diff --git a/hw/9pfs/9p.c b/hw/9pfs/9p.c
index 15fb0ab75d..db5f4780dc 100644
--- a/hw/9pfs/9p.c
+++ b/hw/9pfs/9p.c
@@ -1587,7 +1587,7 @@ static int v9fs_xattr_read(V9fsState *s, V9fsPDU *pdu, V9fsFidState *fidp,
     int read_count;
     int64_t xattr_len;
     V9fsVirtioState *v = container_of(s, V9fsVirtioState, state);
-    VirtQueueElement *elem = &v->elems[pdu->idx];
+    VirtQueueElement *elem = v->elems[pdu->idx];
 
     xattr_len = fidp->fs.xattr.len;
     read_count = xattr_len - off;
diff --git a/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-device.c b/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-device.c
index c5f7b92640..a38850ee89 100644
--- a/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-device.c
+++ b/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-device.c
@@ -26,10 +26,12 @@ void virtio_9p_push_and_notify(V9fsPDU *pdu)
 {
     V9fsState *s = pdu->s;
     V9fsVirtioState *v = container_of(s, V9fsVirtioState, state);
-    VirtQueueElement *elem = &v->elems[pdu->idx];
+    VirtQueueElement *elem = v->elems[pdu->idx];
 
     /* push onto queue and notify */
     virtqueue_push(v->vq, elem, pdu->size);
+    g_free(elem);
+    v->elems[pdu->idx] = NULL;
 
     /* FIXME: we should batch these completions */
     virtio_notify(VIRTIO_DEVICE(v), v->vq);
@@ -48,10 +50,10 @@ static void handle_9p_output(VirtIODevice *vdev, VirtQueue *vq)
             uint8_t id;
             uint16_t tag_le;
         } QEMU_PACKED out;
-        VirtQueueElement *elem = &v->elems[pdu->idx];
+        VirtQueueElement *elem;
 
-        len = virtqueue_pop(vq, elem);
-        if (!len) {
+        elem = virtqueue_pop(vq, sizeof(VirtQueueElement));
+        if (!elem) {
             pdu_free(pdu);
             break;
         }
@@ -59,6 +61,7 @@ static void handle_9p_output(VirtIODevice *vdev, VirtQueue *vq)
         BUG_ON(elem->out_num == 0 || elem->in_num == 0);
         QEMU_BUILD_BUG_ON(sizeof out != 7);
 
+        v->elems[pdu->idx] = elem;
         len = iov_to_buf(elem->out_sg, elem->out_num, 0,
                          &out, sizeof out);
         BUG_ON(len != sizeof out);
@@ -141,7 +144,7 @@ ssize_t virtio_pdu_vmarshal(V9fsPDU *pdu, size_t offset,
 {
     V9fsState *s = pdu->s;
     V9fsVirtioState *v = container_of(s, V9fsVirtioState, state);
-    VirtQueueElement *elem = &v->elems[pdu->idx];
+    VirtQueueElement *elem = v->elems[pdu->idx];
 
     return v9fs_iov_vmarshal(elem->in_sg, elem->in_num, offset, 1, fmt, ap);
 }
@@ -151,7 +154,7 @@ ssize_t virtio_pdu_vunmarshal(V9fsPDU *pdu, size_t offset,
 {
     V9fsState *s = pdu->s;
     V9fsVirtioState *v = container_of(s, V9fsVirtioState, state);
-    VirtQueueElement *elem = &v->elems[pdu->idx];
+    VirtQueueElement *elem = v->elems[pdu->idx];
 
     return v9fs_iov_vunmarshal(elem->out_sg, elem->out_num, offset, 1, fmt, ap);
 }
@@ -161,7 +164,7 @@ void virtio_init_iov_from_pdu(V9fsPDU *pdu, struct iovec **piov,
 {
     V9fsState *s = pdu->s;
     V9fsVirtioState *v = container_of(s, V9fsVirtioState, state);
-    VirtQueueElement *elem = &v->elems[pdu->idx];
+    VirtQueueElement *elem = v->elems[pdu->idx];
 
     if (is_write) {
         *piov = elem->out_sg;
diff --git a/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p.h b/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p.h
index 1cdf0a2d65..7f6d885539 100644
--- a/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p.h
+++ b/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p.h
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ typedef struct V9fsVirtioState
     VirtQueue *vq;
     size_t config_size;
     V9fsPDU pdus[MAX_REQ];
-    VirtQueueElement elems[MAX_REQ];
+    VirtQueueElement *elems[MAX_REQ];
     V9fsState state;
 } V9fsVirtioState;
 
diff --git a/hw/block/dataplane/virtio-blk.c b/hw/block/dataplane/virtio-blk.c
index ee0c4d4070..0d9978109c 100644
--- a/hw/block/dataplane/virtio-blk.c
+++ b/hw/block/dataplane/virtio-blk.c
@@ -100,20 +100,19 @@ static void handle_notify(EventNotifier *e)
     blk_io_plug(s->conf->conf.blk);
     for (;;) {
         MultiReqBuffer mrb = {};
-        int ret;
 
         /* Disable guest->host notifies to avoid unnecessary vmexits */
         vring_disable_notification(s->vdev, &s->vring);
 
         for (;;) {
-            VirtIOBlockReq *req = virtio_blk_alloc_request(vblk);
+            VirtIOBlockReq *req = vring_pop(s->vdev, &s->vring,
+                                            sizeof(VirtIOBlockReq));
 
-            ret = vring_pop(s->vdev, &s->vring, &req->elem);
-            if (ret < 0) {
-                virtio_blk_free_request(req);
+            if (req == NULL) {
                 break; /* no more requests */
             }
 
+            virtio_blk_init_request(vblk, req);
             trace_virtio_blk_data_plane_process_request(s, req->elem.out_num,
                                                         req->elem.in_num,
                                                         req->elem.index);
@@ -125,7 +124,7 @@ static void handle_notify(EventNotifier *e)
             virtio_blk_submit_multireq(s->conf->conf.blk, &mrb);
         }
 
-        if (likely(ret == -EAGAIN)) { /* vring emptied */
+        if (likely(!vring_more_avail(s->vdev, &s->vring))) { /* vring emptied */
             /* Re-enable guest->host notifies and stop processing the vring.
              * But if the guest has snuck in more descriptors, keep processing.
              */
diff --git a/hw/block/virtio-blk.c b/hw/block/virtio-blk.c
index 11bedff6d6..bf70b52dfd 100644
--- a/hw/block/virtio-blk.c
+++ b/hw/block/virtio-blk.c
@@ -29,15 +29,13 @@
 #include "hw/virtio/virtio-bus.h"
 #include "hw/virtio/virtio-access.h"
 
-VirtIOBlockReq *virtio_blk_alloc_request(VirtIOBlock *s)
+void virtio_blk_init_request(VirtIOBlock *s, VirtIOBlockReq *req)
 {
-    VirtIOBlockReq *req = g_new(VirtIOBlockReq, 1);
     req->dev = s;
     req->qiov.size = 0;
     req->in_len = 0;
     req->next = NULL;
     req->mr_next = NULL;
-    return req;
 }
 
 void virtio_blk_free_request(VirtIOBlockReq *req)
@@ -193,13 +191,11 @@ out:
 
 static VirtIOBlockReq *virtio_blk_get_request(VirtIOBlock *s)
 {
-    VirtIOBlockReq *req = virtio_blk_alloc_request(s);
+    VirtIOBlockReq *req = virtqueue_pop(s->vq, sizeof(VirtIOBlockReq));
 
-    if (!virtqueue_pop(s->vq, &req->elem)) {
-        virtio_blk_free_request(req);
-        return NULL;
+    if (req) {
+        virtio_blk_init_request(s, req);
     }
-
     return req;
 }
 
@@ -836,7 +832,8 @@ static int virtio_blk_load_device(VirtIODevice *vdev, QEMUFile *f,
     VirtIOBlock *s = VIRTIO_BLK(vdev);
 
     while (qemu_get_sbyte(f)) {
-        VirtIOBlockReq *req = virtio_blk_alloc_request(s);
+        VirtIOBlockReq *req = g_new(VirtIOBlockReq, 1);
+        virtio_blk_init_request(s, req);
         qemu_get_buffer(f, (unsigned char *)&req->elem,
                         sizeof(VirtQueueElement));
         req->next = s->rq;
diff --git a/hw/char/virtio-serial-bus.c b/hw/char/virtio-serial-bus.c
index 8d5c740558..cf3d12b9d5 100644
--- a/hw/char/virtio-serial-bus.c
+++ b/hw/char/virtio-serial-bus.c
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ static bool use_multiport(VirtIOSerial *vser)
 static size_t write_to_port(VirtIOSerialPort *port,
                             const uint8_t *buf, size_t size)
 {
-    VirtQueueElement elem;
+    VirtQueueElement *elem;
     VirtQueue *vq;
     size_t offset;
 
@@ -96,15 +96,17 @@ static size_t write_to_port(VirtIOSerialPort *port,
     while (offset < size) {
         size_t len;
 
-        if (!virtqueue_pop(vq, &elem)) {
+        elem = virtqueue_pop(vq, sizeof(VirtQueueElement));
+        if (!elem) {
             break;
         }
 
-        len = iov_from_buf(elem.in_sg, elem.in_num, 0,
+        len = iov_from_buf(elem->in_sg, elem->in_num, 0,
                            buf + offset, size - offset);
         offset += len;
 
-        virtqueue_push(vq, &elem, len);
+        virtqueue_push(vq, elem, len);
+        g_free(elem);
     }
 
     virtio_notify(VIRTIO_DEVICE(port->vser), vq);
@@ -113,13 +115,18 @@ static size_t write_to_port(VirtIOSerialPort *port,
 
 static void discard_vq_data(VirtQueue *vq, VirtIODevice *vdev)
 {
-    VirtQueueElement elem;
+    VirtQueueElement *elem;
 
     if (!virtio_queue_ready(vq)) {
         return;
     }
-    while (virtqueue_pop(vq, &elem)) {
-        virtqueue_push(vq, &elem, 0);
+    for (;;) {
+        elem = virtqueue_pop(vq, sizeof(VirtQueueElement));
+        if (!elem) {
+            break;
+        }
+        virtqueue_push(vq, elem, 0);
+        g_free(elem);
     }
     virtio_notify(vdev, vq);
 }
@@ -138,21 +145,22 @@ static void do_flush_queued_data(VirtIOSerialPort *port, VirtQueue *vq,
         unsigned int i;
 
         /* Pop an elem only if we haven't left off a previous one mid-way */
-        if (!port->elem.out_num) {
-            if (!virtqueue_pop(vq, &port->elem)) {
+        if (!port->elem) {
+            port->elem = virtqueue_pop(vq, sizeof(VirtQueueElement));
+            if (!port->elem) {
                 break;
             }
             port->iov_idx = 0;
             port->iov_offset = 0;
         }
 
-        for (i = port->iov_idx; i < port->elem.out_num; i++) {
+        for (i = port->iov_idx; i < port->elem->out_num; i++) {
             size_t buf_size;
             ssize_t ret;
 
-            buf_size = port->elem.out_sg[i].iov_len - port->iov_offset;
+            buf_size = port->elem->out_sg[i].iov_len - port->iov_offset;
             ret = vsc->have_data(port,
-                                  port->elem.out_sg[i].iov_base
+                                  port->elem->out_sg[i].iov_base
                                   + port->iov_offset,
                                   buf_size);
             if (port->throttled) {
@@ -167,8 +175,9 @@ static void do_flush_queued_data(VirtIOSerialPort *port, VirtQueue *vq,
         if (port->throttled) {
             break;
         }
-        virtqueue_push(vq, &port->elem, 0);
-        port->elem.out_num = 0;
+        virtqueue_push(vq, port->elem, 0);
+        g_free(port->elem);
+        port->elem = NULL;
     }
     virtio_notify(vdev, vq);
 }
@@ -185,22 +194,26 @@ static void flush_queued_data(VirtIOSerialPort *port)
 
 static size_t send_control_msg(VirtIOSerial *vser, void *buf, size_t len)
 {
-    VirtQueueElement elem;
+    VirtQueueElement *elem;
     VirtQueue *vq;
 
     vq = vser->c_ivq;
     if (!virtio_queue_ready(vq)) {
         return 0;
     }
-    if (!virtqueue_pop(vq, &elem)) {
+
+    elem = virtqueue_pop(vq, sizeof(VirtQueueElement));
+    if (!elem) {
         return 0;
     }
 
     /* TODO: detect a buffer that's too short, set NEEDS_RESET */
-    iov_from_buf(elem.in_sg, elem.in_num, 0, buf, len);
+    iov_from_buf(elem->in_sg, elem->in_num, 0, buf, len);
 
-    virtqueue_push(vq, &elem, len);
+    virtqueue_push(vq, elem, len);
     virtio_notify(VIRTIO_DEVICE(vser), vq);
+    g_free(elem);
+
     return len;
 }
 
@@ -414,7 +427,7 @@ static void control_in(VirtIODevice *vdev, VirtQueue *vq)
 
 static void control_out(VirtIODevice *vdev, VirtQueue *vq)
 {
-    VirtQueueElement elem;
+    VirtQueueElement *elem;
     VirtIOSerial *vser;
     uint8_t *buf;
     size_t len;
@@ -423,10 +436,15 @@ static void control_out(VirtIODevice *vdev, VirtQueue *vq)
 
     len = 0;
     buf = NULL;
-    while (virtqueue_pop(vq, &elem)) {
+    for (;;) {
         size_t cur_len;
 
-        cur_len = iov_size(elem.out_sg, elem.out_num);
+        elem = virtqueue_pop(vq, sizeof(VirtQueueElement));
+        if (!elem) {
+            break;
+        }
+
+        cur_len = iov_size(elem->out_sg, elem->out_num);
         /*
          * Allocate a new buf only if we didn't have one previously or
          * if the size of the buf differs
@@ -437,10 +455,11 @@ static void control_out(VirtIODevice *vdev, VirtQueue *vq)
             buf = g_malloc(cur_len);
             len = cur_len;
         }
-        iov_to_buf(elem.out_sg, elem.out_num, 0, buf, cur_len);
+        iov_to_buf(elem->out_sg, elem->out_num, 0, buf, cur_len);
 
         handle_control_message(vser, buf, cur_len);
-        virtqueue_push(vq, &elem, 0);
+        virtqueue_push(vq, elem, 0);
+        g_free(elem);
     }
     g_free(buf);
     virtio_notify(vdev, vq);
@@ -620,7 +639,7 @@ static void virtio_serial_save_device(VirtIODevice *vdev, QEMUFile *f)
         qemu_put_byte(f, port->host_connected);
 
 	elem_popped = 0;
-        if (port->elem.out_num) {
+        if (port->elem) {
             elem_popped = 1;
         }
         qemu_put_be32s(f, &elem_popped);
@@ -628,8 +647,8 @@ static void virtio_serial_save_device(VirtIODevice *vdev, QEMUFile *f)
             qemu_put_be32s(f, &port->iov_idx);
             qemu_put_be64s(f, &port->iov_offset);
 
-            qemu_put_buffer(f, (unsigned char *)&port->elem,
-                            sizeof(port->elem));
+            qemu_put_buffer(f, (unsigned char *)port->elem,
+                            sizeof(VirtQueueElement));
         }
     }
 }
@@ -704,9 +723,10 @@ static int fetch_active_ports_list(QEMUFile *f, int version_id,
                 qemu_get_be32s(f, &port->iov_idx);
                 qemu_get_be64s(f, &port->iov_offset);
 
-                qemu_get_buffer(f, (unsigned char *)&port->elem,
-                                sizeof(port->elem));
-                virtqueue_map(&port->elem);
+                port->elem = g_new(VirtQueueElement, 1);
+                qemu_get_buffer(f, (unsigned char *)port->elem,
+                                sizeof(VirtQueueElement));
+                virtqueue_map(port->elem);
 
                 /*
                  *  Port was throttled on source machine.  Let's
@@ -928,7 +948,7 @@ static void virtser_port_device_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
         return;
     }
 
-    port->elem.out_num = 0;
+    port->elem = NULL;
 }
 
 static void virtser_port_device_plug(HotplugHandler *hotplug_dev,
diff --git a/hw/display/virtio-gpu.c b/hw/display/virtio-gpu.c
index 1cb4002e0e..ddf3bfbef4 100644
--- a/hw/display/virtio-gpu.c
+++ b/hw/display/virtio-gpu.c
@@ -804,16 +804,15 @@ static void virtio_gpu_handle_ctrl(VirtIODevice *vdev, VirtQueue *vq)
     }
 #endif
 
-    cmd = g_new(struct virtio_gpu_ctrl_command, 1);
-    while (virtqueue_pop(vq, &cmd->elem)) {
+    cmd = virtqueue_pop(vq, sizeof(struct virtio_gpu_ctrl_command));
+    while (cmd) {
         cmd->vq = vq;
         cmd->error = 0;
         cmd->finished = false;
         cmd->waiting = false;
         QTAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&g->cmdq, cmd, next);
-        cmd = g_new(struct virtio_gpu_ctrl_command, 1);
+        cmd = virtqueue_pop(vq, sizeof(struct virtio_gpu_ctrl_command));
     }
-    g_free(cmd);
 
     virtio_gpu_process_cmdq(g);
 
@@ -833,15 +832,20 @@ static void virtio_gpu_ctrl_bh(void *opaque)
 static void virtio_gpu_handle_cursor(VirtIODevice *vdev, VirtQueue *vq)
 {
     VirtIOGPU *g = VIRTIO_GPU(vdev);
-    VirtQueueElement elem;
+    VirtQueueElement *elem;
     size_t s;
     struct virtio_gpu_update_cursor cursor_info;
 
     if (!virtio_queue_ready(vq)) {
         return;
     }
-    while (virtqueue_pop(vq, &elem)) {
-        s = iov_to_buf(elem.out_sg, elem.out_num, 0,
+    for (;;) {
+        elem = virtqueue_pop(vq, sizeof(VirtQueueElement));
+        if (!elem) {
+            break;
+        }
+
+        s = iov_to_buf(elem->out_sg, elem->out_num, 0,
                        &cursor_info, sizeof(cursor_info));
         if (s != sizeof(cursor_info)) {
             qemu_log_mask(LOG_GUEST_ERROR,
@@ -850,8 +854,9 @@ static void virtio_gpu_handle_cursor(VirtIODevice *vdev, VirtQueue *vq)
         } else {
             update_cursor(g, &cursor_info);
         }
-        virtqueue_push(vq, &elem, 0);
+        virtqueue_push(vq, elem, 0);
         virtio_notify(vdev, vq);
+        g_free(elem);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/hw/input/virtio-input.c b/hw/input/virtio-input.c
index f12ed8a504..5061f4cf7a 100644
--- a/hw/input/virtio-input.c
+++ b/hw/input/virtio-input.c
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 
 void virtio_input_send(VirtIOInput *vinput, virtio_input_event *event)
 {
-    VirtQueueElement elem;
+    VirtQueueElement *elem;
     unsigned have, need;
     int i, len;
 
@@ -50,14 +50,16 @@ void virtio_input_send(VirtIOInput *vinput, virtio_input_event *event)
 
     /* ... and finally pass them to the guest */
     for (i = 0; i < vinput->qindex; i++) {
-        if (!virtqueue_pop(vinput->evt, &elem)) {
+        elem = virtqueue_pop(vinput->evt, sizeof(VirtQueueElement));
+        if (!elem) {
             /* should not happen, we've checked for space beforehand */
             fprintf(stderr, "%s: Huh?  No vq elem available ...\n", __func__);
             return;
         }
-        len = iov_from_buf(elem.in_sg, elem.in_num,
+        len = iov_from_buf(elem->in_sg, elem->in_num,
                            0, vinput->queue+i, sizeof(virtio_input_event));
-        virtqueue_push(vinput->evt, &elem, len);
+        virtqueue_push(vinput->evt, elem, len);
+        g_free(elem);
     }
     virtio_notify(VIRTIO_DEVICE(vinput), vinput->evt);
     vinput->qindex = 0;
@@ -73,17 +75,23 @@ static void virtio_input_handle_sts(VirtIODevice *vdev, VirtQueue *vq)
     VirtIOInputClass *vic = VIRTIO_INPUT_GET_CLASS(vdev);
     VirtIOInput *vinput = VIRTIO_INPUT(vdev);
     virtio_input_event event;
-    VirtQueueElement elem;
+    VirtQueueElement *elem;
     int len;
 
-    while (virtqueue_pop(vinput->sts, &elem)) {
+    for (;;) {
+        elem = virtqueue_pop(vinput->sts, sizeof(VirtQueueElement));
+        if (!elem) {
+            break;
+        }
+
         memset(&event, 0, sizeof(event));
-        len = iov_to_buf(elem.out_sg, elem.out_num,
+        len = iov_to_buf(elem->out_sg, elem->out_num,
                          0, &event, sizeof(event));
         if (vic->handle_status) {
             vic->handle_status(vinput, &event);
         }
-        virtqueue_push(vinput->sts, &elem, len);
+        virtqueue_push(vinput->sts, elem, len);
+        g_free(elem);
     }
     virtio_notify(vdev, vinput->sts);
 }
diff --git a/hw/net/virtio-net.c b/hw/net/virtio-net.c
index fde8dd3157..de696e8dd0 100644
--- a/hw/net/virtio-net.c
+++ b/hw/net/virtio-net.c
@@ -819,20 +819,24 @@ static void virtio_net_handle_ctrl(VirtIODevice *vdev, VirtQueue *vq)
     VirtIONet *n = VIRTIO_NET(vdev);
     struct virtio_net_ctrl_hdr ctrl;
     virtio_net_ctrl_ack status = VIRTIO_NET_ERR;
-    VirtQueueElement elem;
+    VirtQueueElement *elem;
     size_t s;
     struct iovec *iov, *iov2;
     unsigned int iov_cnt;
 
-    while (virtqueue_pop(vq, &elem)) {
-        if (iov_size(elem.in_sg, elem.in_num) < sizeof(status) ||
-            iov_size(elem.out_sg, elem.out_num) < sizeof(ctrl)) {
+    for (;;) {
+        elem = virtqueue_pop(vq, sizeof(VirtQueueElement));
+        if (!elem) {
+            break;
+        }
+        if (iov_size(elem->in_sg, elem->in_num) < sizeof(status) ||
+            iov_size(elem->out_sg, elem->out_num) < sizeof(ctrl)) {
             error_report("virtio-net ctrl missing headers");
             exit(1);
         }
 
-        iov_cnt = elem.out_num;
-        iov2 = iov = g_memdup(elem.out_sg, sizeof(struct iovec) * elem.out_num);
+        iov_cnt = elem->out_num;
+        iov2 = iov = g_memdup(elem->out_sg, sizeof(struct iovec) * elem->out_num);
         s = iov_to_buf(iov, iov_cnt, 0, &ctrl, sizeof(ctrl));
         iov_discard_front(&iov, &iov_cnt, sizeof(ctrl));
         if (s != sizeof(ctrl)) {
@@ -851,12 +855,13 @@ static void virtio_net_handle_ctrl(VirtIODevice *vdev, VirtQueue *vq)
             status = virtio_net_handle_offloads(n, ctrl.cmd, iov, iov_cnt);
         }
 
-        s = iov_from_buf(elem.in_sg, elem.in_num, 0, &status, sizeof(status));
+        s = iov_from_buf(elem->in_sg, elem->in_num, 0, &status, sizeof(status));
         assert(s == sizeof(status));
 
-        virtqueue_push(vq, &elem, sizeof(status));
+        virtqueue_push(vq, elem, sizeof(status));
         virtio_notify(vdev, vq);
         g_free(iov2);
+        g_free(elem);
     }
 }
 
@@ -1045,13 +1050,14 @@ static ssize_t virtio_net_receive(NetClientState *nc, const uint8_t *buf, size_t
     offset = i = 0;
 
     while (offset < size) {
-        VirtQueueElement elem;
+        VirtQueueElement *elem;
         int len, total;
-        const struct iovec *sg = elem.in_sg;
+        const struct iovec *sg;
 
         total = 0;
 
-        if (virtqueue_pop(q->rx_vq, &elem) == 0) {
+        elem = virtqueue_pop(q->rx_vq, sizeof(VirtQueueElement));
+        if (!elem) {
             if (i == 0)
                 return -1;
             error_report("virtio-net unexpected empty queue: "
@@ -1064,21 +1070,22 @@ static ssize_t virtio_net_receive(NetClientState *nc, const uint8_t *buf, size_t
             exit(1);
         }
 
-        if (elem.in_num < 1) {
+        if (elem->in_num < 1) {
             error_report("virtio-net receive queue contains no in buffers");
             exit(1);
         }
 
+        sg = elem->in_sg;
         if (i == 0) {
             assert(offset == 0);
             if (n->mergeable_rx_bufs) {
                 mhdr_cnt = iov_copy(mhdr_sg, ARRAY_SIZE(mhdr_sg),
-                                    sg, elem.in_num,
+                                    sg, elem->in_num,
                                     offsetof(typeof(mhdr), num_buffers),
                                     sizeof(mhdr.num_buffers));
             }
 
-            receive_header(n, sg, elem.in_num, buf, size);
+            receive_header(n, sg, elem->in_num, buf, size);
             offset = n->host_hdr_len;
             total += n->guest_hdr_len;
             guest_offset = n->guest_hdr_len;
@@ -1087,7 +1094,7 @@ static ssize_t virtio_net_receive(NetClientState *nc, const uint8_t *buf, size_t
         }
 
         /* copy in packet.  ugh */
-        len = iov_from_buf(sg, elem.in_num, guest_offset,
+        len = iov_from_buf(sg, elem->in_num, guest_offset,
                            buf + offset, size - offset);
         total += len;
         offset += len;
@@ -1095,12 +1102,14 @@ static ssize_t virtio_net_receive(NetClientState *nc, const uint8_t *buf, size_t
          * must have consumed the complete packet.
          * Otherwise, drop it. */
         if (!n->mergeable_rx_bufs && offset < size) {
-            virtqueue_discard(q->rx_vq, &elem, total);
+            virtqueue_discard(q->rx_vq, elem, total);
+            g_free(elem);
             return size;
         }
 
         /* signal other side */
-        virtqueue_fill(q->rx_vq, &elem, total, i++);
+        virtqueue_fill(q->rx_vq, elem, total, i++);
+        g_free(elem);
     }
 
     if (mhdr_cnt) {
@@ -1124,10 +1133,11 @@ static void virtio_net_tx_complete(NetClientState *nc, ssize_t len)
     VirtIONetQueue *q = virtio_net_get_subqueue(nc);
     VirtIODevice *vdev = VIRTIO_DEVICE(n);
 
-    virtqueue_push(q->tx_vq, &q->async_tx.elem, 0);
+    virtqueue_push(q->tx_vq, q->async_tx.elem, 0);
     virtio_notify(vdev, q->tx_vq);
 
-    q->async_tx.elem.out_num = 0;
+    g_free(q->async_tx.elem);
+    q->async_tx.elem = NULL;
 
     virtio_queue_set_notification(q->tx_vq, 1);
     virtio_net_flush_tx(q);
@@ -1138,25 +1148,31 @@ static int32_t virtio_net_flush_tx(VirtIONetQueue *q)
 {
     VirtIONet *n = q->n;
     VirtIODevice *vdev = VIRTIO_DEVICE(n);
-    VirtQueueElement elem;
+    VirtQueueElement *elem;
     int32_t num_packets = 0;
     int queue_index = vq2q(virtio_get_queue_index(q->tx_vq));
     if (!(vdev->status & VIRTIO_CONFIG_S_DRIVER_OK)) {
         return num_packets;
     }
 
-    if (q->async_tx.elem.out_num) {
+    if (q->async_tx.elem) {
         virtio_queue_set_notification(q->tx_vq, 0);
         return num_packets;
     }
 
-    while (virtqueue_pop(q->tx_vq, &elem)) {
+    for (;;) {
         ssize_t ret;
-        unsigned int out_num = elem.out_num;
-        struct iovec *out_sg = &elem.out_sg[0];
-        struct iovec sg[VIRTQUEUE_MAX_SIZE], sg2[VIRTQUEUE_MAX_SIZE + 1];
+        unsigned int out_num;
+        struct iovec sg[VIRTQUEUE_MAX_SIZE], sg2[VIRTQUEUE_MAX_SIZE + 1], *out_sg;
         struct virtio_net_hdr_mrg_rxbuf mhdr;
 
+        elem = virtqueue_pop(q->tx_vq, sizeof(VirtQueueElement));
+        if (!elem) {
+            break;
+        }
+
+        out_num = elem->out_num;
+        out_sg = elem->out_sg;
         if (out_num < 1) {
             error_report("virtio-net header not in first element");
             exit(1);
@@ -1208,8 +1224,9 @@ static int32_t virtio_net_flush_tx(VirtIONetQueue *q)
         }
 
 drop:
-        virtqueue_push(q->tx_vq, &elem, 0);
+        virtqueue_push(q->tx_vq, elem, 0);
         virtio_notify(vdev, q->tx_vq);
+        g_free(elem);
 
         if (++num_packets >= n->tx_burst) {
             break;
diff --git a/hw/scsi/virtio-scsi-dataplane.c b/hw/scsi/virtio-scsi-dataplane.c
index c77b3a1058..8340326a50 100644
--- a/hw/scsi/virtio-scsi-dataplane.c
+++ b/hw/scsi/virtio-scsi-dataplane.c
@@ -81,15 +81,16 @@ fail_vring:
 VirtIOSCSIReq *virtio_scsi_pop_req_vring(VirtIOSCSI *s,
                                          VirtIOSCSIVring *vring)
 {
-    VirtIOSCSIReq *req = virtio_scsi_init_req(s, NULL);
-    int r;
+    VirtIOSCSICommon *vs = (VirtIOSCSICommon *)s;
+    VirtIOSCSIReq *req;
 
-    req->vring = vring;
-    r = vring_pop((VirtIODevice *)s, &vring->vring, &req->elem);
-    if (r < 0) {
-        virtio_scsi_free_req(req);
-        req = NULL;
+    req = vring_pop((VirtIODevice *)s, &vring->vring,
+                    sizeof(VirtIOSCSIReq) + vs->cdb_size);
+    if (!req) {
+        return NULL;
     }
+    virtio_scsi_init_req(s, NULL, req);
+    req->vring = vring;
     return req;
 }
 
diff --git a/hw/scsi/virtio-scsi.c b/hw/scsi/virtio-scsi.c
index 7fdf6ade98..50a3cb28b5 100644
--- a/hw/scsi/virtio-scsi.c
+++ b/hw/scsi/virtio-scsi.c
@@ -41,19 +41,15 @@ static inline SCSIDevice *virtio_scsi_device_find(VirtIOSCSI *s, uint8_t *lun)
     return scsi_device_find(&s->bus, 0, lun[1], virtio_scsi_get_lun(lun));
 }
 
-VirtIOSCSIReq *virtio_scsi_init_req(VirtIOSCSI *s, VirtQueue *vq)
+void virtio_scsi_init_req(VirtIOSCSI *s, VirtQueue *vq, VirtIOSCSIReq *req)
 {
-    VirtIOSCSIReq *req;
-    VirtIOSCSICommon *vs = (VirtIOSCSICommon *)s;
     const size_t zero_skip = offsetof(VirtIOSCSIReq, vring);
 
-    req = g_malloc(sizeof(*req) + vs->cdb_size);
     req->vq = vq;
     req->dev = s;
     qemu_sglist_init(&req->qsgl, DEVICE(s), 8, &address_space_memory);
     qemu_iovec_init(&req->resp_iov, 1);
     memset((uint8_t *)req + zero_skip, 0, sizeof(*req) - zero_skip);
-    return req;
 }
 
 void virtio_scsi_free_req(VirtIOSCSIReq *req)
@@ -174,11 +170,14 @@ static int virtio_scsi_parse_req(VirtIOSCSIReq *req,
 
 static VirtIOSCSIReq *virtio_scsi_pop_req(VirtIOSCSI *s, VirtQueue *vq)
 {
-    VirtIOSCSIReq *req = virtio_scsi_init_req(s, vq);
-    if (!virtqueue_pop(vq, &req->elem)) {
-        virtio_scsi_free_req(req);
+    VirtIOSCSICommon *vs = (VirtIOSCSICommon *)s;
+    VirtIOSCSIReq *req;
+
+    req = virtqueue_pop(vq, sizeof(VirtIOSCSIReq) + vs->cdb_size);
+    if (!req) {
         return NULL;
     }
+    virtio_scsi_init_req(s, vq, req);
     return req;
 }
 
@@ -203,8 +202,9 @@ static void *virtio_scsi_load_request(QEMUFile *f, SCSIRequest *sreq)
 
     qemu_get_be32s(f, &n);
     assert(n < vs->conf.num_queues);
-    req = virtio_scsi_init_req(s, vs->cmd_vqs[n]);
+    req = g_malloc(sizeof(VirtIOSCSIReq) + vs->cdb_size);
     qemu_get_buffer(f, (unsigned char *)&req->elem, sizeof(req->elem));
+    virtio_scsi_init_req(s, vs->cmd_vqs[n], req);
 
     virtqueue_map(&req->elem);
 
diff --git a/hw/virtio/dataplane/vring.c b/hw/virtio/dataplane/vring.c
index 1a78df10fa..4fb84bb00a 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/dataplane/vring.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/dataplane/vring.c
@@ -389,23 +389,26 @@ static void vring_unmap_element(VirtQueueElement *elem)
  *
  * Stolen from linux/drivers/vhost/vhost.c.
  */
-int vring_pop(VirtIODevice *vdev, Vring *vring,
-              VirtQueueElement *elem)
+void *vring_pop(VirtIODevice *vdev, Vring *vring, size_t sz)
 {
     struct vring_desc desc;
     unsigned int i, head, found = 0, num = vring->vr.num;
     uint16_t avail_idx, last_avail_idx;
+    VirtQueueElement *elem = NULL;
     int ret;
 
-    /* Initialize elem so it can be safely unmapped */
-    elem->in_num = elem->out_num = 0;
-
     /* If there was a fatal error then refuse operation */
     if (vring->broken) {
         ret = -EFAULT;
         goto out;
     }
 
+    assert(sz >= sizeof(VirtQueueElement));
+    elem = g_malloc(sz);
+
+    /* Initialize elem so it can be safely unmapped */
+    elem->in_num = elem->out_num = 0;
+
     /* Check it isn't doing very strange things with descriptor numbers. */
     last_avail_idx = vring->last_avail_idx;
     avail_idx = vring_get_avail_idx(vdev, vring);
@@ -481,7 +484,7 @@ int vring_pop(VirtIODevice *vdev, Vring *vring,
             virtio_tswap16(vdev, vring->last_avail_idx);
     }
 
-    return head;
+    return elem;
 
 out:
     assert(ret < 0);
@@ -489,7 +492,8 @@ out:
         vring->broken = true;
     }
     vring_unmap_element(elem);
-    return ret;
+    g_free(elem);
+    return NULL;
 }
 
 /* After we've used one of their buffers, we tell them about it.
diff --git a/hw/virtio/virtio-balloon.c b/hw/virtio/virtio-balloon.c
index f5f25a95fc..5c3020331c 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/virtio-balloon.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/virtio-balloon.c
@@ -107,8 +107,10 @@ static void balloon_stats_poll_cb(void *opaque)
         return;
     }
 
-    virtqueue_push(s->svq, &s->stats_vq_elem, s->stats_vq_offset);
+    virtqueue_push(s->svq, s->stats_vq_elem, s->stats_vq_offset);
     virtio_notify(vdev, s->svq);
+    g_free(s->stats_vq_elem);
+    s->stats_vq_elem = NULL;
 }
 
 static void balloon_stats_get_all(Object *obj, struct Visitor *v,
@@ -206,14 +208,18 @@ static void balloon_stats_set_poll_interval(Object *obj, struct Visitor *v,
 static void virtio_balloon_handle_output(VirtIODevice *vdev, VirtQueue *vq)
 {
     VirtIOBalloon *s = VIRTIO_BALLOON(vdev);
-    VirtQueueElement elem;
+    VirtQueueElement *elem;
     MemoryRegionSection section;
 
-    while (virtqueue_pop(vq, &elem)) {
+    for (;;) {
         size_t offset = 0;
         uint32_t pfn;
+        elem = virtqueue_pop(vq, sizeof(VirtQueueElement));
+        if (!elem) {
+            return;
+        }
 
-        while (iov_to_buf(elem.out_sg, elem.out_num, offset, &pfn, 4) == 4) {
+        while (iov_to_buf(elem->out_sg, elem->out_num, offset, &pfn, 4) == 4) {
             ram_addr_t pa;
             ram_addr_t addr;
             int p = virtio_ldl_p(vdev, &pfn);
@@ -236,20 +242,22 @@ static void virtio_balloon_handle_output(VirtIODevice *vdev, VirtQueue *vq)
             memory_region_unref(section.mr);
         }
 
-        virtqueue_push(vq, &elem, offset);
+        virtqueue_push(vq, elem, offset);
         virtio_notify(vdev, vq);
+        g_free(elem);
     }
 }
 
 static void virtio_balloon_receive_stats(VirtIODevice *vdev, VirtQueue *vq)
 {
     VirtIOBalloon *s = VIRTIO_BALLOON(vdev);
-    VirtQueueElement *elem = &s->stats_vq_elem;
+    VirtQueueElement *elem;
     VirtIOBalloonStat stat;
     size_t offset = 0;
     qemu_timeval tv;
 
-    if (!virtqueue_pop(vq, elem)) {
+    s->stats_vq_elem = elem = virtqueue_pop(vq, sizeof(VirtQueueElement));
+    if (!elem) {
         goto out;
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/virtio/virtio-rng.c b/hw/virtio/virtio-rng.c
index a80fb89069..17da2f8f3d 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/virtio-rng.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/virtio-rng.c
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ static void chr_read(void *opaque, const void *buf, size_t size)
 {
     VirtIORNG *vrng = opaque;
     VirtIODevice *vdev = VIRTIO_DEVICE(vrng);
-    VirtQueueElement elem;
+    VirtQueueElement *elem;
     size_t len;
     int offset;
 
@@ -56,15 +56,17 @@ static void chr_read(void *opaque, const void *buf, size_t size)
 
     offset = 0;
     while (offset < size) {
-        if (!virtqueue_pop(vrng->vq, &elem)) {
+        elem = virtqueue_pop(vrng->vq, sizeof(VirtQueueElement));
+        if (!elem) {
             break;
         }
-        len = iov_from_buf(elem.in_sg, elem.in_num,
+        len = iov_from_buf(elem->in_sg, elem->in_num,
                            0, buf + offset, size - offset);
         offset += len;
 
-        virtqueue_push(vrng->vq, &elem, len);
+        virtqueue_push(vrng->vq, elem, len);
         trace_virtio_rng_pushed(vrng, len);
+        g_free(elem);
     }
     virtio_notify(vdev, vrng->vq);
 }
diff --git a/hw/virtio/virtio.c b/hw/virtio/virtio.c
index 0603793e34..229a092c83 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/virtio.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/virtio.c
@@ -501,16 +501,20 @@ void virtqueue_map(VirtQueueElement *elem)
                         0);
 }
 
-int virtqueue_pop(VirtQueue *vq, VirtQueueElement *elem)
+void *virtqueue_pop(VirtQueue *vq, size_t sz)
 {
     unsigned int i, head, max;
     hwaddr desc_pa = vq->vring.desc;
     VirtIODevice *vdev = vq->vdev;
+    VirtQueueElement *elem;
 
-    if (!virtqueue_num_heads(vq, vq->last_avail_idx))
-        return 0;
+    if (!virtqueue_num_heads(vq, vq->last_avail_idx)) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
 
     /* When we start there are none of either input nor output. */
+    assert(sz >= sizeof(VirtQueueElement));
+    elem = g_malloc(sz);
     elem->out_num = elem->in_num = 0;
 
     max = vq->vring.num;
@@ -569,7 +573,7 @@ int virtqueue_pop(VirtQueue *vq, VirtQueueElement *elem)
     vq->inuse++;
 
     trace_virtqueue_pop(vq, elem, elem->in_num, elem->out_num);
-    return elem->in_num + elem->out_num;
+    return elem;
 }
 
 /* virtio device */
diff --git a/include/hw/virtio/dataplane/vring.h b/include/hw/virtio/dataplane/vring.h
index a596e4c175..e80985ee4c 100644
--- a/include/hw/virtio/dataplane/vring.h
+++ b/include/hw/virtio/dataplane/vring.h
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ void vring_teardown(Vring *vring, VirtIODevice *vdev, int n);
 void vring_disable_notification(VirtIODevice *vdev, Vring *vring);
 bool vring_enable_notification(VirtIODevice *vdev, Vring *vring);
 bool vring_should_notify(VirtIODevice *vdev, Vring *vring);
-int vring_pop(VirtIODevice *vdev, Vring *vring, VirtQueueElement *elem);
+void *vring_pop(VirtIODevice *vdev, Vring *vring, size_t sz);
 void vring_push(VirtIODevice *vdev, Vring *vring, VirtQueueElement *elem,
                 int len);
 
diff --git a/include/hw/virtio/virtio-balloon.h b/include/hw/virtio/virtio-balloon.h
index 09c2ce4dcd..35f62ac119 100644
--- a/include/hw/virtio/virtio-balloon.h
+++ b/include/hw/virtio/virtio-balloon.h
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ typedef struct VirtIOBalloon {
     uint32_t num_pages;
     uint32_t actual;
     uint64_t stats[VIRTIO_BALLOON_S_NR];
-    VirtQueueElement stats_vq_elem;
+    VirtQueueElement *stats_vq_elem;
     size_t stats_vq_offset;
     QEMUTimer *stats_timer;
     int64_t stats_last_update;
diff --git a/include/hw/virtio/virtio-blk.h b/include/hw/virtio/virtio-blk.h
index 403ab86166..199bb0ebd5 100644
--- a/include/hw/virtio/virtio-blk.h
+++ b/include/hw/virtio/virtio-blk.h
@@ -80,8 +80,7 @@ typedef struct MultiReqBuffer {
     bool is_write;
 } MultiReqBuffer;
 
-VirtIOBlockReq *virtio_blk_alloc_request(VirtIOBlock *s);
-
+void virtio_blk_init_request(VirtIOBlock *s, VirtIOBlockReq *req);
 void virtio_blk_free_request(VirtIOBlockReq *req);
 
 void virtio_blk_handle_request(VirtIOBlockReq *req, MultiReqBuffer *mrb);
diff --git a/include/hw/virtio/virtio-net.h b/include/hw/virtio/virtio-net.h
index f3cc25feca..2ce3b03bd4 100644
--- a/include/hw/virtio/virtio-net.h
+++ b/include/hw/virtio/virtio-net.h
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ typedef struct VirtIONetQueue {
     QEMUBH *tx_bh;
     int tx_waiting;
     struct {
-        VirtQueueElement elem;
+        VirtQueueElement *elem;
     } async_tx;
     struct VirtIONet *n;
 } VirtIONetQueue;
diff --git a/include/hw/virtio/virtio-scsi.h b/include/hw/virtio/virtio-scsi.h
index eb9d25b9fb..a8029aa017 100644
--- a/include/hw/virtio/virtio-scsi.h
+++ b/include/hw/virtio/virtio-scsi.h
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ void virtio_scsi_common_unrealize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp);
 void virtio_scsi_handle_ctrl_req(VirtIOSCSI *s, VirtIOSCSIReq *req);
 bool virtio_scsi_handle_cmd_req_prepare(VirtIOSCSI *s, VirtIOSCSIReq *req);
 void virtio_scsi_handle_cmd_req_submit(VirtIOSCSI *s, VirtIOSCSIReq *req);
-VirtIOSCSIReq *virtio_scsi_init_req(VirtIOSCSI *s, VirtQueue *vq);
+void virtio_scsi_init_req(VirtIOSCSI *s, VirtQueue *vq, VirtIOSCSIReq *req);
 void virtio_scsi_free_req(VirtIOSCSIReq *req);
 void virtio_scsi_push_event(VirtIOSCSI *s, SCSIDevice *dev,
                             uint32_t event, uint32_t reason);
diff --git a/include/hw/virtio/virtio-serial.h b/include/hw/virtio/virtio-serial.h
index 527d0bf624..12a55a19e9 100644
--- a/include/hw/virtio/virtio-serial.h
+++ b/include/hw/virtio/virtio-serial.h
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ struct VirtIOSerialPort {
      * element popped and continue consuming it once the backend
      * becomes writable again.
      */
-    VirtQueueElement elem;
+    VirtQueueElement *elem;
 
     /*
      * The index and the offset into the iov buffer that was popped in
diff --git a/include/hw/virtio/virtio.h b/include/hw/virtio/virtio.h
index 205fadf234..21fda17807 100644
--- a/include/hw/virtio/virtio.h
+++ b/include/hw/virtio/virtio.h
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ void virtqueue_fill(VirtQueue *vq, const VirtQueueElement *elem,
                     unsigned int len, unsigned int idx);
 
 void virtqueue_map(VirtQueueElement *elem);
-int virtqueue_pop(VirtQueue *vq, VirtQueueElement *elem);
+void *virtqueue_pop(VirtQueue *vq, size_t sz);
 int virtqueue_avail_bytes(VirtQueue *vq, unsigned int in_bytes,
                           unsigned int out_bytes);
 void virtqueue_get_avail_bytes(VirtQueue *vq, unsigned int *in_bytes,