diff --git a/sstables/key.cc b/sstables/key.cc
index a5305929ec..b12d6cf23f 100644
--- a/sstables/key.cc
+++ b/sstables/key.cc
@@ -139,4 +139,8 @@ std::vector<bytes> key::explode(const schema& s) const {
 
     return explode_composite(bytes_view(_bytes));
 }
+
+std::vector<bytes> composite_view::explode() const {
+    return explode_composite(_bytes);
+}
 }
diff --git a/sstables/key.hh b/sstables/key.hh
index 1c00cfd6dd..97d19e5b1f 100644
--- a/sstables/key.hh
+++ b/sstables/key.hh
@@ -45,4 +45,14 @@ public:
     }
 };
 
+class composite_view {
+    bytes_view _bytes;
+public:
+    composite_view(bytes_view b) : _bytes(b) {}
+
+    std::vector<bytes> explode() const;
+    explicit operator bytes_view() const {
+        return _bytes;
+    }
+};
 }