diff --git a/src/libstd/cell.rs b/src/libstd/cell.rs
index 02cae69eca5..3d8f63c26cd 100644
--- a/src/libstd/cell.rs
+++ b/src/libstd/cell.rs
@@ -39,6 +39,13 @@ impl<T> Cell<T> {
     fn is_empty() -> bool {
         self.value.is_none()
     }
+
+    // Calls a closure with a reference to the value.
+    fn with_ref(f: fn(v: &T)) {
+        let val = move self.take();
+        f(&val);
+        self.put_back(move val);
+    }
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -66,4 +73,4 @@ fn test_take_empty() {
 fn test_put_back_non_empty() {
     let value_cell = Cell(~10);
     value_cell.put_back(~20);
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}