diff --git a/crates/tor-netdoc/src/doc/netstatus/rs.rs b/crates/tor-netdoc/src/doc/netstatus/rs.rs
index 0f9dd22de..457198d7e 100644
--- a/crates/tor-netdoc/src/doc/netstatus/rs.rs
+++ b/crates/tor-netdoc/src/doc/netstatus/rs.rs
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ impl std::str::FromStr for Version {
             }
         }
 
-        Ok(Version::Other(OTHER_VERSION_CACHE.intern(s)))
+        Ok(Version::Other(OTHER_VERSION_CACHE.intern_ref(s)))
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/tor-netdoc/src/util/intern.rs b/crates/tor-netdoc/src/util/intern.rs
index fcfacc3ee..3e662def3 100644
--- a/crates/tor-netdoc/src/util/intern.rs
+++ b/crates/tor-netdoc/src/util/intern.rs
@@ -55,9 +55,17 @@ impl<T: Eq + Hash> InternCache<T> {
     }
 }
 
-impl InternCache<str> {
-    /// Intern a string slice into this cache.
-    pub(crate) fn intern(&self, value: &str) -> Arc<str> {
+impl<T: Hash + Eq + ?Sized> InternCache<T> {
+    /// Intern an object by reference.
+    ///
+    /// Works with unsized types, but requires that the reference implements
+    /// `Into<Arc<T>>`.
+    pub(crate) fn intern_ref<'a, V>(&self, value: &'a V) -> Arc<T>
+    where
+        V: Hash + Eq + ?Sized,
+        &'a V: Into<Arc<T>>,
+        T: std::borrow::Borrow<V>,
+    {
         let mut cache = self.cache();
         if let Some(arc) = cache.get(value) {
             arc