diff --git a/src/uvw/handle.hpp b/src/uvw/handle.hpp
index 8b949a42..b1c223f2 100644
--- a/src/uvw/handle.hpp
+++ b/src/uvw/handle.hpp
@@ -243,8 +243,6 @@ public:
         uv_fileno(as_uv_handle(), &fd);
         return fd;
     }
-
-    std::function<void(uv_buf_t *, std::size_t, T &)> allocator = details::default_allocator<T>;
 };
 
 } // namespace uvw
diff --git a/src/uvw/stream.h b/src/uvw/stream.h
index ec76a040..d49b9154 100644
--- a/src/uvw/stream.h
+++ b/src/uvw/stream.h
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ public:
 #else
     using base::base;
 #endif
-
+    using allocator = std::function<void(uv_buf_t *, std::size_t, T &)>;
     /**
      * @brief Shutdowns the outgoing (write) side of a duplex stream.
      *
@@ -459,6 +459,24 @@ public:
     size_t write_queue_size() const noexcept {
         return uv_stream_get_write_queue_size(as_uv_stream());
     }
+
+    /**
+     * @return Allocator for data_event buffers
+     */
+    allocator &get_allocator() {
+        return readBufferAllocator;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets allocator for data_event buffers or resets to default
+     * @param alloc allocator for data_event buffers
+     */
+    void set_allocator(const allocator &alloc = details::default_allocator<T>) {
+        readBufferAllocator = alloc;
+    }
+
+private:
+    allocator readBufferAllocator = details::default_allocator<T>;
 };
 
 } // namespace uvw
diff --git a/src/uvw/udp.cpp b/src/uvw/udp.cpp
index b61f1694..8c57e125 100644
--- a/src/uvw/udp.cpp
+++ b/src/uvw/udp.cpp
@@ -213,4 +213,10 @@ UVW_INLINE size_t udp_handle::send_queue_count() const noexcept {
     return uv_udp_get_send_queue_count(raw());
 }
 
+UVW_INLINE udp_handle::allocator &udp_handle::get_allocator() {
+    return readBufferAllocator;
+}
+UVW_INLINE void udp_handle::set_allocator(const udp_handle::allocator &alloc) {
+    readBufferAllocator = alloc;
+}
 } // namespace uvw
diff --git a/src/uvw/udp.h b/src/uvw/udp.h
index c6b276d5..006930f6 100644
--- a/src/uvw/udp.h
+++ b/src/uvw/udp.h
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ public:
     using udp_flags = details::uvw_udp_flags;
     using ipv4 = uvw::ipv4;
     using ipv6 = uvw::ipv6;
+    using allocator = std::function<void(uv_buf_t *, std::size_t, udp_handle &)>;
 
     explicit udp_handle(loop::token token, std::shared_ptr<loop> ref, unsigned int f = {});
 
@@ -533,6 +534,17 @@ public:
      */
     size_t send_queue_count() const noexcept;
 
+    /**
+     * @return Allocator for data_event buffers
+     */
+    allocator &get_allocator();
+
+    /**
+     * Sets allocator for data_event buffers or resets to default
+     * @param alloc allocator for data_event buffers
+     */
+    void set_allocator(const allocator &alloc = details::default_allocator<udp_handle>);
+
 private:
     enum {
         DEFAULT,
@@ -540,6 +552,8 @@ private:
     } tag{DEFAULT};
 
     unsigned int flags{};
+
+    allocator readBufferAllocator = details::default_allocator<udp_handle>;
 };
 
 } // namespace uvw
diff --git a/src/uvw/util.h b/src/uvw/util.h
index 13cfe7a3..52c746d8 100644
--- a/src/uvw/util.h
+++ b/src/uvw/util.h
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ void default_allocator(uv_buf_t *buf, std::size_t suggested, T &) {
 template<class T>
 void alloc_callback(uv_handle_t *hndl, std::size_t suggested, uv_buf_t *buf) {
     T &ref = *(static_cast<T *>(hndl->data));
-    ref.allocator(buf, suggested, ref);
+    (ref.get_allocator())(buf, suggested, ref);
 }
 
 sockaddr ip_addr(const char *addr, unsigned int port);
diff --git a/test/uvw/tcp.cpp b/test/uvw/tcp.cpp
index 20178e0e..9189b303 100644
--- a/test/uvw/tcp.cpp
+++ b/test/uvw/tcp.cpp
@@ -175,9 +175,9 @@ TEST(TCP, CustomAllocator) {
             ASSERT_EQ(data, ptr);
             sock.close();
         });
-        socket->allocator = [ptr](uv_buf_t *b, size_t suggested, uvw::tcp_handle &h) {
+        socket->set_allocator([ptr](uv_buf_t *b, size_t suggested, uvw::tcp_handle &h) {
             *b = uv_buf_init(ptr, 5);
-        };
+        });
         ASSERT_EQ(0, handle.accept(*socket));
         ASSERT_EQ(0, socket->read());
     });
diff --git a/test/uvw/udp.cpp b/test/uvw/udp.cpp
index e015be4a..57032d28 100644
--- a/test/uvw/udp.cpp
+++ b/test/uvw/udp.cpp
@@ -141,9 +141,9 @@ TEST(UDP, CustomAllocator) {
         ASSERT_EQ(data, ptr);
         handle.close();
     });
-    server->allocator = [ptr](uv_buf_t *b, size_t suggested, uvw::udp_handle &h) {
+    server->set_allocator([ptr](uv_buf_t *b, size_t suggested, uvw::udp_handle &h) {
         *b = uv_buf_init(ptr, 5);
-    };
+    });
 
     client->on<uvw::send_event>([](const uvw::send_event &, uvw::udp_handle &handle) {
         handle.close();