diff --git a/src/checkpoint/dispatch/dispatch.h b/src/checkpoint/dispatch/dispatch.h
index 8470a0e1..91dba3d6 100644
--- a/src/checkpoint/dispatch/dispatch.h
+++ b/src/checkpoint/dispatch/dispatch.h
@@ -188,50 +188,6 @@ struct Standard {
   static SerialByteType* allocate();
 };
 
-/**
- * \struct Prefixed
- *
- * \brief Traversal for polymorphic types prefixed with the vrt::TypeIdx
- */
-struct Prefixed {
-  /**
-   * \brief Traverse a \c target of type \c T recursively with a general \c
-   * TraverserT that gets applied to each element.
-   * Allows to traverse only part of the data.
-   *
-   * \param[in,out] target the target to traverse
-   * \param[in] len the len of the target. If > 1, \c target is an array
-   * \param[in] check_type the flag to control type validation
-   * \param[in] check_mem the flag to control memory validation
-   * \param[in] args the args to pass to the traverser for construction
-   *
-   * \return the traverser after traversal is complete
-   */
-  template <typename T, typename TraverserT, typename... Args>
-  static TraverserT traverse(T& target, SerialSizeType len, bool check_type, bool check_mem, Args&&... args);
-
-  /**
-   * \brief Unpack \c T from packed byte-buffer \c mem
-   *
-   * \param[in] mem bytes holding a serialized \c T
-   * \param[in] check_type the flag to control type validation
-   * \param[in] check_mem the flag to control memory validation
-   * \param[in] args arguments to the unpacker's constructor
-   *
-   * \return a pointer to an unpacked \c T
-   */
-  template <typename T, typename UnpackerT, typename... Args>
-  static T* unpack(T* mem, bool check_type, bool check_mem, Args&&... args);
-
-  /**
-   * \brief Check if prefix is valid
-   *
-   * \param[in] prefix the prefix to be validated
-   */
-  template <typename T>
-  static void validatePrefix(vrt::TypeIdx prefix);
-};
-
 template <typename T>
 buffer::ImplReturnType packBuffer(
   T& target, SerialSizeType size, BufferObtainFnType fn
diff --git a/src/checkpoint/dispatch/dispatch.impl.h b/src/checkpoint/dispatch/dispatch.impl.h
index 35a1db3d..efa3d659 100644
--- a/src/checkpoint/dispatch/dispatch.impl.h
+++ b/src/checkpoint/dispatch/dispatch.impl.h
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ struct serialization_error : public std::runtime_error {
 };
 
 template <typename T, typename TraverserT>
-TraverserT& withTypeIdx(TraverserT& t, bool check_type = true) {
+TraverserT& withTypeIdx(TraverserT& t) {
   using CleanT = typename CleanType<typeregistry::DecodedIndex>::CleanT;
   using DispatchType =
     typename TraverserT::template DispatcherType<TraverserT, CleanT>;
@@ -87,9 +87,9 @@ TraverserT& withTypeIdx(TraverserT& t, bool check_type = true) {
     auto val = cleanType(&serTypeIdx);
     ap(t, val, len);
 
-    if (check_type &&
-      (typeregistry::validateIndex(serTypeIdx) == false ||
-      thisTypeIdx != serTypeIdx)
+    if (
+      typeregistry::validateIndex(serTypeIdx) == false ||
+      thisTypeIdx != serTypeIdx
     ) {
       auto const err = std::string("Unpacking wrong type, got=") +
         typeregistry::getTypeNameForIdx(thisTypeIdx) +
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ TraverserT& withTypeIdx(TraverserT& t, bool check_type = true) {
 }
 
 template <typename T, typename TraverserT>
-TraverserT& withMemUsed(TraverserT& t, SerialSizeType len, bool check_mem = true) {
+TraverserT& withMemUsed(TraverserT& t, SerialSizeType len) {
   using DispatchType =
     typename TraverserT::template DispatcherType<TraverserT, SerialSizeType>;
   SerializerDispatch<TraverserT, SerialSizeType, DispatchType> ap;
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ TraverserT& withMemUsed(TraverserT& t, SerialSizeType len, bool check_mem = true
     auto val = cleanType(&serMemUsed);
     ap(t, val, memUsedLen);
 
-    if (check_mem && memUsed != serMemUsed) {
+    if (t.shouldValidateMemory() && memUsed != serMemUsed) {
       using CleanT = typename CleanType<T>::CleanT;
       std::string msg = "For type '" + typeregistry::getTypeName<CleanT>() +
         "' serialization used " + std::to_string(serMemUsed) +
@@ -133,37 +133,6 @@ TraverserT& withMemUsed(TraverserT& t, SerialSizeType len, bool check_mem = true
   return t;
 }
 
-template <typename T, typename TraverserT, typename... Args>
-TraverserT Prefixed::traverse(T& target, SerialSizeType len, bool check_type, bool check_mem, Args&&... args) {
-  using CleanT = typename CleanType<T>::CleanT;
-  using DispatchType =
-    typename TraverserT::template DispatcherType<TraverserT, CleanT>;
-
-  TraverserT t(std::forward<Args>(args)...);
-
-  withTypeIdx<CleanT>(t, check_type);
-
-  auto val = cleanType(&target);
-  SerializerDispatch<TraverserT, CleanT, DispatchType> ap;
-
-  #if defined(SERIALIZATION_ERROR_CHECKING)
-  try {
-    ap(t, val, len);
-  } catch (serialization_error const& err) {
-    auto const depth = err.depth_ + 1;
-    auto const what = std::string(err.what()) + "\n#" + std::to_string(depth) +
-      " " + typeregistry::getTypeName<T>();
-    throw serialization_error(what, depth);
-  }
-  #else
-  ap(t, val, len);
-  #endif
-
-  withMemUsed<CleanT>(t, 1, check_mem);
-
-  return t;
-}
-
 template <typename T, typename TraverserT>
 TraverserT& Traverse::with(T& target, TraverserT& t, SerialSizeType len) {
   using CleanT = typename CleanType<T>::CleanT;
@@ -252,12 +221,6 @@ T* Standard::unpack(T* t_buf, Args&&... args) {
   return t_buf;
 }
 
-template <typename T, typename UnpackerT, typename... Args>
-T* Prefixed::unpack(T* t_buf, bool check_type, bool check_mem, Args&&... args) {
-  Prefixed::traverse<T, UnpackerT>(*t_buf, 1, check_type, check_mem, std::forward<Args>(args)...);
-  return t_buf;
-}
-
 template <typename T>
 T* Standard::construct(SerialByteType* mem) {
   return Traverse::reconstruct<T>(mem);
@@ -313,9 +276,7 @@ serializeType(T& target, BufferObtainFnType fn) {
 }
 
 template <typename T>
-typename std::enable_if<
-  !vrt::VirtualSerializeTraits<T>::has_virtual_serialize,
-  T*>::type
+typename std::enable_if<!vrt::VirtualSerializeTraits<T>::has_virtual_serialize, T*>::type
 deserializeType(SerialByteType* data, SerialByteType* allocBuf) {
   auto mem = allocBuf ? allocBuf : Standard::allocate<T>();
   auto t_buf = std::unique_ptr<T>(Standard::construct<T>(mem));
@@ -351,14 +312,17 @@ typename std::enable_if<
   vrt::VirtualSerializeTraits<T>::has_virtual_serialize,
   buffer::ImplReturnType>::type
 serializeType(T& target, BufferObtainFnType fn) {
+  using BaseType = vrt::checkpoint_base_type_t<T>;
+  using PrefixedType = PrefixedType<BaseType>;
+
   auto prefixed = PrefixedType(&target);
-  auto len = Standard::size<decltype(prefixed), Sizer>(prefixed);
+  auto len = Standard::size<PrefixedType, Sizer>(prefixed);
   debug_checkpoint("serializeType: len=%ld\n", len);
-  return packBuffer<decltype(prefixed)>(prefixed, len, fn);
+  return packBuffer<PrefixedType>(prefixed, len, fn);
 }
 
 template <typename T>
-void Prefixed::validatePrefix(vrt::TypeIdx prefix) {
+void validatePrefix(vrt::TypeIdx prefix) {
   if (!vrt::objregistry::isValidIdx<T>(prefix)) {
     std::string const err = std::string("Unpacking invalid prefix type (") +
       std::to_string(prefix) + std::string(") from object registry for type=") +
@@ -368,28 +332,28 @@ void Prefixed::validatePrefix(vrt::TypeIdx prefix) {
 }
 
 template <typename T>
-typename std::enable_if<
-  vrt::VirtualSerializeTraits<T>::has_virtual_serialize,
-  T*>::type
+typename std::enable_if<vrt::VirtualSerializeTraits<T>::has_virtual_serialize, T*>::type
 deserializeType(SerialByteType* data, SerialByteType* allocBuf) {
   using BaseType = vrt::checkpoint_base_type_t<T>;
+  using PrefixedType = PrefixedType<BaseType>;
 
-  auto prefix_mem = Standard::allocate<vrt::TypeIdx>();
-  auto prefix_buf = std::unique_ptr<vrt::TypeIdx>(Standard::construct<vrt::TypeIdx>(prefix_mem));
-  // Unpack TypeIdx, ignore checks for type and memory used - unpacking will only use a part of the data
-  vrt::TypeIdx* prefix =
-    Prefixed::unpack<vrt::TypeIdx, UnpackerBuffer<buffer::UserBuffer>>(prefix_buf.get(), false, false, data);
-  prefix_buf.release();
+  auto prefix_mem = allocBuf ? allocBuf : vrt::objregistry::allocateConcreteType<BaseType>(0);
+  auto prefix_buf = vrt::objregistry::constructConcreteType<BaseType>(0, prefix_mem);
+  auto prefix_struct = PrefixedType(prefix_buf);
+  // Disable memory check during first unpacking.
+  // Unpacking BaseType will always result in memory amount missmatch between serialization/deserialization
+  auto* prefix =
+    Standard::unpack<PrefixedType, UnpackerBuffer<buffer::UserBuffer>>(&prefix_struct, data, false);
+  delete prefix_buf;
 
-  Prefixed::validatePrefix<BaseType>(*prefix);
+  validatePrefix<BaseType>(prefix->prefix_);
 
   // allocate memory based on the readed TypeIdx
-  auto mem = allocBuf ? allocBuf : vrt::objregistry::allocateConcreteType<BaseType>(*prefix);
-  auto t_buf = vrt::objregistry::constructConcreteType<BaseType>(*prefix, mem);
+  auto mem = allocBuf ? allocBuf : vrt::objregistry::allocateConcreteType<BaseType>(prefix->prefix_);
+  auto t_buf = vrt::objregistry::constructConcreteType<BaseType>(prefix->prefix_, mem);
   auto prefixed = PrefixedType(t_buf);
-  // Unpack PrefixedType, ignore checks for unpacked type and execute checks for memory used
   auto* traverser =
-    Prefixed::unpack<decltype(prefixed), UnpackerBuffer<buffer::UserBuffer>>(&prefixed, false, true, data);
+    Standard::unpack<PrefixedType, UnpackerBuffer<buffer::UserBuffer>>(&prefixed, data);
   return static_cast<T*>(traverser->target_);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/checkpoint/serializers/base_serializer.h b/src/checkpoint/serializers/base_serializer.h
index e64251cc..5bcd5904 100644
--- a/src/checkpoint/serializers/base_serializer.h
+++ b/src/checkpoint/serializers/base_serializer.h
@@ -203,6 +203,13 @@ struct BaseSerializer {
    */
   void setVirtualDisabled(bool val) { virtual_disabled_ = val; }
 
+  /**
+   * \brief Check if used memory should be validated
+   *
+   * \return whether memory should be validated
+   */
+  bool shouldValidateMemory() const { return true; }
+
 protected:
   ModeType cur_mode_ = ModeType::Invalid; /**< The current mode */
   bool virtual_disabled_ = false;         /**< Virtual serialization disabled */
diff --git a/src/checkpoint/serializers/unpacker.h b/src/checkpoint/serializers/unpacker.h
index 85e9a850..4c31f82b 100644
--- a/src/checkpoint/serializers/unpacker.h
+++ b/src/checkpoint/serializers/unpacker.h
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ template <typename BufferT>
 struct UnpackerBuffer : MemorySerializer {
   using BufferPtrType = std::unique_ptr<BufferT>;
 
-  explicit UnpackerBuffer(SerialByteType* buf);
+  explicit UnpackerBuffer(SerialByteType* buf, bool validate = true);
 
   template <typename... Args>
   explicit UnpackerBuffer(Args&&... args);
@@ -62,11 +62,15 @@ struct UnpackerBuffer : MemorySerializer {
   void contiguousBytes(void* ptr, SerialSizeType size, SerialSizeType num_elms);
   SerialSizeType usedBufferSize() const;
 
+  bool shouldValidateMemory() const;
+
 private:
   // Size of the actually used memory (for error checking)
   SerialSizeType usedSize_ = 0;
 
   BufferPtrType buffer_ = nullptr;
+
+  bool validate_memory_ = true;
 };
 
 using Unpacker = UnpackerBuffer<buffer::UserBuffer>;
diff --git a/src/checkpoint/serializers/unpacker.impl.h b/src/checkpoint/serializers/unpacker.impl.h
index ad2429b2..73bab01e 100644
--- a/src/checkpoint/serializers/unpacker.impl.h
+++ b/src/checkpoint/serializers/unpacker.impl.h
@@ -54,9 +54,10 @@
 namespace checkpoint {
 
 template <typename BufferT>
-UnpackerBuffer<BufferT>::UnpackerBuffer(SerialByteType* buf)
+UnpackerBuffer<BufferT>::UnpackerBuffer(SerialByteType* buf, bool validate)
   : MemorySerializer(ModeType::Unpacking),
-    buffer_(std::make_unique<BufferT>(buf, 0))
+    buffer_(std::make_unique<BufferT>(buf, 0)),
+    validate_memory_(validate)
 {
   MemorySerializer::initializeBuffer(buffer_->getBuffer());
 
@@ -103,6 +104,11 @@ SerialSizeType UnpackerBuffer<BufferT>::usedBufferSize() const {
   return usedSize_;
 }
 
+template <typename BufferT>
+bool UnpackerBuffer<BufferT>::shouldValidateMemory() const {
+  return validate_memory_;
+}
+
 } /* end namespace checkpoint */
 
 #endif /*INCLUDED_SRC_CHECKPOINT_SERIALIZERS_UNPACKER_IMPL_H*/