diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index c950de3..c6828c9 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ impl<T> RingBuffer<T> {
     /// RingBuffer::reset(&mut p, &mut c);
     ///
     /// // The full capacity is now available for writing:
-    /// if let Ok(mut chunk) = p.write_chunk(p.buffer.capacity()) {
+    /// if let Ok(mut chunk) = p.write_chunk(p.buffer().capacity()) {
     ///     let (first, second) = chunk.as_mut_slices();
     ///     // The first slice is now guaranteed to span the whole buffer:
     ///     first[0] = 20;
@@ -470,7 +470,7 @@ impl<T> PartialEq for RingBuffer<T> {
     /// use rtrb::RingBuffer;
     ///
     /// let (p, c) = RingBuffer::<f32>::new(1000).split();
-    /// assert_eq!(p.buffer, c.buffer);
+    /// assert_eq!(p.buffer(), c.buffer());
     ///
     /// let rb1 = RingBuffer::<f32>::new(1000);
     /// let rb2 = RingBuffer::<f32>::new(1000);
@@ -502,8 +502,8 @@ impl<T> Eq for RingBuffer<T> {}
 /// ```
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct Producer<T> {
-    /// A read-only reference to the ring buffer.
-    pub buffer: Arc<RingBuffer<T>>,
+    /// A reference to the ring buffer.
+    buffer: Arc<RingBuffer<T>>,
 
     /// A copy of `buffer.head` for quick access.
     ///
@@ -663,6 +663,11 @@ impl<T> Producer<T> {
         self.next_tail().is_none()
     }
 
+    /// Returns a read-only reference to the ring buffer.
+    pub fn buffer(&self) -> &RingBuffer<T> {
+        &self.buffer
+    }
+
     /// Get the tail position for writing the next slot, if available.
     ///
     /// This is a strict subset of the functionality implemented in write_chunk_uninit().
@@ -703,8 +708,8 @@ impl<T> Producer<T> {
 /// ```
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub struct Consumer<T> {
-    /// A read-only reference to the ring buffer.
-    pub buffer: Arc<RingBuffer<T>>,
+    /// A reference to the ring buffer.
+    buffer: Arc<RingBuffer<T>>,
 
     /// A copy of `buffer.head` for quick access.
     ///
@@ -912,6 +917,11 @@ impl<T> Consumer<T> {
         self.next_head().is_none()
     }
 
+    /// Returns a read-only reference to the ring buffer.
+    pub fn buffer(&self) -> &RingBuffer<T> {
+        &self.buffer
+    }
+
     /// Get the head position for reading the next slot, if available.
     ///
     /// This is a strict subset of the functionality implemented in read_chunk().
diff --git a/tests/push_and_pop.rs b/tests/push_and_pop.rs
index 505fcb2..7fdb205 100644
--- a/tests/push_and_pop.rs
+++ b/tests/push_and_pop.rs
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ fn smoke() {
 fn capacity() {
     for i in 1..10 {
         let (p, c) = RingBuffer::<i32>::new(i).split();
-        assert_eq!(p.buffer.capacity(), i);
-        assert_eq!(c.buffer.capacity(), i);
+        assert_eq!(p.buffer().capacity(), i);
+        assert_eq!(c.buffer().capacity(), i);
     }
 }
 
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ fn zero_sized_type() {
     assert_eq!(std::mem::size_of::<ZeroSized>(), 0);
 
     let (mut p, mut c) = RingBuffer::new(1).split();
-    assert_eq!(p.buffer.capacity(), 1);
+    assert_eq!(p.buffer().capacity(), 1);
     assert_eq!(p.slots(), 1);
     assert_eq!(c.slots(), 0);
     assert!(p.push(ZeroSized).is_ok());