diff --git a/examples/6_serialization.jl b/examples/6_serialization.jl
index ddf653f..b05de59 100644
--- a/examples/6_serialization.jl
+++ b/examples/6_serialization.jl
@@ -90,8 +90,8 @@ function example_serialization()
     encrypt!(encrypted2, plain2, encryptor)
 
     sym_encryptor = Encryptor(context, sk)
-    sym_encrypted1 = encrypt_symmetric!(plain1, sym_encryptor)
-    sym_encrypted2 = encrypt_symmetric!(plain2, sym_encryptor)
+    sym_encrypted1 = encrypt_symmetric(plain1, sym_encryptor)
+    sym_encrypted2 = encrypt_symmetric(plain2, sym_encryptor)
 
     resize!(data_stream2, save_size(sym_encrypted1))
     size_sym_encrypted1 = save!(data_stream2, sym_encrypted1)
diff --git a/src/SEAL.jl b/src/SEAL.jl
index 366917a..bff0b56 100644
--- a/src/SEAL.jl
+++ b/src/SEAL.jl
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ include("ciphertext.jl")
 export Ciphertext, scale, scale!, parms_id, size, length, save_size, save!, load!
 
 include("encryptor.jl")
-export Encryptor, encrypt!, encrypt_symmetric!
+export Encryptor, encrypt!, encrypt_symmetric, encrypt_symmetric!
 
 include("evaluator.jl")
 export Evaluator, square!, square_inplace!, relinearize!, relinearize_inplace!, rescale_to_next!,
diff --git a/src/encryptor.jl b/src/encryptor.jl
index 891dbcc..207ba23 100644
--- a/src/encryptor.jl
+++ b/src/encryptor.jl
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ function encrypt_symmetric!(destination::Ciphertext, plain::Plaintext, encryptor
   @check_return_value retval
   return destination
 end
-function encrypt_symmetric!(plain::Plaintext, encryptor::Encryptor)
+function encrypt_symmetric(plain::Plaintext, encryptor::Encryptor)
   destination = Ciphertext()
   retval = ccall((:Encryptor_EncryptSymmetric, libsealc), Clong,
                  (Ptr{Cvoid}, Ptr{Cvoid}, UInt8, Ptr{Cvoid}, Ptr{Cvoid}),
diff --git a/test/test_6_serialization.jl b/test/test_6_serialization.jl
index f924f22..aff034c 100644
--- a/test/test_6_serialization.jl
+++ b/test/test_6_serialization.jl
@@ -100,12 +100,14 @@
     end
     sym_encryptor = Encryptor(context, sk)
 
-    @testset "encrypt_symmetric!" begin
-      @test encrypt_symmetric!(plain1, sym_encryptor) isa Ciphertext
-      @test encrypt_symmetric!(plain2, sym_encryptor) isa Ciphertext
-    end
-    sym_encrypted1 = encrypt_symmetric!(plain1, sym_encryptor)
-    sym_encrypted2 = encrypt_symmetric!(plain2, sym_encryptor)
+    @testset "encrypt_symmetric, encrypt_symmetric!" begin
+      @test encrypt_symmetric(plain1, sym_encryptor) isa Ciphertext
+      @test encrypt_symmetric(plain2, sym_encryptor) isa Ciphertext
+      c = Ciphertext()
+      @test encrypt_symmetric!(c, plain2, sym_encryptor)  == c
+    end
+    sym_encrypted1 = encrypt_symmetric(plain1, sym_encryptor)
+    sym_encrypted2 = encrypt_symmetric(plain2, sym_encryptor)
 
     @testset "save! Ciphertext" begin
       @test save_size(sym_encrypted1) == 131298