diff --git a/lib/src/alloc.h b/lib/src/alloc.h
index 0e0927a9..6e22a0ab 100644
--- a/lib/src/alloc.h
+++ b/lib/src/alloc.h
@@ -17,24 +17,28 @@ void *ts_record_realloc(void *, size_t);
 void ts_record_free(void *);
 bool ts_toggle_allocation_recording(bool);
 
-static inline void *ts_malloc(size_t size) {
-  return ts_record_malloc(size);
-}
-
-static inline void *ts_calloc(size_t count, size_t size) {
-  return ts_record_calloc(count, size);
-}
-
-static inline void *ts_realloc(void *buffer, size_t size) {
-  return ts_record_realloc(buffer, size);
-}
-
-static inline void ts_free(void *buffer) {
-  ts_record_free(buffer);
-}
+#define ts_malloc  ts_record_malloc
+#define ts_calloc  ts_record_calloc
+#define ts_realloc ts_record_realloc
+#define ts_free    ts_record_free
 
 #else
 
+// Allow clients to override allocation functions
+
+#ifndef ts_malloc
+#define ts_malloc  ts_malloc_default
+#endif
+#ifndef ts_calloc
+#define ts_calloc  ts_calloc_default
+#endif
+#ifndef ts_realloc
+#define ts_realloc ts_realloc_default
+#endif
+#ifndef ts_free
+#define ts_free    ts_free_default
+#endif
+
 #include <stdlib.h>
 
 static inline bool ts_toggle_allocation_recording(bool value) {
@@ -42,7 +46,8 @@ static inline bool ts_toggle_allocation_recording(bool value) {
   return false;
 }
 
-static inline void *ts_malloc(size_t size) {
+
+static inline void *ts_malloc_default(size_t size) {
   void *result = malloc(size);
   if (size > 0 && !result) {
     fprintf(stderr, "tree-sitter failed to allocate %zu bytes", size);
@@ -51,7 +56,7 @@ static inline void *ts_malloc(size_t size) {
   return result;
 }
 
-static inline void *ts_calloc(size_t count, size_t size) {
+static inline void *ts_calloc_default(size_t count, size_t size) {
   void *result = calloc(count, size);
   if (count > 0 && !result) {
     fprintf(stderr, "tree-sitter failed to allocate %zu bytes", count * size);
@@ -60,7 +65,7 @@ static inline void *ts_calloc(size_t count, size_t size) {
   return result;
 }
 
-static inline void *ts_realloc(void *buffer, size_t size) {
+static inline void *ts_realloc_default(void *buffer, size_t size) {
   void *result = realloc(buffer, size);
   if (size > 0 && !result) {
     fprintf(stderr, "tree-sitter failed to reallocate %zu bytes", size);
@@ -69,7 +74,7 @@ static inline void *ts_realloc(void *buffer, size_t size) {
   return result;
 }
 
-static inline void ts_free(void *buffer) {
+static inline void ts_free_default(void *buffer) {
   free(buffer);
 }