diff --git a/ext/fiddle/pointer.c b/ext/fiddle/pointer.c
index 7c60da47..99d7f607 100644
--- a/ext/fiddle/pointer.c
+++ b/ext/fiddle/pointer.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
  * $Id$
  */
 
+#include <stdbool.h>
 #include <ruby/ruby.h>
 #include <ruby/io.h>
 #include <ctype.h>
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ struct ptr_data {
     void *ptr;
     long size;
     freefunc_t free;
+    bool freed;
     VALUE wrap[2];
 };
 
@@ -57,14 +59,19 @@ fiddle_ptr_mark(void *ptr)
 }
 
 static void
-fiddle_ptr_free(void *ptr)
+fiddle_ptr_free_ptr(void *ptr)
 {
     struct ptr_data *data = ptr;
-    if (data->ptr) {
-	if (data->free) {
-	    (*(data->free))(data->ptr);
-	}
+    if (data->ptr && data->free && !data->freed) {
+	data->freed = true;
+	(*(data->free))(data->ptr);
     }
+}
+
+static void
+fiddle_ptr_free(void *ptr)
+{
+    fiddle_ptr_free_ptr(ptr);
     xfree(ptr);
 }
 
@@ -89,6 +96,7 @@ rb_fiddle_ptr_new2(VALUE klass, void *ptr, long size, freefunc_t func)
     val = TypedData_Make_Struct(klass, struct ptr_data, &fiddle_ptr_data_type, data);
     data->ptr = ptr;
     data->free = func;
+    data->freed = false;
     data->size = size;
 
     return val;
@@ -140,6 +148,7 @@ rb_fiddle_ptr_s_allocate(VALUE klass)
     data->ptr = 0;
     data->size = 0;
     data->free = 0;
+    data->freed = false;
 
     return obj;
 }
@@ -197,11 +206,16 @@ rb_fiddle_ptr_initialize(int argc, VALUE argv[], VALUE self)
  *
  * == Examples
  *
+ *    # Manually freeing but relying on the garbage collector otherwise
+ *    pointer = Fiddle::Pointer.malloc(size, Fiddle::RUBY_FREE)
+ *    ...
+ *    pointer.call_free
+ *
  *    # Relying on the garbage collector - may lead to unlimited memory allocated before freeing any, but safe
  *    pointer = Fiddle::Pointer.malloc(size, Fiddle::RUBY_FREE)
  *    ...
  *
- *    # Manual freeing
+ *    # Only manually freeing
  *    pointer = Fiddle::Pointer.malloc(size)
  *    begin
  *      ...
@@ -214,13 +228,15 @@ rb_fiddle_ptr_initialize(int argc, VALUE argv[], VALUE self)
  *    ...
  *
  * Allocate +size+ bytes of memory and associate it with an optional
- * +freefunc+ that will be called when the pointer is garbage collected.
+ * +freefunc+ that will be called when the pointer is garbage collected,
+ * if not already manually called via *call_free*.
+ *
  * +freefunc+ must be an address pointing to a function or an instance of
- * +Fiddle::Function+. Using +freefunc+ may lead to unlimited memory being
- * allocated before any is freed as the native memory the pointer references
- * does not contribute to triggering the Ruby garbage collector. Consider
- * manually freeing the memory as illustrated above. You cannot combine
- * the techniques as this may lead to a double-free.
+ * +Fiddle::Function+. Using +freefunc+ without using +call_free+ may lead to
+ * unlimited memory being allocated before any is freed as the native memory
+ * the pointer references does not contribute to triggering the Ruby garbage
+ * collector. Consider manually freeing the memory as illustrated above. You
+ * can combine the techniques as +freefunc+ will not be called twice.
  */
 static VALUE
 rb_fiddle_ptr_s_malloc(int argc, VALUE argv[], VALUE klass)
@@ -370,6 +386,34 @@ rb_fiddle_ptr_free_get(VALUE self)
     return rb_fiddle_new_function(address, arg_types, ret_type);
 }
 
+/*
+ * call-seq: call_free => nil
+ *
+ * Call the free function for this pointer. Calling more than once will do
+ * nothing. Does nothing if there is no free function attached.
+ */
+static VALUE
+rb_fiddle_ptr_call_free(VALUE self)
+{
+    struct ptr_data *pdata;
+    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, struct ptr_data, &fiddle_ptr_data_type, pdata);
+    fiddle_ptr_free_ptr(pdata);
+    return Qnil;
+}
+
+/*
+ * call-seq: freed? => bool
+ *
+ * Returns if the free function for this pointer has been called.
+ */
+static VALUE
+rb_fiddle_ptr_freed_p(VALUE self)
+{
+    struct ptr_data *pdata;
+    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, struct ptr_data, &fiddle_ptr_data_type, pdata);
+    return pdata->freed ? Qtrue : Qfalse;
+}
+
 /*
  * call-seq:
  *
@@ -711,6 +755,8 @@ Init_fiddle_pointer(void)
     rb_define_method(rb_cPointer, "initialize", rb_fiddle_ptr_initialize, -1);
     rb_define_method(rb_cPointer, "free=", rb_fiddle_ptr_free_set, 1);
     rb_define_method(rb_cPointer, "free",  rb_fiddle_ptr_free_get, 0);
+    rb_define_method(rb_cPointer, "call_free",  rb_fiddle_ptr_call_free, 0);
+    rb_define_method(rb_cPointer, "freed?",  rb_fiddle_ptr_freed_p, 0);
     rb_define_method(rb_cPointer, "to_i",  rb_fiddle_ptr_to_i, 0);
     rb_define_method(rb_cPointer, "to_int",  rb_fiddle_ptr_to_i, 0);
     rb_define_method(rb_cPointer, "to_value",  rb_fiddle_ptr_to_value, 0);
diff --git a/test/fiddle/test_pointer.rb b/test/fiddle/test_pointer.rb
index c69e4f71..ee111778 100644
--- a/test/fiddle/test_pointer.rb
+++ b/test/fiddle/test_pointer.rb
@@ -170,6 +170,33 @@ def test_free=
       assert_equal free.ptr, ptr.free.ptr
     end
 
+    def test_free_with_func
+      ptr = Pointer.malloc(4, Fiddle::RUBY_FREE)
+      refute ptr.freed?
+      ptr.call_free
+      assert ptr.freed?
+      ptr.call_free                 # you can safely run it again
+      assert ptr.freed?
+      GC.start                  # you can safely run the GC routine
+      assert ptr.freed?
+    end
+
+    def test_free_with_no_func
+      ptr = Pointer.malloc(4)
+      refute ptr.freed?
+      ptr.call_free
+      refute ptr.freed?
+      ptr.call_free                 # you can safely run it again
+      refute ptr.freed?
+    end
+
+    def test_freed?
+      ptr = Pointer.malloc(4, Fiddle::RUBY_FREE)
+      refute ptr.freed?
+      ptr.call_free
+      assert ptr.freed?
+    end
+
     def test_null?
       ptr = Pointer.new(0)
       assert ptr.null?