice == 1u8`.
+    fn conditional_negate(&mut self, choice: u8);
+}
+
+impl<T> CTNegateable for T
     where T: CTAssignable, for<'a> &'a T: Neg<Output=T>
 {
-    // Need to cast to discard mutability
-    let x_neg = -(x as &T);
-    x.conditional_assign(&x_neg, choice);
+    fn conditional_negate(&mut self, choice: u8) {
+        // Need to cast to eliminate mutability
+        let self_neg: T = -(self as &T);
+        self.conditional_assign(&self_neg, choice);
+    }
 }
 
 /// Check equality of two bytes in constant time.