diff --git a/crates/chronogrid_net/src/identity.rs b/crates/chronogrid_net/src/identity.rs
index ffcd68f..675778e 100644
--- a/crates/chronogrid_net/src/identity.rs
+++ b/crates/chronogrid_net/src/identity.rs
@@ -86,12 +86,12 @@ pub struct NodeIdentity {
 impl NodeIdentity {
     /// Create a `NodeIdentity` from an existing `SigningKey`.
     fn from_signing_key(signing_key: SigningKey) -> Self {
-        let node_id = NodeId::from_verifying_key(signing_key.verifying_key());
+        let node_id = NodeId::from_verifying_key(&signing_key.verifying_key());
         NodeIdentity { signing_key, node_id }
     }
 
     /// Return the Ed25519 verifying (public) key.
-    pub fn verifying_key(&self) -> &VerifyingKey {
+    pub fn verifying_key(&self) -> VerifyingKey {
         self.signing_key.verifying_key()
     }
 
@@ -241,8 +241,8 @@ mod tests {
     #[test]
     fn test_node_id_is_deterministic_from_public_key() {
         let identity = generate_node_identity();
-        let node_id_a = NodeId::from_verifying_key(identity.verifying_key());
-        let node_id_b = NodeId::from_verifying_key(identity.verifying_key());
+        let node_id_a = NodeId::from_verifying_key(&identity.verifying_key());
+        let node_id_b = NodeId::from_verifying_key(&identity.verifying_key());
         assert_eq!(node_id_a, node_id_b);
     }