diff --git a/connection.go b/connection.go
index ba65e67..b38a458 100644
--- a/connection.go
+++ b/connection.go
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/jacobsa/fuse/fuseops"
 	"github.com/jacobsa/fuse/internal/buffer"
-	"github.com/jacobsa/fuse/internal/freelist"
 	"github.com/jacobsa/fuse/internal/fusekernel"
 )
 
@@ -77,9 +76,9 @@ type Connection struct {
 	// GUARDED_BY(mu)
 	cancelFuncs map[uint64]func()
 
-	// Freelists, serviced by freelists.go.
-	inMessages  freelist.Freelist // GUARDED_BY(mu)
-	outMessages freelist.Freelist // GUARDED_BY(mu)
+	// Message pools.
+	inMessages  sync.Pool
+	outMessages sync.Pool
 }
 
 // State that is maintained for each in-flight op. This is stuffed into the
@@ -119,6 +118,16 @@ func newConnection(
 		wireLogger:  wireLogger,
 		dev:         dev,
 		cancelFuncs: make(map[uint64]func()),
+		inMessages: sync.Pool{
+			New: func() any {
+				return buffer.NewInMessage()
+			},
+		},
+		outMessages: sync.Pool{
+			New: func() any {
+				return new(buffer.OutMessage)
+			},
+		},
 	}
 
 	// Initialize.
diff --git a/freelists.go b/freelists.go
index 8489e1f..aac85b2 100644
--- a/freelists.go
+++ b/freelists.go
@@ -15,8 +15,6 @@
 package fuse
 
 import (
-	"unsafe"
-
 	"github.com/jacobsa/fuse/internal/buffer"
 )
 
@@ -24,47 +22,23 @@ import (
 // buffer.InMessage
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-// LOCKS_EXCLUDED(c.mu)
 func (c *Connection) getInMessage() *buffer.InMessage {
-	c.mu.Lock()
-	x := (*buffer.InMessage)(c.inMessages.Get())
-	c.mu.Unlock()
-
-	if x == nil {
-		x = buffer.NewInMessage()
-	}
-
-	return x
+	return c.inMessages.Get().(*buffer.InMessage)
 }
 
-// LOCKS_EXCLUDED(c.mu)
 func (c *Connection) putInMessage(x *buffer.InMessage) {
-	c.mu.Lock()
-	c.inMessages.Put(unsafe.Pointer(x))
-	c.mu.Unlock()
+	c.inMessages.Put(x)
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 // buffer.OutMessage
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-// LOCKS_EXCLUDED(c.mu)
 func (c *Connection) getOutMessage() *buffer.OutMessage {
-	c.mu.Lock()
-	x := (*buffer.OutMessage)(c.outMessages.Get())
-	c.mu.Unlock()
-
-	if x == nil {
-		x = new(buffer.OutMessage)
-	}
-	x.Reset()
-
-	return x
+	return c.outMessages.Get().(*buffer.OutMessage)
 }
 
-// LOCKS_EXCLUDED(c.mu)
 func (c *Connection) putOutMessage(x *buffer.OutMessage) {
-	c.mu.Lock()
-	c.outMessages.Put(unsafe.Pointer(x))
-	c.mu.Unlock()
+	x.Reset()
+	c.outMessages.Put(x)
 }
diff --git a/freelists_bench_test.go b/freelists_bench_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c44352b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/freelists_bench_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+package fuse
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func BenchmarkGetPutInMessage(b *testing.B) {
+	c := &Connection{}
+	b.ResetTimer()
+	b.RunParallel(func(pb *testing.PB) {
+		for pb.Next() {
+			msg := c.getInMessage()
+			c.putInMessage(msg)
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func BenchmarkGetPutOutMessage(b *testing.B) {
+	c := &Connection{}
+	b.ResetTimer()
+	b.RunParallel(func(pb *testing.PB) {
+		for pb.Next() {
+			msg := c.getOutMessage()
+			c.putOutMessage(msg)
+		}
+	})
+}