diff --git a/R/generics.R b/R/generics.R
index e31073c72a..9e1d171161 100644
--- a/R/generics.R
+++ b/R/generics.R
@@ -202,12 +202,10 @@ dplyr_reconstruct_dispatch <- function(data, template) {
 
 #' @export
 dplyr_reconstruct.data.frame <- function(data, template) {
-  attrs <- attributes(template)
-  attrs$names <- names(data)
-  attrs$row.names <- .row_names_info(data, type = 0L)
-
-  attributes(data) <- attrs
-  data
+  attributes <- dplyr_attributes(template)
+  attributes$names <- names(data)
+  attributes$row.names <- .row_names_info(data, type = 0L)
+  dplyr_set_attributes(data, attributes)
 }
 
 #' @export
diff --git a/R/utils.R b/R/utils.R
index e74ac8f32b..29cb024f9f 100644
--- a/R/utils.R
+++ b/R/utils.R
@@ -48,6 +48,13 @@ dplyr_new_tibble <- function(x, size) {
   new_data_frame(x = x, n = size, class = c("tbl_df", "tbl"))
 }
 
+dplyr_attributes <- function(x) {
+  .Call(ffi_dplyr_attributes, x)
+}
+dplyr_set_attributes <- function(x, attributes) {
+  .Call(ffi_dplyr_set_attributes, x, attributes)
+}
+
 #' @param x A list
 #' @param fn An optional function of 1 argument to be applied to each list
 #'   element of `x`. This allows you to further refine what elements should be
diff --git a/src/attributes.cpp b/src/attributes.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0cb3f3b776
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/attributes.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+#include "dplyr.h"
+
+// Push a new attribute at the end of `x`'s attributes.
+// Caller is responsible for ensuring the `tag` doesn't already exist.
+static inline
+SEXP r_attrib_push(SEXP x, SEXP tag, SEXP value) {
+  SEXP attributes = Rf_cons(value, ATTRIB(x));
+  SET_TAG(attributes, tag);
+  SET_ATTRIB(x, attributes);
+  return attributes;
+}
+
+// Alternative to `attributes()`, but based heavily on the C level
+// implementation, `do_attributes()`.
+//
+// Unlike `attributes()`, this does not inspect the row names in any way (i.e.
+// typically to expand compact row names), which has the side effect of
+// materializing duckplyr queries.
+// https://github.com/tidyverse/dplyr/issues/6525#issuecomment-1303619152
+// https://github.com/wch/r-source/blob/69b94f0c8ce9b2497f6d7a81922575f6c585b713/src/main/attrib.c#L176-L177
+SEXP ffi_dplyr_attributes(SEXP x) {
+  SEXP attributes = ATTRIB(x);
+  R_xlen_t size = Rf_xlength(attributes);
+
+  SEXP out = PROTECT(Rf_allocVector(VECSXP, size));
+
+  SEXP names = Rf_allocVector(STRSXP, size);
+  Rf_setAttrib(out, R_NamesSymbol, names);
+
+  for (R_xlen_t i = 0; i < size; ++i, attributes = CDR(attributes)) {
+    SEXP name = TAG(attributes);
+
+    if (TYPEOF(name) != SYMSXP) {
+      // Hopefully never happens, but `do_attributes()` has a special path
+      // for this, so we are extra careful not to crash
+      Rf_errorcall(R_NilValue, "Unexpected non-symbol attribute pairlist tag.");
+    }
+
+    SET_STRING_ELT(names, i, PRINTNAME(name));
+
+    if (name == R_RowNamesSymbol) {
+      // Super special path for row names! Row names are passed through as is,
+      // with no modification, although we do mark the attribute as not mutable,
+      // like `Rf_getAttrib()`.
+      SEXP value = CAR(attributes);
+      MARK_NOT_MUTABLE(value);
+      SET_VECTOR_ELT(out, i, value);
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    SEXP value = Rf_getAttrib(x, name);
+    SET_VECTOR_ELT(out, i, value);
+  }
+
+  UNPROTECT(1);
+  return out;
+}
+
+// Alternative to `attributes<-()`, but based heavily on the C level
+// implementation, `do_attributesgets()`.
+//
+// Unlike `attributes<-()`, this does not inspect the row names in any way (i.e.
+// typically to create compact row names), which has the side effect of
+// materializing duckplyr queries.
+//
+// If we want this to be a full replacement, then it should also ensure that the
+// `dim` attribute is set before the `dimnames` attribute, but we currently
+// never expect those attributes to appear on data frames.
+// https://github.com/wch/r-source/blob/69b94f0c8ce9b2497f6d7a81922575f6c585b713/src/main/attrib.c#L1401C39-L1404
+SEXP ffi_dplyr_set_attributes(SEXP x, SEXP attributes) {
+  if (x == R_NilValue) {
+    Rf_errorcall(R_NilValue, "Internal error: `x` can't be `NULL`.");
+  }
+
+  // Make an ALTREP wrapper if possible, since the underlying data doesn't change
+#if R_VERSION >= R_Version(3, 6, 0)
+  x = PROTECT(R_shallow_duplicate_attr(x));
+#else
+  x = PROTECT(Rf_shallow_duplicate(x));
+#endif
+
+  // Remove existing attributes, and unset the object bit.
+  // It will be reset by `Rf_setAttrib()` if needed.
+  SET_ATTRIB(x, R_NilValue);
+  SET_OBJECT(x, 0);
+
+  if (TYPEOF(attributes) != VECSXP) {
+    Rf_errorcall(R_NilValue, "Internal error: `attributes` must be a list.");
+  }
+
+  const SEXP* v_attributes = VECTOR_PTR_RO(attributes);
+
+  R_xlen_t size = Rf_xlength(attributes);
+  SEXP names = Rf_getAttrib(attributes, R_NamesSymbol);
+
+  if (TYPEOF(names) != STRSXP) {
+    Rf_errorcall(R_NilValue, "Internal error: `attributes` must be named.");
+  }
+
+  const SEXP* v_names = STRING_PTR_RO(names);
+
+  // Check that each element of `names` is named
+  for (R_xlen_t i = 0; i < size; ++i) {
+    SEXP name = v_names[i];
+
+    if (name == NA_STRING || name == R_BlankString) {
+      Rf_errorcall(R_NilValue, "All attributes must have names. Attribute %i does not.", i + 1);
+    }
+  }
+
+  for (R_xlen_t i = 0; i < size; ++i) {
+    SEXP name = Rf_installChar(v_names[i]);
+    SEXP attribute = v_attributes[i];
+
+    if (name == R_RowNamesSymbol) {
+      // Super special path for row names!
+      // Row names are pushed on untouched and unchecked.
+      r_attrib_push(x, name, attribute);
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    Rf_setAttrib(x, name, attribute);
+  }
+
+  UNPROTECT(1);
+  return x;
+}
diff --git a/src/dplyr.h b/src/dplyr.h
index 8c0035c29c..bfc075ba66 100644
--- a/src/dplyr.h
+++ b/src/dplyr.h
@@ -96,6 +96,9 @@ inline bool obj_is_list(SEXP x) {
 
 }
 
+SEXP ffi_dplyr_attributes(SEXP x);
+SEXP ffi_dplyr_set_attributes(SEXP x, SEXP attributes);
+
 SEXP dplyr_expand_groups(SEXP old_groups, SEXP positions, SEXP s_nr);
 SEXP dplyr_cumall(SEXP x);
 SEXP dplyr_cumany(SEXP x);
diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
index 09e699f5f5..f7971c6e2e 100644
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -95,6 +95,9 @@ SEXP dplyr_init_library(SEXP ns_dplyr, SEXP ns_vctrs, SEXP ns_rlang) {
 static const R_CallMethodDef CallEntries[] = {
   {"dplyr_init_library", (DL_FUNC)& dplyr_init_library, 3},
 
+  {"ffi_dplyr_attributes", (DL_FUNC)& ffi_dplyr_attributes, 1},
+  {"ffi_dplyr_set_attributes", (DL_FUNC)& ffi_dplyr_set_attributes, 2},
+
   {"dplyr_expand_groups", (DL_FUNC)& dplyr_expand_groups, 3},
   {"dplyr_cumall", (DL_FUNC)& dplyr_cumall, 1},
   {"dplyr_cumany", (DL_FUNC)& dplyr_cumany, 1},
diff --git a/tests/testthat/_snaps/utils.md b/tests/testthat/_snaps/utils.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..19ac9a853e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/testthat/_snaps/utils.md
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+# can't set attributes with `NULL`
+
+    Code
+      dplyr_set_attributes(1, NULL)
+    Condition
+      Error:
+      ! Internal error: `attributes` must be a list.
+
+# can't set attributes on `NULL`
+
+    Code
+      dplyr_set_attributes(NULL, list(x = 1))
+    Condition
+      Error:
+      ! Internal error: `x` can't be `NULL`.
+
+# can't set attributes with unnamed elements
+
+    Code
+      dplyr_set_attributes(1, list())
+    Condition
+      Error:
+      ! Internal error: `attributes` must be named.
+
+---
+
+    Code
+      dplyr_set_attributes(1, list(x = 1, 2))
+    Condition
+      Error:
+      ! All attributes must have names. Attribute 2 does not.
+
diff --git a/tests/testthat/helper-lazy.R b/tests/testthat/helper-lazy.R
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ea086992d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/testthat/helper-lazy.R
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+skip_if_no_lazy_character <- function() {
+  skip_if(getRversion() <= "3.5.0")
+
+  new_lazy_character <- import_vctrs("new_lazy_character", optional = TRUE)
+  lazy_character_is_materialized <- import_vctrs("lazy_character_is_materialized", optional = TRUE)
+
+  if (is.null(new_lazy_character) || is.null(lazy_character_is_materialized)) {
+    skip("Lazy character helpers from vctrs are not available.")
+  }
+
+  invisible()
+}
+
+new_lazy_character <- function(fn) {
+  f <- import_vctrs("new_lazy_character")
+  f(fn)
+}
+
+lazy_character_is_materialized <- function(x) {
+  f <- import_vctrs("lazy_character_is_materialized")
+  f(x)
+}
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-utils.R b/tests/testthat/test-utils.R
index c5ee59045e..b78c44b030 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-utils.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-utils.R
@@ -70,3 +70,94 @@ test_that("`list_flatten()` accepts a predicate `fn` to selectively flatten", {
     list(1, list(b = 2), 3, c = 4, d = list(e = 5), 6)
   )
 })
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# dplyr_attributes() / dplyr_set_attributes()
+
+test_that("can get attributes", {
+  x <- list()
+  # Empty named list!
+  expect_identical(dplyr_attributes(x), set_names(list()))
+
+  x <- structure(list(), foo = 1, bar = 2)
+  expect_identical(dplyr_attributes(x), list(foo = 1, bar = 2))
+})
+
+test_that("can set attributes", {
+  x <- dplyr_set_attributes(1, list(foo = 1, bar = 2))
+  expect_identical(dplyr_attributes(x), list(foo = 1, bar = 2))
+})
+
+test_that("can't set attributes with `NULL`", {
+  expect_snapshot(error = TRUE, {
+    dplyr_set_attributes(1, NULL)
+  })
+})
+
+test_that("can't set attributes on `NULL`", {
+  expect_snapshot(error = TRUE, {
+    dplyr_set_attributes(NULL, list(x = 1))
+  })
+})
+
+test_that("can't set attributes with unnamed elements", {
+  expect_snapshot(error = TRUE, {
+    dplyr_set_attributes(1, list())
+  })
+  expect_snapshot(error = TRUE, {
+    dplyr_set_attributes(1, list(x = 1, 2))
+  })
+})
+
+test_that("object bit is set when setting attributes", {
+  x <- list()
+  attributes <- list(class = "foo")
+
+  expect_false(is.object(x))
+  expect_true(is.object(dplyr_set_attributes(x, attributes)))
+})
+
+test_that("`row.names` are not touched whatsoever when getting or setting (#6525)", {
+  skip_if_no_lazy_character()
+
+  df <- vctrs::data_frame(x = 1)
+
+  attributes <- attributes(df)
+  attributes$row.names <- new_lazy_character(function() "a")
+
+  # Start out unmaterialized
+  expect_false(lazy_character_is_materialized(attributes$row.names))
+
+  # Full roundtrip
+  df <- dplyr_set_attributes(df, attributes)
+  attributes <- dplyr_attributes(df)
+
+  # Still unmaterialized
+  expect_false(lazy_character_is_materialized(attributes$row.names))
+})
+
+test_that("`dplyr_reconstruct()`, which gets and sets attributes, doesn't touch `row.names` (#6525)", {
+  skip_if_no_lazy_character()
+
+  df <- vctrs::data_frame(x = 1)
+
+  attributes <- attributes(df)
+  attributes$row.names <- new_lazy_character(function() "a")
+
+  df_with_lazy_row_names <- dplyr_set_attributes(df, attributes)
+
+  # Ensure `data` row names aren't materialized
+  x <- dplyr_reconstruct(df_with_lazy_row_names, df)
+  attributes <- dplyr_attributes(df_with_lazy_row_names)
+  expect_false(lazy_character_is_materialized(attributes$row.names))
+
+  # `data` row names should also propagate into the result unmaterialized
+  attributes <- dplyr_attributes(x)
+  expect_false(lazy_character_is_materialized(attributes$row.names))
+
+  # Ensure `template` row names aren't materialized
+  x <- dplyr_reconstruct(df, df_with_lazy_row_names)
+  attributes <- dplyr_attributes(df_with_lazy_row_names)
+  expect_false(lazy_character_is_materialized(attributes$row.names))
+})
+