diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 368d832..7813f92 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -34,35 +34,32 @@ it to you. No surprises on upgrades either - _impeccable_
 
 module Sample where
 
-import Data.Word (Word8)
+import Foreign.Marshal.Alloc (mallocBytes, free)
+import Foreign.C.Types (CSize, CUChar)
 import Foreign.Ptr (Ptr)
-import Foreign.Marshal.Alloc (mallocBytes)
 import Cryptography.BLAKE3.Bindings (
-  blake3HasherAlloc,
-  blake3HasherInit,
-  blake3HasherUpdate,
+  blake3HasherSize,
   blake3OutLen,
-  blake3HasherFree
+  blake3HasherUpdate,
+  blake3HasherFinalize
   )
 
 hashMeSomeData :: IO (Ptr Word8)
 hashMeSomeData = do
-  -- allocate and init a hasher
-  hasherPtr <- blake3HasherAlloc
+  -- allocate an initialize a hasher
+  hasherPtr <- mallocBytes . fromIntegral $ blake3HasherSize
   blake3HasherInit hasherPtr
-  -- allocate some data to hash
-  -- we'll assume you've set it all up somehow
-  (len, dataPtr) <- mkDataWithLen
-  -- hash the data
-  blake3HasherUpdate hasherPtr dataPtr len
-  -- allocate a buffer of the right size to store the result
-  outPtr :: Ptr Word8 <- mallocBytes . fromIntegral $ blake3OutLen
-  -- write out the hashed data
+  -- get some data to hash (we assume this is done in some user-specific way)
+  (dataLen :: CSize, dataPtr :: Ptr CUChar) <- mkSomeDataWithLength
+  -- feed the data into the hasher
+  blake3HasherUpdate hasherPtr dataPtr dataLen
+  -- make a place to fit the hash into
+  outPtr <- mallocBytes . fromIntegral $ blake3OutLen
+  -- output the hash
   blake3HasherFinalize hasherPtr outPtr blake3OutLen
-  -- release the hasher
-  blake3HasherFree hasherPtr
-  -- yield the answer
-  pure outPtr
+  -- deallocate the hasher, since we don't need it anymore
+  free hasherPtr
+  -- use the hash output however we please
 ```
 
 ## What does this run on?
diff --git a/cryptography-blake3-bindings.cabal b/cryptography-blake3-bindings.cabal
index 189f5bc..3a3b20e 100644
--- a/cryptography-blake3-bindings.cabal
+++ b/cryptography-blake3-bindings.cabal
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ extra-source-files:
   CHANGELOG.md
   include/blake3.h
   include/blake3_impl.h
+  include/sizes.h
   LICENSE
   README.md
 
diff --git a/include/sizes.h b/include/sizes.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8605f0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/sizes.h
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+#include "blake3.h"
+
+const size_t blake3_hasher_size = sizeof(blake3_hasher);
diff --git a/src/Cryptography/BLAKE3/Bindings.hs b/src/Cryptography/BLAKE3/Bindings.hs
index 63c626e..ecadbbd 100644
--- a/src/Cryptography/BLAKE3/Bindings.hs
+++ b/src/Cryptography/BLAKE3/Bindings.hs
@@ -14,22 +14,20 @@ module Cryptography.BLAKE3.Bindings
   ( -- * Constants
     blake3VersionString,
     blake3OutLen,
+    blake3HasherSize,
 
     -- * Data types
     Blake3Hasher,
 
     -- * Functions
-    blake3HasherAlloc,
     blake3HasherInit,
     blake3HasherUpdate,
     blake3HasherFinalize,
-    blake3HasherFree,
   )
 where
 
 import Data.Word (Word8)
 import Foreign.C.Types (CChar, CSize (CSize), CUChar)
-import Foreign.Marshal.Alloc (free, mallocBytes)
 import Foreign.Ptr (Ptr)
 
 -- | Version C-string for the current BLAKE3 C binding. Currently "1.6.0".
@@ -44,21 +42,20 @@ foreign import capi "blake3.h value BLAKE3_VERSION_STRING"
 foreign import capi "blake3.h value BLAKE3_OUT_LEN"
   blake3OutLen :: CSize
 
--- | The 'running state' of a hashing process, containing the hash state.
---
--- The only meaningful way to interact with this is to allocate one with
--- 'blake3HasherAlloc', initialize it with 'blake3HasherInit', use it with the
--- other functions in this module, then deallocate with 'blake3HasherFree'.
+-- | The number of bytes needed for a 'Blake3Hasher'.
 --
 -- @since 1.0
-data Blake3Hasher
+foreign import capi "sizes.h value blake3_hasher_size"
+  blake3HasherSize :: CSize
 
--- | Allocate enough space for a 'Blake3Hasher'. Ensure that you call
--- 'blake3HasherInit' afterwards before you use it.
+-- | The 'running state' of a hashing process, containing the hash state.
+--
+-- This data is opaque to Haskell; the only way to meaningfully interact with a
+-- 'Blake3Hasher' is to allocate one into a 'Foreign.ForeignPtr', initialize it
+-- with 'blake3HasherInit', and use it with the other functions in this module.
 --
 -- @since 1.0
-blake3HasherAlloc :: IO (Ptr Blake3Hasher)
-blake3HasherAlloc = mallocBytes 3660
+data Blake3Hasher
 
 -- | Initialize the 'Blake3Hasher' passed in the first argument. Do this before
 -- you call 'blake3HasherUpdate' with it.
@@ -106,14 +103,3 @@ foreign import capi "blake3.h blake3_hasher_finalize"
     CSize ->
     -- | No meaningful result
     IO ()
-
--- | Deallocates a 'Blake3Hasher'.
---
--- = Important note
---
--- Do not try to pass a pointer to a deallocated 'Blake3Hasher' to any functions
--- unless you enjoy your Haskell code segfaulting.
---
--- @since 1.0
-blake3HasherFree :: Ptr Blake3Hasher -> IO ()
-blake3HasherFree = free