diff --git a/include/wlr/types/wlr_surface.h b/include/wlr/types/wlr_surface.h
index 526679d6..423cc886 100644
--- a/include/wlr/types/wlr_surface.h
+++ b/include/wlr/types/wlr_surface.h
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ struct wlr_surface_state {
 	uint32_t committed; // enum wlr_surface_state_field
 
 	struct wl_resource *buffer;
-	struct wl_listener buffer_destroy_listener;
 	int32_t sx, sy;
 	pixman_region32_t surface_damage, buffer_damage;
 	pixman_region32_t opaque, input;
@@ -33,6 +32,8 @@ struct wlr_surface_state {
 
 	int width, height; // in surface-local coordinates
 	int buffer_width, buffer_height;
+
+	struct wl_listener buffer_destroy_listener;
 };
 
 struct wlr_surface {
@@ -45,7 +46,12 @@ struct wlr_surface {
 	 * or something went wrong with uploading the buffer.
 	 */
 	struct wlr_buffer *buffer;
-	struct wlr_surface_state *current, *pending;
+	/**
+	 * `current` contains the current, committed surface state. `pending`
+	 * accumulates state changes from the client between commits and shouldn't
+	 * be accessed by the compositor directly.
+	 */
+	struct wlr_surface_state current, pending;
 	const char *role; // the lifetime-bound role or null
 
 	struct {
@@ -79,7 +85,7 @@ struct wlr_subsurface {
 
 	struct wlr_subsurface_state current, pending;
 
-	struct wlr_surface_state *cached;
+	struct wlr_surface_state cached;
 	bool has_cache;
 
 	bool synchronized;
diff --git a/rootston/cursor.c b/rootston/cursor.c
index 1cf81704..904af67f 100644
--- a/rootston/cursor.c
+++ b/rootston/cursor.c
@@ -200,8 +200,8 @@ static void roots_cursor_update_position(
 	case ROOTS_CURSOR_ROTATE:
 		view = roots_seat_get_focus(seat);
 		if (view != NULL) {
-			int ox = view->x + view->wlr_surface->current->width/2,
-				oy = view->y + view->wlr_surface->current->height/2;
+			int ox = view->x + view->wlr_surface->current.width/2,
+				oy = view->y + view->wlr_surface->current.height/2;
 			int ux = cursor->offs_x - ox,
 				uy = cursor->offs_y - oy;
 			int vx = cursor->cursor->x - ox,
@@ -239,12 +239,12 @@ static void roots_cursor_press_button(struct roots_cursor *cursor,
 			break;
 		case BTN_RIGHT:
 			edges = 0;
-			if (sx < view->wlr_surface->current->width/2) {
+			if (sx < view->wlr_surface->current.width/2) {
 				edges |= WLR_EDGE_LEFT;
 			} else {
 				edges |= WLR_EDGE_RIGHT;
 			}
-			if (sy < view->wlr_surface->current->height/2) {
+			if (sy < view->wlr_surface->current.height/2) {
 				edges |= WLR_EDGE_TOP;
 			} else {
 				edges |= WLR_EDGE_BOTTOM;
diff --git a/rootston/desktop.c b/rootston/desktop.c
index d670c33b..4b5a5c9a 100644
--- a/rootston/desktop.c
+++ b/rootston/desktop.c
@@ -69,8 +69,8 @@ enum roots_deco_part view_get_deco_part(struct roots_view *view, double sx,
 		return ROOTS_DECO_PART_NONE;
 	}
 
-	int sw = view->wlr_surface->current->width;
-	int sh = view->wlr_surface->current->height;
+	int sw = view->wlr_surface->current.width;
+	int sh = view->wlr_surface->current.height;
 	int bw = view->border_width;
 	int titlebar_h = view->titlebar_height;
 
@@ -558,7 +558,7 @@ static bool view_at(struct roots_view *view, double lx, double ly,
 	double view_sx = lx - view->x;
 	double view_sy = ly - view->y;
 
-	struct wlr_surface_state *state = view->wlr_surface->current;
+	struct wlr_surface_state *state = &view->wlr_surface->current;
 	struct wlr_box box = {
 		.x = 0, .y = 0,
 		.width = state->width, .height = state->height,
diff --git a/rootston/output.c b/rootston/output.c
index 8154816d..aecb0d76 100644
--- a/rootston/output.c
+++ b/rootston/output.c
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ struct layout_data {
 static void get_layout_position(struct layout_data *data, double *lx, double *ly,
 		const struct wlr_surface *surface, int sx, int sy) {
 	double _sx = sx, _sy = sy;
-	rotate_child_position(&_sx, &_sy, surface->current->width,
-		surface->current->height, data->width, data->height, data->rotation);
+	rotate_child_position(&_sx, &_sy, surface->current.width,
+		surface->current.height, data->width, data->height, data->rotation);
 	*lx = data->x + _sx;
 	*ly = data->y + _sy;
 }
@@ -55,8 +55,8 @@ static void surface_for_each_surface(struct wlr_surface *surface,
 		wlr_surface_iterator_func_t iterator, void *user_data) {
 	layout_data->x = lx;
 	layout_data->y = ly;
-	layout_data->width = surface->current->width;
-	layout_data->height = surface->current->height;
+	layout_data->width = surface->current.width;
+	layout_data->height = surface->current.height;
 	layout_data->rotation = rotation;
 
 	wlr_surface_for_each_surface(surface, iterator, user_data);
@@ -67,8 +67,8 @@ static void view_for_each_surface(struct roots_view *view,
 		void *user_data) {
 	layout_data->x = view->x;
 	layout_data->y = view->y;
-	layout_data->width = view->wlr_surface->current->width;
-	layout_data->height = view->wlr_surface->current->height;
+	layout_data->width = view->wlr_surface->current.width;
+	layout_data->height = view->wlr_surface->current.height;
 	layout_data->rotation = view->rotation;
 
 	switch (view->type) {
@@ -149,13 +149,13 @@ static bool surface_intersect_output(struct wlr_surface *surface,
 	if (box != NULL) {
 		box->x = ox * wlr_output->scale;
 		box->y = oy * wlr_output->scale;
-		box->width = surface->current->width * wlr_output->scale;
-		box->height = surface->current->height * wlr_output->scale;
+		box->width = surface->current.width * wlr_output->scale;
+		box->height = surface->current.height * wlr_output->scale;
 	}
 
 	struct wlr_box layout_box = {
 		.x = lx, .y = ly,
-		.width = surface->current->width, .height = surface->current->height,
+		.width = surface->current.width, .height = surface->current.height,
 	};
 	wlr_box_rotated_bounds(&layout_box, rotation, &layout_box);
 	return wlr_output_layout_intersects(output_layout, wlr_output, &layout_box);
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ static void render_surface(struct wlr_surface *surface, int sx, int sy,
 
 	float matrix[9];
 	enum wl_output_transform transform =
-		wlr_output_transform_invert(surface->current->transform);
+		wlr_output_transform_invert(surface->current.transform);
 	wlr_matrix_project_box(matrix, &box, transform, rotation,
 		output->wlr_output->transform_matrix);
 
@@ -247,8 +247,8 @@ static void get_decoration_box(struct roots_view *view,
 	double sx = deco_box.x - view->x;
 	double sy = deco_box.y - view->y;
 	rotate_child_position(&sx, &sy, deco_box.width, deco_box.height,
-		view->wlr_surface->current->width,
-		view->wlr_surface->current->height, view->rotation);
+		view->wlr_surface->current.width,
+		view->wlr_surface->current.height, view->rotation);
 	double x = sx + view->x;
 	double y = sy + view->y;
 
@@ -694,13 +694,13 @@ static void damage_from_surface(struct wlr_surface *surface, int sx, int sy,
 
 	pixman_region32_t damage;
 	pixman_region32_init(&damage);
-	pixman_region32_copy(&damage, &surface->current->surface_damage);
+	pixman_region32_copy(&damage, &surface->current.surface_damage);
 	wlr_region_scale(&damage, &damage, wlr_output->scale);
-	if (ceil(wlr_output->scale) > surface->current->scale) {
+	if (ceil(wlr_output->scale) > surface->current.scale) {
 		// When scaling up a surface, it'll become blurry so we need to
 		// expand the damage region
 		wlr_region_expand(&damage, &damage,
-			ceil(wlr_output->scale) - surface->current->scale);
+			ceil(wlr_output->scale) - surface->current.scale);
 	}
 	pixman_region32_translate(&damage, box.x, box.y);
 	wlr_region_rotated_bounds(&damage, &damage, rotation, center_x, center_y);
diff --git a/rootston/wl_shell.c b/rootston/wl_shell.c
index d58f030a..02160773 100644
--- a/rootston/wl_shell.c
+++ b/rootston/wl_shell.c
@@ -158,8 +158,8 @@ static void handle_surface_commit(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
 
 	view_apply_damage(view);
 
-	int width = wlr_surface->current->width;
-	int height = wlr_surface->current->height;
+	int width = wlr_surface->current.width;
+	int height = wlr_surface->current.height;
 	view_update_size(view, width, height);
 
 	double x = view->x;
@@ -236,8 +236,8 @@ void handle_wl_shell_surface(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
 		return;
 	}
 	view->type = ROOTS_WL_SHELL_VIEW;
-	view->width = surface->surface->current->width;
-	view->height = surface->surface->current->height;
+	view->width = surface->surface->current.width;
+	view->height = surface->surface->current.height;
 
 	view->wl_shell_surface = surface;
 	view->roots_wl_shell_surface = roots_surface;
diff --git a/rootston/xwayland.c b/rootston/xwayland.c
index b7dbab54..d0b80821 100644
--- a/rootston/xwayland.c
+++ b/rootston/xwayland.c
@@ -206,8 +206,8 @@ static void handle_surface_commit(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
 
 	view_apply_damage(view);
 
-	int width = wlr_surface->current->width;
-	int height = wlr_surface->current->height;
+	int width = wlr_surface->current.width;
+	int height = wlr_surface->current.height;
 	view_update_size(view, width, height);
 
 	double x = view->x;
@@ -233,8 +233,8 @@ static void handle_map(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
 
 	view->x = surface->x;
 	view->y = surface->y;
-	view->width = surface->surface->current->width;
-	view->height = surface->surface->current->height;
+	view->width = surface->surface->current.width;
+	view->height = surface->surface->current.height;
 
 	roots_surface->surface_commit.notify = handle_surface_commit;
 	wl_signal_add(&surface->surface->events.commit,
diff --git a/types/data_device/wlr_drag.c b/types/data_device/wlr_drag.c
index 4f0b2521..b1eafd9c 100644
--- a/types/data_device/wlr_drag.c
+++ b/types/data_device/wlr_drag.c
@@ -341,8 +341,8 @@ static void drag_icon_handle_surface_destroy(struct wl_listener *listener,
 static void drag_icon_handle_surface_commit(struct wlr_surface *surface,
 		void *role_data) {
 	struct wlr_drag_icon *icon = role_data;
-	icon->sx += icon->surface->current->sx;
-	icon->sy += icon->surface->current->sy;
+	icon->sx += icon->surface->current.sx;
+	icon->sy += icon->surface->current.sy;
 
 	drag_icon_set_mapped(icon, wlr_surface_has_buffer(surface));
 }
diff --git a/types/wlr_output.c b/types/wlr_output.c
index 9f13bef4..9659eb85 100644
--- a/types/wlr_output.c
+++ b/types/wlr_output.c
@@ -352,13 +352,13 @@ static void output_fullscreen_surface_get_box(struct wlr_output *output,
 	int width, height;
 	wlr_output_effective_resolution(output, &width, &height);
 
-	int x = (width - surface->current->width) / 2;
-	int y = (height - surface->current->height) / 2;
+	int x = (width - surface->current.width) / 2;
+	int y = (height - surface->current.height) / 2;
 
 	box->x = x * output->scale;
 	box->y = y * output->scale;
-	box->width = surface->current->width * output->scale;
-	box->height = surface->current->height * output->scale;
+	box->width = surface->current.width * output->scale;
+	box->height = surface->current.height * output->scale;
 }
 
 static void output_fullscreen_surface_render(struct wlr_output *output,
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ static void output_fullscreen_surface_render(struct wlr_output *output,
 
 	float matrix[9];
 	enum wl_output_transform transform =
-		wlr_output_transform_invert(surface->current->transform);
+		wlr_output_transform_invert(surface->current.transform);
 	wlr_matrix_project_box(matrix, &box, transform, 0,
 		output->transform_matrix);
 
@@ -405,8 +405,8 @@ static void output_cursor_get_box(struct wlr_output_cursor *cursor,
 	box->height = cursor->height;
 
 	if (cursor->surface != NULL) {
-		box->x += cursor->surface->current->sx * cursor->output->scale;
-		box->y += cursor->surface->current->sy * cursor->output->scale;
+		box->x += cursor->surface->current.sx * cursor->output->scale;
+		box->y += cursor->surface->current.sy * cursor->output->scale;
 	}
 }
 
@@ -602,10 +602,10 @@ static void output_fullscreen_surface_handle_commit(
 		fullscreen_surface_commit);
 	struct wlr_surface *surface = output->fullscreen_surface;
 
-	if (output->fullscreen_width != surface->current->width ||
-			output->fullscreen_height != surface->current->height) {
-		output->fullscreen_width = surface->current->width;
-		output->fullscreen_height = surface->current->height;
+	if (output->fullscreen_width != surface->current.width ||
+			output->fullscreen_height != surface->current.height) {
+		output->fullscreen_width = surface->current.width;
+		output->fullscreen_height = surface->current.height;
 		wlr_output_damage_whole(output);
 		return;
 	}
@@ -615,7 +615,7 @@ static void output_fullscreen_surface_handle_commit(
 
 	pixman_region32_t damage;
 	pixman_region32_init(&damage);
-	pixman_region32_copy(&damage, &surface->current->surface_damage);
+	pixman_region32_copy(&damage, &surface->current.surface_damage);
 	wlr_region_scale(&damage, &damage, output->scale);
 	pixman_region32_translate(&damage, box.x, box.y);
 	pixman_region32_union(&output->damage, &output->damage, &damage);
@@ -714,8 +714,8 @@ static bool output_cursor_attempt_hardware(struct wlr_output_cursor *cursor) {
 	struct wlr_texture *texture = cursor->texture;
 	if (cursor->surface != NULL) {
 		texture = wlr_surface_get_texture(cursor->surface);
-		scale = cursor->surface->current->scale;
-		transform = cursor->surface->current->transform;
+		scale = cursor->surface->current.scale;
+		transform = cursor->surface->current.transform;
 	}
 
 	struct wlr_output_cursor *hwcur = cursor->output->hardware_cursor;
@@ -778,8 +778,8 @@ static void output_cursor_commit(struct wlr_output_cursor *cursor) {
 
 	// Some clients commit a cursor surface with a NULL buffer to hide it.
 	cursor->enabled = wlr_surface_has_buffer(cursor->surface);
-	cursor->width = cursor->surface->current->width * cursor->output->scale;
-	cursor->height = cursor->surface->current->height * cursor->output->scale;
+	cursor->width = cursor->surface->current.width * cursor->output->scale;
+	cursor->height = cursor->surface->current.height * cursor->output->scale;
 
 	if (output_cursor_attempt_hardware(cursor)) {
 		struct timespec now;
diff --git a/types/wlr_surface.c b/types/wlr_surface.c
index 1dab1888..29d55312 100644
--- a/types/wlr_surface.c
+++ b/types/wlr_surface.c
@@ -67,10 +67,10 @@ static void surface_attach(struct wl_client *client,
 		struct wl_resource *buffer, int32_t sx, int32_t sy) {
 	struct wlr_surface *surface = wlr_surface_from_resource(resource);
 
-	surface->pending->committed |= WLR_SURFACE_STATE_BUFFER;
-	surface->pending->sx = sx;
-	surface->pending->sy = sy;
-	surface_state_set_buffer(surface->pending, buffer);
+	surface->pending.committed |= WLR_SURFACE_STATE_BUFFER;
+	surface->pending.sx = sx;
+	surface->pending.sy = sy;
+	surface_state_set_buffer(&surface->pending, buffer);
 }
 
 static void surface_damage(struct wl_client *client,
@@ -80,9 +80,9 @@ static void surface_damage(struct wl_client *client,
 	if (width < 0 || height < 0) {
 		return;
 	}
-	surface->pending->committed |= WLR_SURFACE_STATE_SURFACE_DAMAGE;
-	pixman_region32_union_rect(&surface->pending->surface_damage,
-		&surface->pending->surface_damage,
+	surface->pending.committed |= WLR_SURFACE_STATE_SURFACE_DAMAGE;
+	pixman_region32_union_rect(&surface->pending.surface_damage,
+		&surface->pending.surface_damage,
 		x, y, width, height);
 }
 
@@ -103,38 +103,38 @@ static void surface_frame(struct wl_client *client,
 	wl_resource_set_implementation(callback_resource, NULL, NULL,
 		callback_handle_resource_destroy);
 
-	wl_list_insert(surface->pending->frame_callback_list.prev,
+	wl_list_insert(surface->pending.frame_callback_list.prev,
 		wl_resource_get_link(callback_resource));
 
-	surface->pending->committed |= WLR_SURFACE_STATE_FRAME_CALLBACK_LIST;
+	surface->pending.committed |= WLR_SURFACE_STATE_FRAME_CALLBACK_LIST;
 }
 
 static void surface_set_opaque_region(struct wl_client *client,
 		struct wl_resource *resource,
 		struct wl_resource *region_resource) {
 	struct wlr_surface *surface = wlr_surface_from_resource(resource);
-	if ((surface->pending->committed & WLR_SURFACE_STATE_OPAQUE_REGION)) {
-		pixman_region32_clear(&surface->pending->opaque);
+	if ((surface->pending.committed & WLR_SURFACE_STATE_OPAQUE_REGION)) {
+		pixman_region32_clear(&surface->pending.opaque);
 	}
-	surface->pending->committed |= WLR_SURFACE_STATE_OPAQUE_REGION;
+	surface->pending.committed |= WLR_SURFACE_STATE_OPAQUE_REGION;
 	if (region_resource) {
 		pixman_region32_t *region = wlr_region_from_resource(region_resource);
-		pixman_region32_copy(&surface->pending->opaque, region);
+		pixman_region32_copy(&surface->pending.opaque, region);
 	} else {
-		pixman_region32_clear(&surface->pending->opaque);
+		pixman_region32_clear(&surface->pending.opaque);
 	}
 }
 
 static void surface_set_input_region(struct wl_client *client,
 		struct wl_resource *resource, struct wl_resource *region_resource) {
 	struct wlr_surface *surface = wlr_surface_from_resource(resource);
-	surface->pending->committed |= WLR_SURFACE_STATE_INPUT_REGION;
+	surface->pending.committed |= WLR_SURFACE_STATE_INPUT_REGION;
 	if (region_resource) {
 		pixman_region32_t *region = wlr_region_from_resource(region_resource);
-		pixman_region32_copy(&surface->pending->input, region);
+		pixman_region32_copy(&surface->pending.input, region);
 	} else {
-		pixman_region32_fini(&surface->pending->input);
-		pixman_region32_init_rect(&surface->pending->input,
+		pixman_region32_fini(&surface->pending.input);
+		pixman_region32_init_rect(&surface->pending.input,
 			INT32_MIN, INT32_MIN, UINT32_MAX, UINT32_MAX);
 	}
 }
@@ -277,10 +277,10 @@ static void surface_damage_subsurfaces(struct wlr_subsurface *subsurface) {
 	// seems to work ok. See the comment on weston_surface_damage for more info
 	// about a better approach.
 	struct wlr_surface *surface = subsurface->surface;
-	pixman_region32_union_rect(&surface->current->surface_damage,
-		&surface->current->surface_damage,
-		0, 0, surface->current->width,
-		surface->current->height);
+	pixman_region32_union_rect(&surface->current.surface_damage,
+		&surface->current.surface_damage,
+		0, 0, surface->current.width,
+		surface->current.height);
 
 	subsurface->reordered = false;
 
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ static void surface_damage_subsurfaces(struct wlr_subsurface *subsurface) {
 }
 
 static void surface_apply_damage(struct wlr_surface *surface) {
-	struct wl_resource *resource = surface->current->buffer;
+	struct wl_resource *resource = surface->current.buffer;
 	if (resource == NULL) {
 		// NULL commit
 		wlr_buffer_unref(surface->buffer);
@@ -302,9 +302,9 @@ static void surface_apply_damage(struct wlr_surface *surface) {
 	if (surface->buffer != NULL && surface->buffer->released) {
 		pixman_region32_t damage;
 		pixman_region32_init(&damage);
-		pixman_region32_copy(&damage, &surface->current->buffer_damage);
+		pixman_region32_copy(&damage, &surface->current.buffer_damage);
 		pixman_region32_intersect_rect(&damage, &damage, 0, 0,
-			surface->current->buffer_width, surface->current->buffer_height);
+			surface->current.buffer_width, surface->current.buffer_height);
 
 		struct wlr_buffer *updated_buffer =
 			wlr_buffer_apply_damage(surface->buffer, resource, &damage);
@@ -330,9 +330,9 @@ static void surface_apply_damage(struct wlr_surface *surface) {
 }
 
 static void surface_commit_pending(struct wlr_surface *surface) {
-	bool invalid_buffer = surface->pending->committed & WLR_SURFACE_STATE_BUFFER;
+	bool invalid_buffer = surface->pending.committed & WLR_SURFACE_STATE_BUFFER;
 
-	surface_move_state(surface, surface->pending, surface->current);
+	surface_move_state(surface, &surface->pending, &surface->current);
 
 	if (invalid_buffer) {
 		surface_apply_damage(surface);
@@ -357,8 +357,8 @@ static void surface_commit_pending(struct wlr_surface *surface) {
 
 	wlr_signal_emit_safe(&surface->events.commit, surface);
 
-	pixman_region32_clear(&surface->current->surface_damage);
-	pixman_region32_clear(&surface->current->buffer_damage);
+	pixman_region32_clear(&surface->current.surface_damage);
+	pixman_region32_clear(&surface->current.buffer_damage);
 }
 
 static bool subsurface_is_synchronized(struct wlr_subsurface *subsurface) {
@@ -388,10 +388,10 @@ static void subsurface_parent_commit(struct wlr_subsurface *subsurface,
 	struct wlr_surface *surface = subsurface->surface;
 	if (synchronized || subsurface->synchronized) {
 		if (subsurface->has_cache) {
-			surface_move_state(surface, subsurface->cached, surface->pending);
+			surface_move_state(surface, &subsurface->cached, &surface->pending);
 			surface_commit_pending(surface);
 			subsurface->has_cache = false;
-			subsurface->cached->committed = 0;
+			subsurface->cached.committed = 0;
 		}
 
 		struct wlr_subsurface *subsurface;
@@ -405,11 +405,11 @@ static void subsurface_commit(struct wlr_subsurface *subsurface) {
 	struct wlr_surface *surface = subsurface->surface;
 
 	if (subsurface_is_synchronized(subsurface)) {
-		surface_move_state(surface, surface->pending, subsurface->cached);
+		surface_move_state(surface, &surface->pending, &subsurface->cached);
 		subsurface->has_cache = true;
 	} else {
 		if (subsurface->has_cache) {
-			surface_move_state(surface, subsurface->cached, surface->pending);
+			surface_move_state(surface, &subsurface->cached, &surface->pending);
 			surface_commit_pending(surface);
 			subsurface->has_cache = false;
 		} else {
@@ -439,16 +439,16 @@ static void surface_commit(struct wl_client *client,
 static void surface_set_buffer_transform(struct wl_client *client,
 		struct wl_resource *resource, int transform) {
 	struct wlr_surface *surface = wlr_surface_from_resource(resource);
-	surface->pending->committed |= WLR_SURFACE_STATE_TRANSFORM;
-	surface->pending->transform = transform;
+	surface->pending.committed |= WLR_SURFACE_STATE_TRANSFORM;
+	surface->pending.transform = transform;
 }
 
 static void surface_set_buffer_scale(struct wl_client *client,
 		struct wl_resource *resource,
 		int32_t scale) {
 	struct wlr_surface *surface = wlr_surface_from_resource(resource);
-	surface->pending->committed |= WLR_SURFACE_STATE_SCALE;
-	surface->pending->scale = scale;
+	surface->pending.committed |= WLR_SURFACE_STATE_SCALE;
+	surface->pending.scale = scale;
 }
 
 static void surface_damage_buffer(struct wl_client *client,
@@ -459,9 +459,9 @@ static void surface_damage_buffer(struct wl_client *client,
 	if (width < 0 || height < 0) {
 		return;
 	}
-	surface->pending->committed |= WLR_SURFACE_STATE_BUFFER_DAMAGE;
-	pixman_region32_union_rect(&surface->pending->buffer_damage,
-		&surface->pending->buffer_damage,
+	surface->pending.committed |= WLR_SURFACE_STATE_BUFFER_DAMAGE;
+	pixman_region32_union_rect(&surface->pending.buffer_damage,
+		&surface->pending.buffer_damage,
 		x, y, width, height);
 }
 
@@ -484,12 +484,7 @@ struct wlr_surface *wlr_surface_from_resource(struct wl_resource *resource) {
 	return wl_resource_get_user_data(resource);
 }
 
-static struct wlr_surface_state *surface_state_create(void) {
-	struct wlr_surface_state *state =
-		calloc(1, sizeof(struct wlr_surface_state));
-	if (state == NULL) {
-		return NULL;
-	}
+static void surface_state_init(struct wlr_surface_state *state) {
 	state->scale = 1;
 	state->transform = WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_NORMAL;
 
@@ -500,12 +495,11 @@ static struct wlr_surface_state *surface_state_create(void) {
 	pixman_region32_init(&state->opaque);
 	pixman_region32_init_rect(&state->input,
 		INT32_MIN, INT32_MIN, UINT32_MAX, UINT32_MAX);
-
-	return state;
 }
 
-static void surface_state_destroy(struct wlr_surface_state *state) {
+static void surface_state_finish(struct wlr_surface_state *state) {
 	surface_state_reset_buffer(state);
+
 	struct wl_resource *resource, *tmp;
 	wl_resource_for_each_safe(resource, tmp, &state->frame_callback_list) {
 		wl_resource_destroy(resource);
@@ -515,8 +509,6 @@ static void surface_state_destroy(struct wlr_surface_state *state) {
 	pixman_region32_fini(&state->buffer_damage);
 	pixman_region32_fini(&state->opaque);
 	pixman_region32_fini(&state->input);
-
-	free(state);
 }
 
 static void subsurface_destroy(struct wlr_subsurface *subsurface) {
@@ -527,7 +519,7 @@ static void subsurface_destroy(struct wlr_subsurface *subsurface) {
 	wlr_signal_emit_safe(&subsurface->events.destroy, subsurface);
 
 	wl_list_remove(&subsurface->surface_destroy.link);
-	surface_state_destroy(subsurface->cached);
+	surface_state_finish(&subsurface->cached);
 
 	if (subsurface->parent) {
 		wl_list_remove(&subsurface->parent_link);
@@ -550,8 +542,8 @@ static void surface_handle_resource_destroy(struct wl_resource *resource) {
 	wl_list_remove(wl_resource_get_link(surface->resource));
 
 	wl_list_remove(&surface->renderer_destroy.link);
-	surface_state_destroy(surface->pending);
-	surface_state_destroy(surface->current);
+	surface_state_finish(&surface->pending);
+	surface_state_finish(&surface->current);
 	wlr_buffer_unref(surface->buffer);
 	free(surface);
 }
@@ -587,8 +579,8 @@ struct wlr_surface *wlr_surface_create(struct wl_client *client,
 
 	surface->renderer = renderer;
 
-	surface->current = surface_state_create();
-	surface->pending = surface_state_create();
+	surface_state_init(&surface->current);
+	surface_state_init(&surface->pending);
 
 	wl_signal_init(&surface->events.commit);
 	wl_signal_init(&surface->events.destroy);
@@ -790,15 +782,15 @@ static void subsurface_role_committed(struct wlr_surface *surface, void *data) {
 
 		// TODO: take the previous size
 		pixman_region32_union_rect(
-			&subsurface->surface->pending->surface_damage,
-			&subsurface->surface->pending->surface_damage, dx, dy,
-			subsurface->surface->current->width,
-			subsurface->surface->current->height);
+			&subsurface->surface->pending.surface_damage,
+			&subsurface->surface->pending.surface_damage, dx, dy,
+			subsurface->surface->current.width,
+			subsurface->surface->current.height);
 		pixman_region32_union_rect(
-			&subsurface->surface->pending->surface_damage,
-			&subsurface->surface->pending->surface_damage, 0, 0,
-			subsurface->surface->pending->width,
-			subsurface->surface->pending->height);
+			&subsurface->surface->pending.surface_damage,
+			&subsurface->surface->pending.surface_damage, 0, 0,
+			subsurface->surface->pending.width,
+			subsurface->surface->pending.height);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -832,18 +824,13 @@ struct wlr_subsurface *wlr_subsurface_create(struct wlr_surface *surface,
 		wl_client_post_no_memory(client);
 		return NULL;
 	}
-	subsurface->cached = surface_state_create();
-	if (subsurface->cached == NULL) {
-		free(subsurface);
-		wl_client_post_no_memory(client);
-		return NULL;
-	}
+	surface_state_init(&subsurface->cached);
 	subsurface->synchronized = true;
 	subsurface->surface = surface;
 	subsurface->resource =
 		wl_resource_create(client, &wl_subsurface_interface, version, id);
 	if (subsurface->resource == NULL) {
-		surface_state_destroy(subsurface->cached);
+		surface_state_finish(&subsurface->cached);
 		free(subsurface);
 		wl_client_post_no_memory(client);
 		return NULL;
@@ -892,9 +879,9 @@ struct wlr_surface *wlr_surface_get_root_surface(struct wlr_surface *surface) {
 
 bool wlr_surface_point_accepts_input(struct wlr_surface *surface,
 		double sx, double sy) {
-	return sx >= 0 && sx < surface->current->width &&
-		sy >= 0 && sy < surface->current->height &&
-		pixman_region32_contains_point(&surface->current->input, sx, sy, NULL);
+	return sx >= 0 && sx < surface->current.width &&
+		sy >= 0 && sy < surface->current.height &&
+		pixman_region32_contains_point(&surface->current.input, sx, sy, NULL);
 }
 
 struct wlr_surface *wlr_surface_surface_at(struct wlr_surface *surface,
@@ -949,7 +936,7 @@ void wlr_surface_send_frame_done(struct wlr_surface *surface,
 		const struct timespec *when) {
 	struct wl_resource *resource, *tmp;
 	wl_resource_for_each_safe(resource, tmp,
-			&surface->current->frame_callback_list) {
+			&surface->current.frame_callback_list) {
 		wl_callback_send_done(resource, timespec_to_msec(when));
 		wl_resource_destroy(resource);
 	}
@@ -994,16 +981,16 @@ static void handle_bounding_box_surface(struct wlr_surface *surface,
 	acc->min_x = min(x, acc->min_x);
 	acc->min_y = min(y, acc->min_y);
 
-	acc->max_x = max(x + surface->current->width, acc->max_x);
-	acc->max_y = max(y + surface->current->height, acc->max_y);
+	acc->max_x = max(x + surface->current.width, acc->max_x);
+	acc->max_y = max(y + surface->current.height, acc->max_y);
 }
 
 void wlr_surface_get_extends(struct wlr_surface *surface, struct wlr_box *box) {
 	struct bound_acc acc = {
 		.min_x = 0,
 		.min_y = 0,
-		.max_x = surface->current->width,
-		.max_y = surface->current->height,
+		.max_x = surface->current.width,
+		.max_y = surface->current.height,
 	};
 
 	wlr_surface_for_each_surface(surface, handle_bounding_box_surface, &acc);
diff --git a/types/xdg_shell/wlr_xdg_toplevel.c b/types/xdg_shell/wlr_xdg_toplevel.c
index c1350931..5d0bfa1f 100644
--- a/types/xdg_shell/wlr_xdg_toplevel.c
+++ b/types/xdg_shell/wlr_xdg_toplevel.c
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ bool compare_xdg_surface_toplevel_state(struct wlr_xdg_toplevel *state) {
 	if (wl_list_empty(&state->base->configure_list)) {
 		// last configure is actually the current state, just use it
 		configured.state = state->current;
-		configured.width = state->base->surface->current->width;
-		configured.height = state->base->surface->current->height;
+		configured.width = state->base->surface->current.width;
+		configured.height = state->base->surface->current.height;
 	} else {
 		struct wlr_xdg_surface_configure *configure =
 			wl_container_of(state->base->configure_list.prev, configure, link);
diff --git a/types/xdg_shell_v6/wlr_xdg_toplevel_v6.c b/types/xdg_shell_v6/wlr_xdg_toplevel_v6.c
index e2e1e480..29cbe2dd 100644
--- a/types/xdg_shell_v6/wlr_xdg_toplevel_v6.c
+++ b/types/xdg_shell_v6/wlr_xdg_toplevel_v6.c
@@ -287,8 +287,8 @@ bool compare_xdg_surface_v6_toplevel_state(struct wlr_xdg_toplevel_v6 *state) {
 	if (wl_list_empty(&state->base->configure_list)) {
 		// last configure is actually the current state, just use it
 		configured.state = state->current;
-		configured.width = state->base->surface->current->width;
-		configured.height = state->base->surface->current->height;
+		configured.width = state->base->surface->current.width;
+		configured.height = state->base->surface->current.height;
 	} else {
 		struct wlr_xdg_surface_v6_configure *configure =
 			wl_container_of(state->base->configure_list.prev, configure, link);