diff --git a/src/context.c b/src/context.c
index a861273d..4985aaff 100644
--- a/src/context.c
+++ b/src/context.c
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@
 #include "types-internal.h"
 #include "util-internal.h"
 
+void *plain_mem_funcs_user_arg = MF_PLAIN;
+
 /* Private functions */
 static uint16_t *create_default_namespaces(struct getdns_context *context);
 static struct getdns_list *create_default_root_servers();
@@ -256,9 +258,11 @@ getdns_context_create_with_memory_functions(struct getdns_context ** context,
 	}
 
 	result->update_callback = NULL;
-	result->malloc  = malloc;
-	result->realloc = realloc;
-	result->free    = free;
+
+	result->mf_arg          = MF_PLAIN;
+	result->mf.pln.malloc   = malloc;
+	result->mf.pln.realloc  = realloc;
+	result->mf.pln.free     = free;
 
 	result->event_base_sync = event_base_new();
 	result->unbound_sync = ub_ctx_create_event(result->event_base_sync);
@@ -800,9 +804,10 @@ getdns_context_set_memory_functions(struct getdns_context *context,
 	if (!malloc || !realloc || !free)
 		return GETDNS_RETURN_CONTEXT_UPDATE_FAIL;
 
-	context->malloc = malloc;
-	context->realloc = realloc;
-	context->free = free;
+	context->mf_arg         = MF_PLAIN;
+	context->mf.pln.malloc  = malloc;
+	context->mf.pln.realloc = realloc;
+	context->mf.pln.free    = free;
 
 	dispatch_updated(context, GETDNS_CONTEXT_CODE_MEMORY_FUNCTIONS);
 
diff --git a/src/context.h b/src/context.h
index 2a04b147..1e5f3964 100644
--- a/src/context.h
+++ b/src/context.h
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #define _GETDNS_CONTEXT_H_
 
 #include <getdns/getdns.h>
+#include "types-internal.h"
 
 struct event_base;
 struct getdns_dns_req;
@@ -58,9 +59,8 @@ struct getdns_context {
 	uint8_t edns_do_bit;
 
 	getdns_update_callback update_callback;
-	void *(*malloc)(size_t);
-	void *(*realloc)(void *, size_t);
-	void (*free)(void *);
+	void *mf_arg;
+	mem_funcs mf;
 
 	/* Event loop for sync requests */
 	struct event_base *event_base_sync;
diff --git a/src/dict.c b/src/dict.c
index 0592ec32..97345010 100644
--- a/src/dict.c
+++ b/src/dict.c
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ getdns_dict_find(struct getdns_dict *dict, char *key, int addifnotfnd)
 	if (!item && addifnotfnd) {
 		/* tsearch will add a node automatically for us */
 		item = GETDNS_MALLOC(dict, struct getdns_dict_item);
-		item->node.key = getdns_strdup(dict->malloc, key);
+		item->node.key = getdns_strdup(dict->mf.pln.malloc, key);
 		item->data.n = 0;
 		ldns_rbtree_insert(&(dict->root), (ldns_rbnode_t *) item);
 	}
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ getdns_dict_get_names(struct getdns_dict * dict, struct getdns_list ** answer)
 		return GETDNS_RETURN_NO_SUCH_DICT_NAME;
 
 	*answer = getdns_list_create_with_memory_functions(
-	    dict->malloc, dict->realloc, dict->free);
+	    dict->mf.pln.malloc, dict->mf.pln.realloc, dict->mf.pln.free);
 	if (!*answer)
 		return GETDNS_RETURN_NO_SUCH_DICT_NAME;
 
@@ -200,9 +200,11 @@ getdns_dict_create_with_memory_functions(void *(*malloc)(size_t),
 	if (!dict)
 		return NULL;
 
-	dict->malloc  = malloc;
-	dict->realloc = realloc;
-	dict->free    = free;
+	dict->mf_arg         = MF_PLAIN;
+	dict->mf.pln.malloc  = malloc;
+	dict->mf.pln.realloc = realloc;
+	dict->mf.pln.free    = free;
+
 	ldns_rbtree_init(&(dict->root),
 	    (int (*)(const void *, const void *)) strcmp);
 	return dict;
@@ -214,8 +216,9 @@ struct getdns_dict *
 getdns_dict_create_with_context(struct getdns_context *context)
 {
 	if (context)
-		return getdns_dict_create_with_memory_functions(context->malloc,
-		    context->realloc, context->free);
+		return getdns_dict_create_with_memory_functions(
+		    context->mf.pln.malloc,
+		    context->mf.pln.realloc, context->mf.pln.free);
 	else
 		return getdns_dict_create_with_memory_functions(&malloc,
 		    &realloc, &free);
@@ -252,7 +255,7 @@ getdns_dict_copy(struct getdns_dict * srcdict, struct getdns_dict ** dstdict)
 		return GETDNS_RETURN_GOOD;
 	}
 	*dstdict = getdns_dict_create_with_memory_functions(
-	    srcdict->malloc, srcdict->realloc, srcdict->free);
+	    srcdict->mf.pln.malloc, srcdict->mf.pln.realloc, srcdict->mf.pln.free);
 	if (!*dstdict)
 		return GETDNS_RETURN_NO_SUCH_DICT_NAME;
 
@@ -306,7 +309,7 @@ getdns_dict_item_free(ldns_rbnode_t * node, void *arg)
 
 	switch (item->dtype) {
 	case t_bindata:
-		getdns_bindata_destroy(dict->free, item->data.bindata);
+		getdns_bindata_destroy(dict->mf.pln.free, item->data.bindata);
 		break;
 	case t_dict:
 		getdns_dict_destroy(item->data.dict);
@@ -398,13 +401,13 @@ getdns_dict_set_bindata(struct getdns_dict * dict, char *name,
 		return GETDNS_RETURN_NO_SUCH_DICT_NAME;
 
 	newbindata = getdns_bindata_copy(
-	    dict->malloc, dict->free, child_bindata);
+	    dict->mf.pln.malloc, dict->mf.pln.free, child_bindata);
 	if (!newbindata)
 		return GETDNS_RETURN_NO_SUCH_DICT_NAME;
 
 	item = getdns_dict_find(dict, name, 1);
 	if (!item) {
-		getdns_bindata_destroy(dict->free, newbindata);
+		getdns_bindata_destroy(dict->mf.pln.free, newbindata);
 		return GETDNS_RETURN_NO_SUCH_DICT_NAME;
 	}
 	item->dtype = t_bindata;
diff --git a/src/dict.h b/src/dict.h
index 26a72f96..c21a7bff 100644
--- a/src/dict.h
+++ b/src/dict.h
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 
 #include <getdns/getdns.h>
 #include <ldns/rbtree.h>
+#include "types-internal.h"
 
 union getdns_item
 {
@@ -66,9 +67,8 @@ struct getdns_dict_item
 struct getdns_dict
 {
 	ldns_rbtree_t root;
-	void *(*malloc)(size_t);
-	void *(*realloc)(void *, size_t);
-	void (*free)(void *);
+	void *mf_arg;
+	mem_funcs mf;
 };
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/getdns/getdns.h b/src/getdns/getdns.h
index 121aadd8..0ef5c5f3 100644
--- a/src/getdns/getdns.h
+++ b/src/getdns/getdns.h
@@ -506,8 +506,16 @@ getdns_return_t getdns_dict_get_int(struct getdns_dict *this_dict, char *name,
 struct getdns_list *getdns_list_create();
 struct getdns_list *getdns_list_create_with_context(struct getdns_context *context);
 struct getdns_list *getdns_list_create_with_memory_functions(
-    void *(*malloc) (size_t), void *(*realloc) (void *, size_t),
-    void (*free) (void *));
+    void *(*malloc) (size_t),
+    void *(*realloc) (void *, size_t),
+    void (*free) (void *)
+);
+struct getdns_list *getdns_list_create_with_extended_memory_functions(
+    void *userarg,
+    void *(*malloc) (void *userarg, size_t),
+    void *(*realloc) (void *userarg, void *, size_t),
+    void (*free) (void *userarg, void *)
+);
 
 /**
  * free memory allocated to the list (also frees all children of the list)
@@ -567,8 +575,16 @@ getdns_return_t getdns_list_set_int(struct getdns_list *this_list, size_t index,
 struct getdns_dict *getdns_dict_create();
 struct getdns_dict *getdns_dict_create_with_context(struct getdns_context *context);
 struct getdns_dict *getdns_dict_create_with_memory_functions(
-    void *(*malloc) (size_t), void *(*realloc) (void *, size_t),
-    void (*free) (void *));
+    void *(*malloc) (size_t),
+    void *(*realloc) (void *, size_t),
+    void (*free) (void *)
+);
+struct getdns_dict *getdns_dict_create_with_extended_memory_functions(
+    void *userarg,
+    void *(*malloc) (void *userarg, size_t),
+    void *(*realloc) (void *userarg, void *, size_t),
+    void (*free) (void *userarg, void *)
+);
 
 /**
  * destroy a dictionary and all items within that dictionary
@@ -643,16 +659,27 @@ getdns_service(struct getdns_context *context,
     void *userarg,
     getdns_transaction_t * transaction_id, getdns_callback_t callbackfn);
 
-getdns_return_t getdns_context_create_with_memory_functions(
+getdns_return_t
+getdns_context_create(struct getdns_context ** context, int set_from_os);
+
+getdns_return_t
+getdns_context_create_with_memory_functions(
     struct getdns_context ** context,
     int set_from_os,
     void *(*malloc) (size_t),
     void *(*realloc) (void *, size_t),
     void (*free) (void *)
-    );
+);
 
-getdns_return_t getdns_context_create(struct getdns_context ** context,
-    int set_from_os);
+getdns_return_t
+getdns_context_create_with_extended_memory_functions(
+    struct getdns_context **context,
+    int set_from_os,
+    void *userarg,
+    void *(*malloc) (void *userarg, size_t),
+    void *(*realloc) (void *userarg, void *, size_t),
+    void (*free) (void *userarg, void *)
+);
 
 void getdns_context_destroy(struct getdns_context *context);
 
@@ -832,6 +859,14 @@ getdns_context_set_memory_functions(struct getdns_context *context,
     void (*free) (void *)
     );
 
+getdns_return_t
+getdns_context_set_extended_memory_functions(struct getdns_context *context,
+    void *userarg,
+    void *(*malloc) (void *userarg, size_t sz),
+    void *(*realloc) (void *userarg, void *ptr, size_t sz),
+    void (*free) (void *userarg, void *ptr)
+    );
+
 /* Extension - refactor to abstract async evt loop */
 /* For libevent, which we are using for these examples */
 getdns_return_t
diff --git a/src/list.c b/src/list.c
index c3890487..70099bfb 100644
--- a/src/list.c
+++ b/src/list.c
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ getdns_list_copy(struct getdns_list * srclist, struct getdns_list ** dstlist)
 		return GETDNS_RETURN_GOOD;
 	}
 	*dstlist = getdns_list_create_with_memory_functions(
-	    srclist->malloc, srclist->realloc, srclist->free);
+	    srclist->mf.pln.malloc, srclist->mf.pln.realloc, srclist->mf.pln.free);
 	if (!dstlist)
 		return GETDNS_RETURN_NO_SUCH_LIST_ITEM;
 
@@ -219,9 +219,11 @@ getdns_list_create_with_memory_functions(void *(*malloc)(size_t),
 	if (!list)
 		return NULL;
 	
-	list->malloc   = malloc;
-	list->realloc  = realloc;
-	list->free     = free;
+	list->mf_arg         = MF_PLAIN;
+	list->mf.pln.malloc  = malloc;
+	list->mf.pln.realloc = realloc;
+	list->mf.pln.free    = free;
+
 	list->numalloc = 0;
 	list->numinuse = 0;
 	list->items = NULL;
@@ -237,8 +239,9 @@ struct getdns_list *
 getdns_list_create_with_context(struct getdns_context *context)
 {
 	if (context)
-		return getdns_list_create_with_memory_functions(context->malloc,
-		    context->realloc, context->free);
+		return getdns_list_create_with_memory_functions(
+		    context->mf.pln.malloc,
+		    context->mf.pln.realloc, context->mf.pln.free);
 	else
 		return getdns_list_create_with_memory_functions(malloc,
 		    realloc, free);
@@ -271,7 +274,7 @@ getdns_list_destroy(struct getdns_list *list)
 			break;
 
 		case t_bindata:
-			getdns_bindata_destroy(list->free,
+			getdns_bindata_destroy(list->mf.pln.free,
 			    list->items[i].data.bindata);
 			break;
 
@@ -375,7 +378,7 @@ getdns_list_set_bindata(struct getdns_list * list, size_t index,
 		return GETDNS_RETURN_NO_SUCH_LIST_ITEM;
 
 	newbindata = getdns_bindata_copy(
-	    list->malloc, list->free, child_bindata);
+	    list->mf.pln.malloc, list->mf.pln.free, child_bindata);
 	if (!newbindata)
 		return GETDNS_RETURN_NO_SUCH_LIST_ITEM;
 
diff --git a/src/list.h b/src/list.h
index d5267769..88d5b02b 100644
--- a/src/list.h
+++ b/src/list.h
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #define _GETDNS_LIST_H_
 
 #include <getdns/getdns.h>
+#include "types-internal.h"
 
 #define GETDNS_LIST_BLOCKSZ 10
 
@@ -63,10 +64,8 @@ struct getdns_list
 	int numalloc;
 	int numinuse;
 	struct getdns_list_item *items;
-	void *(*malloc)(size_t);
-	void *(*realloc)(void *, size_t);
-	void (*free)(void *);
+	void *mf_arg;
+	mem_funcs mf;
 };
 
-
 #endif
diff --git a/src/request-internal.c b/src/request-internal.c
index 093a90db..edbd85f6 100644
--- a/src/request-internal.c
+++ b/src/request-internal.c
@@ -44,10 +44,6 @@
 #include "util-internal.h"
 #include <unbound.h>
 
-/* useful macros */
-#define gd_malloc(sz) context->malloc(sz)
-#define gd_free(ptr) context->free(ptr)
-
 void
 network_req_free(getdns_network_req * net_req)
 {
@@ -58,7 +54,7 @@ network_req_free(getdns_network_req * net_req)
 	if (net_req->result) {
 		ldns_pkt_free(net_req->result);
 	}
-	gd_free(net_req);
+	GETDNS_FREE(context, net_req);
 }
 
 getdns_network_req *
@@ -68,7 +64,8 @@ network_req_new(getdns_dns_req * owner,
 {
 
 	struct getdns_context *context = owner->context;
-	getdns_network_req *net_req = gd_malloc(sizeof(getdns_network_req));
+	getdns_network_req *net_req = GETDNS_MALLOC( context
+	                                           , getdns_network_req);
 	if (!net_req) {
 		return NULL;
 	}
@@ -120,7 +117,7 @@ dns_req_free(getdns_dns_req * req)
 	/* free strduped name */
 	free(req->name);
 
-	gd_free(req);
+	GETDNS_FREE(context, req);
 }
 
 /* create a new dns req to be submitted */
@@ -135,7 +132,7 @@ dns_req_new(struct getdns_context *context,
 	getdns_return_t r;
 	uint32_t both = GETDNS_EXTENSION_FALSE;
 
-	result = gd_malloc(sizeof(getdns_dns_req));
+	result = GETDNS_MALLOC(context, getdns_dns_req);
 	if (result == NULL) {
 		return NULL;
 	}
diff --git a/src/types-internal.h b/src/types-internal.h
index 2859f6d2..59709572 100644
--- a/src/types-internal.h
+++ b/src/types-internal.h
@@ -36,8 +36,9 @@
 #ifndef TYPES_INTERNAL_H_
 #define TYPES_INTERNAL_H_
 
-#include "context.h"
+#include <getdns/getdns.h>
 #include <ldns/ldns.h>
+struct getdns_context;
 
 /**
  * \defgroup strings String Constants
@@ -175,16 +176,43 @@ typedef struct getdns_dns_req
 
 } getdns_dns_req;
 
+#define MF_PLAIN ((void *)&plain_mem_funcs_user_arg)
+extern void *plain_mem_funcs_user_arg;
+
+typedef union {
+	struct {
+		void *(*malloc)(size_t);
+		void *(*realloc)(void *, size_t);
+		void (*free)(void *);
+	} pln;
+	struct {
+		void *(*malloc)(void *userarg, size_t);
+		void *(*realloc)(void *userarg, void *, size_t);
+		void (*free)(void *userarg, void *);
+	} ext;
+} mem_funcs;
+
 #define GETDNS_XMALLOC(obj, type, count)	\
-    ((obj) ? ((type *) (*(obj)->malloc)((count)*sizeof(type))) \
-           : ((type *)          malloc ((count)*sizeof(type))))
+    ((!(obj)) ? ((type *)malloc((count)*sizeof(type))) \
+    : ((obj)->mf_arg == MF_PLAIN \
+    ? ((type *)(*(obj)->mf.pln.malloc)(               (count)*sizeof(type))) \
+    : ((type *)(*(obj)->mf.ext.malloc)((obj)->mf_arg, (count)*sizeof(type))) \
+    ))
 
 #define GETDNS_XREALLOC(obj, ptr, type, count)	\
-    ((obj) ? ((type *) (*(obj)->realloc)((ptr),(count)*sizeof(type))) \
-           : ((type *)          realloc ((ptr),(count)*sizeof(type))))
+    ((!(obj)) ? ((type *)realloc((ptr), (count)*sizeof(type))) \
+    : ((obj)->mf_arg == MF_PLAIN \
+    ? ((type *)(*(obj)->mf.pln.realloc)( (ptr), (count)*sizeof(type))) \
+    : ((type *)(*(obj)->mf.ext.realloc)( (obj)->mf_arg                 \
+                                       , (ptr), (count)*sizeof(type))) \
+    ))
 
-#define GETDNS_FREE(obj, ptr)			\
-    ((obj) ? ((*(obj)->free)(ptr)) : free(ptr))
+#define GETDNS_FREE(obj, ptr)	\
+    ((!(obj)) ? free(ptr) \
+    : ((obj)->mf_arg == MF_PLAIN \
+    ? ((*(obj)->mf.pln.free)(               (ptr))) \
+    : ((*(obj)->mf.ext.free)((obj)->mf_arg, (ptr))) \
+    ))
 
 #define GETDNS_MALLOC(obj, type)	GETDNS_XMALLOC(obj, type, 1)
 #define GETDNS_REALLOC(obj, ptr, type)	GETDNS_XREALLOC(obj, ptr, type, 1);