diff --git a/backend/wayland/backend.c b/backend/wayland/backend.c
index 42f4d6e2..60ac76cb 100644
--- a/backend/wayland/backend.c
+++ b/backend/wayland/backend.c
@@ -452,21 +452,19 @@ struct wlr_backend *wlr_wl_backend_create(struct wl_display *display,
 			goto error_drm_fd;
 		}
 
-		struct wlr_allocator *alloc = wlr_gbm_allocator_create(drm_fd);
-		if (alloc == NULL) {
+		wl->allocator = wlr_gbm_allocator_create(drm_fd);
+		if (wl->allocator == NULL) {
 			wlr_log(WLR_ERROR, "Failed to create GBM allocator");
 			close(drm_fd);
 			goto error_drm_fd;
 		}
-		wl->allocator = alloc;
 	} else {
 		wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG, "No render node found, falling back to shared memory");
-		struct wlr_shm_allocator *shm_alloc = wlr_shm_allocator_create();
-		if (shm_alloc == NULL) {
+		wl->allocator = wlr_shm_allocator_create();
+		if (wl->allocator == NULL) {
 			wlr_log(WLR_ERROR, "Failed to create shared memory allocator");
 			goto error_remote_display_src;
 		}
-		wl->allocator = &shm_alloc->base;
 	}
 
 	wl->renderer = wlr_renderer_autocreate(&wl->backend);
diff --git a/backend/x11/backend.c b/backend/x11/backend.c
index 06bbfc6c..743f19ff 100644
--- a/backend/x11/backend.c
+++ b/backend/x11/backend.c
@@ -622,22 +622,20 @@ struct wlr_backend *wlr_x11_backend_create(struct wl_display *display,
 			goto error_event;
 		}
 
-		struct wlr_allocator *alloc = wlr_gbm_allocator_create(drm_fd);
-		if (alloc == NULL) {
+		x11->allocator = wlr_gbm_allocator_create(drm_fd);
+		if (x11->allocator == NULL) {
 			wlr_log(WLR_ERROR, "Failed to create GBM allocator");
 			close(drm_fd);
 			goto error_event;
 		}
-		x11->allocator = alloc;
 		pixmap_formats = &x11->dri3_formats;
 	} else if (x11->have_shm) {
 		x11->drm_fd = -1;
-		struct wlr_shm_allocator *shm_alloc = wlr_shm_allocator_create();
-		if (shm_alloc == NULL) {
+		x11->allocator = wlr_shm_allocator_create();
+		if (x11->allocator == NULL) {
 			wlr_log(WLR_ERROR, "Failed to create shared memory allocator");
 			goto error_event;
 		}
-		x11->allocator = &shm_alloc->base;
 		pixmap_formats = &x11->shm_formats;
 	} else {
 		wlr_log(WLR_ERROR,
diff --git a/include/render/shm_allocator.h b/include/render/shm_allocator.h
index e6cba83b..d1f48f7f 100644
--- a/include/render/shm_allocator.h
+++ b/include/render/shm_allocator.h
@@ -18,6 +18,6 @@ struct wlr_shm_allocator {
 /**
  * Creates a new shared memory allocator.
  */
-struct wlr_shm_allocator *wlr_shm_allocator_create(void);
+struct wlr_allocator *wlr_shm_allocator_create(void);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/render/shm_allocator.c b/render/shm_allocator.c
index 8da7bea6..16d0e5c9 100644
--- a/render/shm_allocator.c
+++ b/render/shm_allocator.c
@@ -98,12 +98,13 @@ static const struct wlr_allocator_interface allocator_impl = {
 	.create_buffer = allocator_create_buffer,
 };
 
-struct wlr_shm_allocator *wlr_shm_allocator_create(void) {
+struct wlr_allocator *wlr_shm_allocator_create(void) {
 	struct wlr_shm_allocator *allocator = calloc(1, sizeof(*allocator));
 	if (allocator == NULL) {
 		return NULL;
 	}
 	wlr_allocator_init(&allocator->base, &allocator_impl);
 
-	return allocator;
+	wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG, "Created shm allocator");
+	return &allocator->base;
 }