diff --git a/examples/src/spooning.rs b/examples/src/spooning.rs
index ce2e5ae8..9bf71135 100644
--- a/examples/src/spooning.rs
+++ b/examples/src/spooning.rs
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ async fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     worker
         .patch_state(
             sandbox_contract.id(),
-            "STATE".to_string(),
+            "STATE".into(),
             status_msg.try_to_vec()?,
         )
         .await?;
diff --git a/workspaces/src/network/mod.rs b/workspaces/src/network/mod.rs
index e59708ff..985ec0f0 100644
--- a/workspaces/src/network/mod.rs
+++ b/workspaces/src/network/mod.rs
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ pub trait StatePatcher {
     async fn patch_state(
         &self,
         contract_id: &AccountId,
-        key: String,
+        key: Vec<u8>,
         value: Vec<u8>,
     ) -> anyhow::Result<()>;
 
@@ -120,12 +120,12 @@ where
     async fn patch_state(
         &self,
         contract_id: &AccountId,
-        key: String,
+        key: Vec<u8>,
         value: Vec<u8>,
     ) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         let state = StateRecord::Data {
             account_id: contract_id.to_owned(),
-            data_key: key.into(),
+            data_key: key,
             value,
         };
         let records = vec![state];
diff --git a/workspaces/src/worker/impls.rs b/workspaces/src/worker/impls.rs
index 41b65e50..50167bd8 100644
--- a/workspaces/src/worker/impls.rs
+++ b/workspaces/src/worker/impls.rs
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ where
     async fn patch_state(
         &self,
         contract_id: &AccountId,
-        key: String,
+        key: Vec<u8>,
         value: Vec<u8>,
     ) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         self.workspace.patch_state(contract_id, key, value).await
diff --git a/workspaces/tests/patch_state.rs b/workspaces/tests/patch_state.rs
index ab58a136..c4376289 100644
--- a/workspaces/tests/patch_state.rs
+++ b/workspaces/tests/patch_state.rs
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ async fn test_patch_state() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     });
 
     worker
-        .patch_state(&contract_id, "STATE".to_string(), status_msg.try_to_vec()?)
+        .patch_state(&contract_id, "STATE".into(), status_msg.try_to_vec()?)
         .await?;
 
     let status: String = worker