diff --git a/include/utils/memory.hpp b/include/utils/memory.hpp
index 547400ef..c5af2765 100644
--- a/include/utils/memory.hpp
+++ b/include/utils/memory.hpp
@@ -8,9 +8,9 @@ namespace memory_util {
   /**
    * Create a shared pointer using malloc/free
    */
-  template <typename T>
-  inline auto make_malloc_ptr(size_t size = sizeof(T)) {
-    return shared_ptr<T>(static_cast<T*>(malloc(size)), free);
+  template <typename T, typename Deleter = decltype(free)>
+  inline auto make_malloc_ptr(size_t size = sizeof(T), Deleter deleter = free) {
+    return shared_ptr<T>(static_cast<T*>(malloc(size)), deleter);
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/include/x11/ewmh.hpp b/include/x11/ewmh.hpp
index 64a9898b..4b75b9ef 100644
--- a/include/x11/ewmh.hpp
+++ b/include/x11/ewmh.hpp
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ namespace ewmh_util {
   extern ewmh_connection_t g_ewmh_connection;
 
   ewmh_connection_t initialize();
-  void dealloc();
 
   bool supports(xcb_ewmh_connection_t* ewmh, xcb_atom_t atom, int screen = 0);
 
diff --git a/src/x11/ewmh.cpp b/src/x11/ewmh.cpp
index aaa5e126..8c579223 100644
--- a/src/x11/ewmh.cpp
+++ b/src/x11/ewmh.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-#include "components/types.hpp"
 #include "x11/ewmh.hpp"
+#include "components/types.hpp"
 #include "x11/xutils.hpp"
 
 POLYBAR_NS
@@ -9,19 +9,16 @@ namespace ewmh_util {
 
   ewmh_connection_t initialize() {
     if (!g_ewmh_connection) {
-      g_ewmh_connection = memory_util::make_malloc_ptr<xcb_ewmh_connection_t>();
+      g_ewmh_connection = memory_util::make_malloc_ptr<xcb_ewmh_connection_t>(
+          sizeof(xcb_ewmh_connection_t), bind(xcb_ewmh_connection_wipe, std::placeholders::_1));
+
       auto* xconn = xutils::get_connection();
       auto* conn = g_ewmh_connection.get();
+
       xcb_ewmh_init_atoms_replies(conn, xcb_ewmh_init_atoms(xconn, conn), nullptr);
     }
-    return g_ewmh_connection;
-  }
 
-  void dealloc() {
-    if (g_ewmh_connection) {
-      xcb_ewmh_connection_wipe(g_ewmh_connection.get());
-      g_ewmh_connection.reset();
-    }
+    return g_ewmh_connection;
   }
 
   bool supports(xcb_ewmh_connection_t* ewmh, xcb_atom_t atom, int screen) {
@@ -98,7 +95,8 @@ namespace ewmh_util {
     }
 
     for (size_t n = 0; n < reply.desktop_viewport_len; n++) {
-      viewports.emplace_back(position{static_cast<int16_t>(reply.desktop_viewport[n].x), static_cast<int16_t>(reply.desktop_viewport[n].y)});
+      viewports.emplace_back(position{
+          static_cast<int16_t>(reply.desktop_viewport[n].x), static_cast<int16_t>(reply.desktop_viewport[n].y)});
     }
 
     return viewports;