diff --git a/core/ptrbox.c b/core/ptrbox.c
index 6db8e2c..0e10892 100644
--- a/core/ptrbox.c
+++ b/core/ptrbox.c
@@ -83,6 +83,28 @@ ptrbox_strdup(struct ptrbox *ptrbox, const char *s)
     return p;
 }
 
+void *
+ptrbox_malloc(struct ptrbox *ptrbox, size_t length)
+{
+    struct ptrbox_entry *entry;
+    void *mem;
+
+    if (ptrbox == NULL) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    if ((mem = malloc(length)) == NULL) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    if ((entry = entry_from_data(mem)) == NULL) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    ptrbox_add_entry(ptrbox, entry);
+    return mem;
+}
+
 int
 ptrbox_init(struct ptrbox *ptrbox)
 {
diff --git a/include/common/ptrbox.h b/include/common/ptrbox.h
index 1e4aa0d..dd4103f 100644
--- a/include/common/ptrbox.h
+++ b/include/common/ptrbox.h
@@ -60,6 +60,17 @@ int ptrbox_init(struct ptrbox *ptrbox);
  */
 char *ptrbox_strdup(struct ptrbox *ptrbox, const char *s);
 
+/*
+ * Allocate a number of bytes on the heap and store the reference
+ *
+ * @ptrbox: Pointer box
+ * @length: Number of bytes to allocate
+ *
+ * Returns the base of the allocated memory on success, otherwise
+ * NULL on failure.
+ */
+void *ptrbox_malloc(struct ptrbox *ptrbox, size_t length);
+
 /*
  * Destroy all elements within a pointer box
  *