diff --git a/schemars_derive/src/metadata.rs b/schemars_derive/src/metadata.rs
index 88ee2df..4724223 100644
--- a/schemars_derive/src/metadata.rs
+++ b/schemars_derive/src/metadata.rs
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ impl ToTokens for SchemaMetadata<'_> {
 impl<'a> SchemaMetadata<'a> {
     pub fn from_attrs(attrs: &'a Attrs) -> Self {
         SchemaMetadata {
-            title: attrs.title.as_deref().and_then(none_if_empty),
-            description: attrs.description.as_deref().and_then(none_if_empty),
+            title: attrs.title.as_ref().and_then(none_if_empty),
+            description: attrs.description.as_ref().and_then(none_if_empty),
             deprecated: attrs.deprecated,
             ..Default::default()
         }
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ impl<'a> SchemaMetadata<'a> {
     }
 }
 
-fn none_if_empty<'a>(s: &'a str) -> Option<&'a str> {
+fn none_if_empty<'a>(s: &'a String) -> Option<&'a str> {
     if s.is_empty() {
         None
     } else {