diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 8c69eab..3783805 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -107,12 +107,11 @@ pub enum Error {
 /// Helper module containing enums representing [Subjects](Subject)
 mod subject {
     use super::ParseError;
-    use std::fmt;
     use nix::unistd::{self, Uid};
+    use std::fmt;
 
     /// Represents a user subject
     #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
-    #[cfg_attr(feature = "serialize", derive(serde::Serialize))]
     pub struct User(pub Uid);
 
     impl User {
@@ -143,6 +142,16 @@ mod subject {
         }
     }
 
+    #[cfg(feature = "serialize")]
+    impl serde::Serialize for User {
+        fn serialize<S>(&self, serializer: S) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error>
+        where
+            S: serde::Serializer,
+        {
+            self.0.as_raw().serialize(serializer)
+        }
+    }
+
     impl<'a> From<&'a User> for String {
         fn from(user: &'a User) -> String {
             format!("user:{}", user.0)