diff --git a/src/common/str.cpp b/src/common/str.cpp
index dfe90c9c..a08ec777 100644
--- a/src/common/str.cpp
+++ b/src/common/str.cpp
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ int utf8len(unsigned char c, bool suppress){
         if(this->size < (int)sizeof(this->_inlined)){       \
             this->data = this->_inlined;                    \
         }else{                                              \
-            this->data = (char*)pool128_alloc(this->size+1); \
+            this->data = (char*)std::malloc(this->size+1); \
         }
 
 #define PK_STR_COPY_INIT(__s)  \
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ int utf8len(unsigned char c, bool suppress){
     }
 
     Str& Str::operator=(const Str& other){
-        if(!is_inlined()) pool128_dealloc(data);
+        if(!is_inlined()) std::free(data);
         size = other.size;
         is_ascii = other.is_ascii;
         PK_STR_ALLOCATE()
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ int utf8len(unsigned char c, bool suppress){
     }
 
     Str::~Str(){
-        if(!is_inlined()) pool128_dealloc(data);
+        if(!is_inlined()) std::free(data);
     }
 
     Str Str::substr(int start, int len) const {
@@ -410,14 +410,10 @@ int utf8len(unsigned char c, bool suppress){
     }
 
     Str SStream::str(){
-#if 0
         // after this call, the buffer is no longer valid
         buffer.reserve(buffer.size() + 1);  // allocate one more byte for '\0'
         buffer[buffer.size()] = '\0';       // set '\0'
         return Str(buffer.detach());
-#else
-        return Str(buffer.data(), buffer.size());
-#endif
     }
 
     SStream& SStream::operator<<(const Str& s){
diff --git a/src/compiler/compiler.cpp b/src/compiler/compiler.cpp
index f2dddbe5..bf4b2ee8 100644
--- a/src/compiler/compiler.cpp
+++ b/src/compiler/compiler.cpp
@@ -1396,7 +1396,7 @@ __EAT_DOTS_END:
 
     Str TokenDeserializer::read_string_from_hex(char c){
         std::string_view s = read_string(c);
-        char* buffer = (char*)pool128_alloc(s.size()/2 + 1);
+        char* buffer = (char*)std::malloc(s.size()/2 + 1);
         for(int i=0; i<s.size(); i+=2){
             char c = 0;
             if(s[i]>='0' && s[i]<='9') c += s[i]-'0';