diff --git a/src/components/pill.rs b/src/components/pill.rs
index cd7d8b8f..0e1f4f4f 100644
--- a/src/components/pill.rs
+++ b/src/components/pill.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ use gtk::prelude::*;
 use gtk::subclass::prelude::*;
 use gtk::{glib, CompositeTemplate};
 
+use crate::prelude::*;
 use crate::session::{Room, User};
 
 mod imp {
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 9417d707..cb6cbd71 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 mod application;
 #[rustfmt::skip]
 mod config;
+mod prelude;
 
 mod components;
 mod error;
diff --git a/src/prelude.rs b/src/prelude.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e9c522d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/prelude.rs
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+pub use crate::session::UserExt;
diff --git a/src/session/content/message_row.rs b/src/session/content/message_row.rs
index ffe2db39..dfc8d362 100644
--- a/src/session/content/message_row.rs
+++ b/src/session/content/message_row.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ use matrix_sdk::ruma::events::{
 };
 use sourceview::prelude::*;
 
+use crate::prelude::*;
 use crate::session::room::Event;
 
 mod imp {
diff --git a/src/session/mod.rs b/src/session/mod.rs
index 136b3dae..3084f7cd 100644
--- a/src/session/mod.rs
+++ b/src/session/mod.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ use self::content::Content;
 pub use self::room::Room;
 use self::room_list::RoomList;
 use self::sidebar::Sidebar;
-pub use self::user::User;
+pub use self::user::{User, UserExt};
 
 use crate::components::InAppNotification;
 use crate::secret;
diff --git a/src/session/room/room.rs b/src/session/room/room.rs
index ba59fb3e..e8e3ad05 100644
--- a/src/session/room/room.rs
+++ b/src/session/room/room.rs
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ use std::cell::RefCell;
 use std::convert::TryFrom;
 
 use crate::components::{LabelWithWidgets, Pill};
+use crate::prelude::*;
 use crate::session::{
     room::{Event, HighlightFlags, RoomType, Timeline},
     Avatar, Session, User,
diff --git a/src/session/user.rs b/src/session/user.rs
index 389f991b..ab0c87d8 100644
--- a/src/session/user.rs
+++ b/src/session/user.rs
@@ -120,19 +120,21 @@ impl User {
         glib::Object::new(&[("session", session), ("user-id", &user_id.as_str())])
             .expect("Failed to create User")
     }
+}
 
-    pub fn session(&self) -> &Session {
-        let priv_ = imp::User::from_instance(self);
+pub trait UserExt: IsA<User> {
+    fn session(&self) -> &Session {
+        let priv_ = imp::User::from_instance(self.upcast_ref());
         priv_.session.get().unwrap()
     }
 
-    pub fn user_id(&self) -> &UserId {
-        let priv_ = imp::User::from_instance(self);
+    fn user_id(&self) -> &UserId {
+        let priv_ = imp::User::from_instance(self.upcast_ref());
         priv_.user_id.get().unwrap()
     }
 
-    pub fn display_name(&self) -> String {
-        let priv_ = imp::User::from_instance(self);
+    fn display_name(&self) -> String {
+        let priv_ = imp::User::from_instance(self.upcast_ref());
 
         if let Some(display_name) = priv_.display_name.borrow().to_owned() {
             display_name
@@ -141,24 +143,24 @@ impl User {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn set_display_name(&self, display_name: Option<String>) {
-        let priv_ = imp::User::from_instance(self);
+    fn set_display_name(&self, display_name: Option<String>) {
+        let priv_ = imp::User::from_instance(self.upcast_ref());
         priv_.display_name.replace(display_name);
         self.notify("display-name");
     }
 
-    pub fn avatar(&self) -> &Avatar {
-        let priv_ = imp::User::from_instance(self);
+    fn avatar(&self) -> &Avatar {
+        let priv_ = imp::User::from_instance(self.upcast_ref());
         priv_.avatar.get().unwrap()
     }
 
-    pub fn set_avatar_url(&self, url: Option<MxcUri>) {
+    fn set_avatar_url(&self, url: Option<MxcUri>) {
         self.avatar().set_url(url);
     }
 
     /// Update the user based on the the room member state event
-    pub fn update_from_room_member(&self, member: &RoomMember) {
-        let priv_ = imp::User::from_instance(self);
+    fn update_from_room_member(&self, member: &RoomMember) {
+        let priv_ = imp::User::from_instance(self.upcast_ref());
 
         let user_id = priv_.user_id.get().unwrap();
         if member.user_id().as_str() != user_id {
@@ -175,8 +177,8 @@ impl User {
     }
 
     /// Update the user based on the the room member state event
-    pub fn update_from_member_event(&self, event: &SyncStateEvent<MemberEventContent>) {
-        let priv_ = imp::User::from_instance(self);
+    fn update_from_member_event(&self, event: &SyncStateEvent<MemberEventContent>) {
+        let priv_ = imp::User::from_instance(self.upcast_ref());
         let user_id = priv_.user_id.get().unwrap();
         if event.sender.as_str() != user_id {
             return;
@@ -200,12 +202,9 @@ impl User {
     }
 
     /// Update the user based on the the stripped room member state event
-    pub fn update_from_stripped_member_event(
-        &self,
-        event: &StrippedStateEvent<MemberEventContent>,
-    ) {
+    fn update_from_stripped_member_event(&self, event: &StrippedStateEvent<MemberEventContent>) {
         let changed = {
-            let priv_ = imp::User::from_instance(self);
+            let priv_ = imp::User::from_instance(self.upcast_ref());
             let user_id = priv_.user_id.get().unwrap();
             if event.sender.as_str() != user_id {
                 return;
@@ -237,3 +236,15 @@ impl User {
         }
     }
 }
+
+impl<T: IsA<User>> UserExt for T {}
+
+unsafe impl<T: ObjectImpl + 'static> IsSubclassable<T> for User {
+    fn class_init(class: &mut glib::Class<Self>) {
+        <glib::Object as IsSubclassable<T>>::class_init(class.upcast_ref_mut());
+    }
+
+    fn instance_init(instance: &mut glib::subclass::InitializingObject<T>) {
+        <glib::Object as IsSubclassable<T>>::instance_init(instance);
+    }
+}