diff --git a/src/libutil/include/nix/util/ref.hh b/src/libutil/include/nix/util/ref.hh
index 7cf5ef25e..7ba5349a6 100644
--- a/src/libutil/include/nix/util/ref.hh
+++ b/src/libutil/include/nix/util/ref.hh
@@ -17,6 +17,12 @@ private:
 
     std::shared_ptr<T> p;
 
+    void assertNonNull()
+    {
+        if (!p)
+            throw std::invalid_argument("null pointer cast to ref");
+    }
+
 public:
 
     using element_type = T;
@@ -24,15 +30,19 @@ public:
     explicit ref(const std::shared_ptr<T> & p)
         : p(p)
     {
-        if (!p)
-            throw std::invalid_argument("null pointer cast to ref");
+        assertNonNull();
+    }
+
+    explicit ref(std::shared_ptr<T> && p)
+        : p(std::move(p))
+    {
+        assertNonNull();
     }
 
     explicit ref(T * p)
         : p(p)
     {
-        if (!p)
-            throw std::invalid_argument("null pointer cast to ref");
+        assertNonNull();
     }
 
     T * operator->() const
@@ -45,14 +55,22 @@ public:
         return *p;
     }
 
-    operator std::shared_ptr<T>() const
+    std::shared_ptr<T> get_ptr() const &
     {
         return p;
     }
 
-    std::shared_ptr<T> get_ptr() const
+    std::shared_ptr<T> get_ptr() &&
     {
-        return p;
+        return std::move(p);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Convenience to avoid explicit `get_ptr()` call in some cases.
+     */
+    operator std::shared_ptr<T>(this auto && self)
+    {
+        return std::forward<decltype(self)>(self).get_ptr();
     }
 
     template<typename T2>