diff --git a/include/gb.h b/include/gb.h
index c89eb41..60bc6d6 100644
--- a/include/gb.h
+++ b/include/gb.h
@@ -24,9 +24,9 @@ typedef struct gb_timers_t {
 	bool check_fedge;
 } GBTimers;
 
-GBTimers *gb_timers_open(RIO *io);
+bool gb_timers_init(GBTimers *timers, RIO *io);
 void gb_timers_continue(GBTimers *timers, ut32 cycles);
-void gb_timers_close(GBTimers *timers, RIO *io);
+void gb_timers_fini(GBTimers *timers, RIO *io);
 
 typedef struct gb_joypad_t {
 	ut8 *keys;
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ typedef struct gb_dmg_ppu_t {
 typedef struct gameboy_t {
 	RIO *io;
 	RArch *arch;
-	GBTimers *timers;
+	GBTimers timers;
 	GBJoypad joypad;
 	GBDMA *dma;
 	GBPPU *ppu;
diff --git a/io/timers.c b/io/timers.c
index d8a04a6..36b78a9 100644
--- a/io/timers.c
+++ b/io/timers.c
@@ -101,33 +101,28 @@ RIOPlugin r_io_plugin_gb_timers = {
 	.write = __write,
 };
 
-GBTimers *gb_timers_open (RIO *io) {
-	if (!io) {
-		return NULL;
-	}
-	GBTimers *timers = R_NEW0 (GBTimers);
-	if (!timers) {
-		return NULL;
+bool gb_timers_init (GBTimers *timers, RIO *io) {
+	if (!timers || !io) {
+		return false;
 	}
+	timers[0] = (const GBTimers){0};
 	char uri[64];
 	memset (uri, 0x00, sizeof (char) * 64);
 	sprintf (uri, "gb_timers://%p", timers);
 	RIODesc *desc = r_io_desc_open_plugin (io, &r_io_plugin_gb_timers,
 		uri, R_PERM_RWX, 0);
 	if (!desc) {
-		free (timers);
 		return NULL;
 	}
 	timers->fd = desc->fd;
-	return timers;
+	return true;
 }
 
-void gb_timers_close (GBTimers *timers, RIO *io) {
+void gb_timers_fini (GBTimers *timers, RIO *io) {
 	if (!timers || !io) {
 		return;
 	}
 	r_io_fd_close (io, timers->fd);
-	free (timers);
 }
 
 void gb_timers_continue (GBTimers *timers, ut32 cycles) {