diff --git a/imag-counter/src/create.rs b/imag-counter/src/create.rs
index 96b58b54..dab5e972 100644
--- a/imag-counter/src/create.rs
+++ b/imag-counter/src/create.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ pub fn create(rt: &Runtime) {
                 .value_of("unit")
                 .unwrap_or("unit");
 
-            match Counter::new(rt.store(), String::from(name), init, CounterUnit(String::from(unit))) {
+            match Counter::new(rt.store(), String::from(name), init, CounterUnit::new(unit)) {
                 Err(e) => {
                     warn!("Could not create Counter '{}' with initial value '{} {}'", name, init, unit);
                     trace_error_exit(&e, 1);
diff --git a/libimagcounter/src/counter.rs b/libimagcounter/src/counter.rs
index f0ccc217..baba38a4 100644
--- a/libimagcounter/src/counter.rs
+++ b/libimagcounter/src/counter.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ use error::CounterErrorKind as CEK;
 pub type CounterName = String;
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Eq, PartialEq, Ord, PartialOrd)]
-pub struct CounterUnit(pub String);
+pub struct CounterUnit(String);
 
 impl Display for CounterUnit {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter) -> fmt::Result {
@@ -29,6 +29,12 @@ impl Display for CounterUnit {
     }
 }
 
+impl CounterUnit {
+    pub fn new<S: Into<String>>(unit: S) -> CounterUnit {
+        CounterUnit(unit.into())
+    }
+}
+
 pub struct Counter<'a> {
     fle: FileLockEntry<'a>,
 }