diff --git a/src/syndicate/sturdy.nim b/src/syndicate/capabilities.nim
similarity index 73%
rename from src/syndicate/sturdy.nim
rename to src/syndicate/capabilities.nim
index 6138284..7d7b644 100644
--- a/src/syndicate/sturdy.nim
+++ b/src/syndicate/capabilities.nim
@@ -2,11 +2,19 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Unlicense
 
 import preserves
-import ../syndicate/protocols/schemas/sturdy, ./private/hmacs
+import ./protocols/sturdy, ./private/hmacs
 
-proc mint*(key: openarray[byte]; oid: Preserve): SturdyRef =
+from ./actors import Ref
+
+type SturdyRef* = sturdy.SturdyRef[Ref]
+
+proc mint*(key: openarray[byte]; oid: Preserve[Ref]): SturdyRef =
   SturdyRef(oid: oid, sig: hmacSha256(key, encode(oid), key.len))
 
+proc mint*[T](key: openarray[byte]; oid: T): SturdyRef =
+  let oidPr = toPreserve(oid, Ref)
+  SturdyRef(oid: oidPr, sig: hmacSha256(key, encode(oidPr), key.len))
+
 proc attenuate*(r: SturdyRef; caveats: Attenuation): SturdyRef =
   result = SturdyRef(
     oid: r.oid,