diff --git a/memcached.c b/memcached.c
index 1c81eabc7e..8922a08ec7 100644
--- a/memcached.c
+++ b/memcached.c
@@ -230,52 +230,58 @@ static int add_msghdr(conn *c)
 static conn **freeconns;
 static int freetotal;
 static int freecurr;
+/* Lock for connection freelist */
+static pthread_mutex_t conn_lock = PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER;
 
 
 static void conn_init(void) {
     freetotal = 200;
     freecurr = 0;
-    if ((freeconns = (conn **)malloc(sizeof(conn *) * freetotal)) == NULL) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "malloc()\n");
+    if ((freeconns = calloc(freetotal, sizeof(conn *))) == NULL) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "Failed to allocate connection structures\n");
     }
     return;
 }
 
 /*
- * Returns a connection from the freelist, if any. Should call this using
- * conn_from_freelist() for thread safety.
+ * Returns a connection from the freelist, if any.
  */
-conn *do_conn_from_freelist() {
+conn *conn_from_freelist() {
     conn *c;
 
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&conn_lock);
     if (freecurr > 0) {
         c = freeconns[--freecurr];
     } else {
         c = NULL;
     }
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&conn_lock);
 
     return c;
 }
 
 /*
- * Adds a connection to the freelist. 0 = success. Should call this using
- * conn_add_to_freelist() for thread safety.
+ * Adds a connection to the freelist. 0 = success.
  */
-bool do_conn_add_to_freelist(conn *c) {
+bool conn_add_to_freelist(conn *c) {
+    bool ret = true;
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&conn_lock);
     if (freecurr < freetotal) {
         freeconns[freecurr++] = c;
-        return false;
+        ret = false;
     } else {
         /* try to enlarge free connections array */
-        conn **new_freeconns = realloc(freeconns, sizeof(conn *) * freetotal * 2);
+        size_t newsize = freetotal * 2;
+        conn **new_freeconns = realloc(freeconns, sizeof(conn *) * newsize);
         if (new_freeconns) {
-            freetotal *= 2;
+            freetotal = newsize;
             freeconns = new_freeconns;
             freeconns[freecurr++] = c;
-            return false;
+            ret = false;
         }
     }
-    return true;
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&conn_lock);
+    return ret;
 }
 
 static const char *prot_text(enum protocol prot) {
@@ -598,25 +604,27 @@ static void conn_set_state(conn *c, enum conn_states state) {
 static char **freesuffix;
 static int freesuffixtotal;
 static int freesuffixcurr;
+/* Lock for alternative item suffix freelist */
+static pthread_mutex_t suffix_lock = PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER;
 
 static void suffix_init(void) {
     freesuffixtotal = 500;
     freesuffixcurr  = 0;
 
-    freesuffix = (char **)malloc( sizeof(char *) * freesuffixtotal );
+    freesuffix = calloc(freesuffixtotal, sizeof(char *));
     if (freesuffix == NULL) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "malloc()\n");
+        fprintf(stderr, "Failed to allocate suffix pool\n");
     }
     return;
 }
 
 /*
- * Returns a suffix buffer from the freelist, if any. Should call this using
- * suffix_from_freelist() for thread safety.
+ * Returns a suffix buffer from the freelist, if any.
  */
-char *do_suffix_from_freelist() {
+char *suffix_from_freelist() {
     char *s;
 
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&suffix_lock);
     if (freesuffixcurr > 0) {
         s = freesuffix[--freesuffixcurr];
     } else {
@@ -624,18 +632,22 @@ char *do_suffix_from_freelist() {
          * STDERR on the server. */
         s = malloc( SUFFIX_SIZE );
     }
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&suffix_lock);
 
     return s;
 }
 
 /*
  * Adds a connection to the freelist. 0 = success. Should call this using
- * conn_add_to_freelist() for thread safety.
+ * suffix_add_to_freelist() for thread safety.
  */
-bool do_suffix_add_to_freelist(char *s) {
+bool suffix_add_to_freelist(char *s) {
+    bool ret = true;
+
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&suffix_lock);
     if (freesuffixcurr < freesuffixtotal) {
         freesuffix[freesuffixcurr++] = s;
-        return false;
+        ret = false;
     } else {
         /* try to enlarge free connections array */
         char **new_freesuffix = realloc(freesuffix,
@@ -644,10 +656,11 @@ bool do_suffix_add_to_freelist(char *s) {
             freesuffixtotal *= 2;
             freesuffix = new_freesuffix;
             freesuffix[freesuffixcurr++] = s;
-            return false;
+            ret = false;
         }
     }
-    return true;
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&suffix_lock);
+    return ret;
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/memcached.h b/memcached.h
index 59039ffa68..0812b4b6e8 100644
--- a/memcached.h
+++ b/memcached.h
@@ -321,11 +321,6 @@ extern volatile rel_time_t current_time;
 /*
  * Functions
  */
-
-conn *do_conn_from_freelist(void);
-bool do_conn_add_to_freelist(conn *c);
-char *do_suffix_from_freelist(void);
-bool do_suffix_add_to_freelist(char *s);
 char *do_add_delta(conn *c, item *item, const bool incr, const int64_t delta,
                    char *buf);
 enum store_item_type do_store_item(item *item, int comm, conn* c);
diff --git a/thread.c b/thread.c
index 611a9edf03..d01fe787e2 100644
--- a/thread.c
+++ b/thread.c
@@ -33,12 +33,6 @@ struct conn_queue {
     pthread_cond_t  cond;
 };
 
-/* Lock for connection freelist */
-static pthread_mutex_t conn_lock;
-
-/* Lock for alternative item suffix freelist */
-static pthread_mutex_t suffix_lock;
-
 /* Lock for cache operations (item_*, assoc_*) */
 pthread_mutex_t cache_lock;
 
@@ -177,66 +171,6 @@ static void create_worker(void *(*func)(void *), void *arg) {
     }
 }
 
-
-/*
- * Pulls a conn structure from the freelist, if one is available.
- */
-conn *conn_from_freelist() {
-    conn *c;
-
-    pthread_mutex_lock(&conn_lock);
-    c = do_conn_from_freelist();
-    pthread_mutex_unlock(&conn_lock);
-
-    return c;
-}
-
-
-/*
- * Adds a conn structure to the freelist.
- *
- * Returns 0 on success, 1 if the structure couldn't be added.
- */
-bool conn_add_to_freelist(conn *c) {
-    bool result;
-
-    pthread_mutex_lock(&conn_lock);
-    result = do_conn_add_to_freelist(c);
-    pthread_mutex_unlock(&conn_lock);
-
-    return result;
-}
-
-/*
- * Pulls a suffix buffer from the freelist, if one is available.
- */
-char *suffix_from_freelist() {
-    char *s;
-
-    pthread_mutex_lock(&suffix_lock);
-    s = do_suffix_from_freelist();
-    pthread_mutex_unlock(&suffix_lock);
-
-    return s;
-}
-
-
-/*
- * Adds a suffix buffer to the freelist.
- *
- * Returns 0 on success, 1 if the buffer couldn't be added.
- */
-bool suffix_add_to_freelist(char *s) {
-    bool result;
-
-    pthread_mutex_lock(&suffix_lock);
-    result = do_suffix_add_to_freelist(s);
-    pthread_mutex_unlock(&suffix_lock);
-
-    return result;
-}
-
-
 /****************************** LIBEVENT THREADS *****************************/
 
 /*
@@ -634,7 +568,6 @@ void thread_init(int nthreads, struct event_base *main_base) {
     int         i;
 
     pthread_mutex_init(&cache_lock, NULL);
-    pthread_mutex_init(&conn_lock, NULL);
     pthread_mutex_init(&stats_lock, NULL);
 
     pthread_mutex_init(&init_lock, NULL);