diff --git a/compiler/compile.go b/compiler/compile.go
index e5497d0..8e1ef1c 100644
--- a/compiler/compile.go
+++ b/compiler/compile.go
@@ -242,6 +242,10 @@ func (c *compiler) compilePackage(p *packages.Package, colors functionColors, pr
 			&ast.ImportSpec{
 				Path: &ast.BasicLit{Kind: token.STRING, Value: strconv.Quote("unsafe")},
 			},
+			// TODO: remove me
+			&ast.ImportSpec{
+				Path: &ast.BasicLit{Kind: token.STRING, Value: strconv.Quote("time")},
+			},
 		},
 	})
 
@@ -293,11 +297,6 @@ func (c *compiler) compilePackage(p *packages.Package, colors functionColors, pr
 		}
 	}
 
-	log.Print("building type register init function")
-	if err := generateTypesInit(c.fset, gen, p); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	packageDir := filepath.Dir(p.GoFiles[0])
 	outputPath := filepath.Join(packageDir, c.outputFilename)
 	if err := c.writeFile(outputPath, gen); err != nil {
diff --git a/compiler/serde.go b/compiler/serde.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 13393f1..0000000
--- a/compiler/serde.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,346 +0,0 @@
-package compiler
-
-import (
-	"fmt"
-	"go/ast"
-	"go/token"
-	"go/types"
-	"math"
-	"path"
-	"sort"
-	"strconv"
-	"strings"
-
-	"golang.org/x/tools/go/ast/astutil"
-	"golang.org/x/tools/go/packages"
-)
-
-const publicSerdePackage = "github.com/stealthrocket/coroutine/serde"
-
-// GenerateTypesInit searches pkg for types that serde can handle and append an
-// init() function to the provided ast to register them on package load.
-func generateTypesInit(fset *token.FileSet, gen *ast.File, pkg *packages.Package) error {
-	// Prepare the imports map with the imports already in the AST.
-	w := typesWalker{
-		imports:   makeImportsMap(fset, gen),
-		gen:       gen,
-		seenTypes: make(map[string]struct{}),
-		seenPkgs:  make(map[string]struct{}),
-		from:      pkg.Types.Path(),
-	}
-
-	w.Walk(pkg)
-
-	// Found no type.
-	if len(w.types) == 0 {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	coropkg := ast.NewIdent(w.addImport(publicSerdePackage))
-
-	sort.Slice(w.newimports, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return w.newimports[i][0] < w.newimports[j][0]
-	})
-
-	for _, imp := range w.newimports {
-		added := astutil.AddNamedImport(fset, gen, imp[0], imp[1])
-		if !added {
-			panic(fmt.Errorf(`import '%s' "%s" was supposed to be missing`, imp[0], imp[1]))
-		}
-	}
-
-	fun := &ast.FuncDecl{
-		Name: ast.NewIdent("init"),
-		Type: &ast.FuncType{},
-		Body: &ast.BlockStmt{},
-	}
-
-	sort.Strings(w.types)
-	for _, t := range w.types {
-		var typeExpr ast.Expr
-		pkg, name, found := strings.Cut(t, ".")
-		if found {
-			// eg: coroutine.RegisterType[syscall.RtGenmsg]()
-			typeExpr = &ast.SelectorExpr{
-				X:   ast.NewIdent(pkg),
-				Sel: ast.NewIdent(name),
-			}
-		} else {
-			// eg: coroutine.RegisterType[MyStruct]()
-			typeExpr = ast.NewIdent(pkg)
-		}
-
-		fun.Body.List = append(fun.Body.List, &ast.ExprStmt{
-			X: &ast.CallExpr{
-				Fun: &ast.IndexListExpr{
-					X: &ast.SelectorExpr{
-						X:   coropkg,
-						Sel: ast.NewIdent("RegisterType"),
-					},
-					Indices: []ast.Expr{
-						typeExpr,
-					},
-				},
-			},
-		})
-	}
-
-	gen.Decls = append(gen.Decls, fun)
-
-	return nil
-}
-
-type typesWalker struct {
-	imports   importsmap
-	gen       *ast.File
-	from      string
-	seenTypes map[string]struct{}
-	seenPkgs  map[string]struct{}
-
-	// outputs
-	types      []string
-	newimports [][2]string // name, path
-}
-
-func (w *typesWalker) Walk(p *packages.Package) {
-	if _, ok := w.seenPkgs[p.ID]; ok {
-		return
-	}
-	w.seenPkgs[p.ID] = struct{}{}
-
-	// Walk the type definitions in this package.
-	for _, o := range p.TypesInfo.Defs {
-		if o == nil {
-			continue
-		}
-		t := o.Type()
-		if !required(t) || !supported(w.from, t) {
-			continue
-		}
-
-		w.add(t)
-	}
-
-	// Walk type instances from generics in this package.
-	for _, i := range p.TypesInfo.Instances {
-		if !required(i.Type) || !supported(w.from, i.Type) {
-			continue
-		}
-		w.add(i.Type)
-	}
-
-	// Recurse into imports.
-	for _, i := range p.Imports {
-		w.Walk(i)
-	}
-}
-
-// Import the given package path, and return the actual name used in case of
-// conflict.
-func (w *typesWalker) addImport(path string) string {
-	new, importname := w.imports.Add(path)
-	if new {
-		w.newimports = append(w.newimports, [2]string{importname, path})
-	}
-	return importname
-}
-
-func (w *typesWalker) add(t types.Type) {
-	typename := types.TypeString(t, nil)
-	if _, ok := w.seenTypes[typename]; ok {
-		return
-	}
-
-	path, name, found := cutLast(typename, ".")
-	if !found {
-		name = path
-	} else if path != w.from {
-		importname := w.addImport(path)
-		name = importname + "." + name
-	}
-
-	w.types = append(w.types, name)
-	w.seenTypes[typename] = struct{}{}
-}
-
-func makeImportsMap(fset *token.FileSet, gen *ast.File) importsmap {
-	m := importsmap{}
-
-	importgroups := astutil.Imports(fset, gen)
-	for _, g := range importgroups {
-		for _, imp := range g {
-			path, err := strconv.Unquote(imp.Path.Value)
-			if err != nil {
-				panic(fmt.Errorf("package in import not quoted: %w", err))
-			}
-			name := importSpecName(imp)
-			m.Ensure(name, path)
-		}
-	}
-
-	return m
-}
-
-func importSpecName(imp *ast.ImportSpec) string {
-	if imp.Name != nil {
-		return imp.Name.Name
-	}
-	// guess from the path
-	path, err := strconv.Unquote(imp.Path.Value)
-	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Errorf("package in import not quoted: %w", err))
-	}
-	lastSlash := strings.LastIndex(path, "/")
-	if lastSlash == -1 {
-		return path
-	}
-	return path[lastSlash+1:]
-}
-
-func supported(from string, t types.Type) bool {
-	return supportedType(t) && supportedImport(from, t)
-}
-
-func required(t types.Type) bool {
-	// we only require named types to be registered
-	_, ok := t.(*types.Named)
-	return ok
-}
-
-func supportedImport(from string, t types.Type) bool {
-	typename := types.TypeString(t, nil)
-	path, name, found := cutLast(typename, ".")
-	if !found {
-		name = path
-		path = ""
-	}
-
-	if !validPath(path) {
-		return false
-	}
-	if !found {
-		return true
-	}
-	if strings.Contains(path, "internal/") && !strings.HasPrefix(path, from+"/internal/") {
-		return false
-	}
-	if !public(name) {
-		return false
-	}
-	return true
-}
-
-func validPath(s string) bool {
-	return !strings.ContainsAny(s, "[]<>{}* ")
-}
-
-func supportedType(t types.Type) bool {
-	switch x := t.(type) {
-	case *types.Signature:
-		// don't know how to serialize functions
-		return false
-	case *types.Named:
-		// uninstantiated type parameter
-		if x.Origin() != t {
-			return false
-		}
-
-		tp := x.TypeParams()
-		if tp != nil {
-			// Had type parameters at some point. need to check if
-			// they are instantiated.
-			if x.TypeArgs().Len() != tp.Len() {
-				return false
-			}
-		}
-
-		return supportedType(t.Underlying())
-	case *types.Interface:
-		// TODO: should this be relaxed?
-		return false
-	case *types.TypeParam:
-		return false
-	case *types.Chan:
-		return false
-	case *types.Pointer:
-		return supportedType(x.Elem())
-	case *types.Array:
-		return supportedType(x.Elem())
-	case *types.Slice:
-		return supportedType(x.Elem())
-	case *types.Map:
-		return supportedType(x.Elem()) && supportedType(x.Key())
-	case *types.Basic:
-		switch x.Kind() {
-		case types.UntypedBool,
-			types.UntypedInt,
-			types.UntypedRune,
-			types.UntypedFloat,
-			types.UntypedComplex,
-			types.UntypedString,
-			types.UntypedNil,
-			types.Invalid:
-			return false
-		}
-	}
-	return true
-}
-
-type importsmap struct {
-	byName map[string]string
-	byPath map[string]string
-}
-
-// Add a new import and assign it an imported name, avoiding clashes. Return
-// true if a new import was added.
-func (m *importsmap) Add(p string) (bool, string) {
-	name, ok := m.byPath[p]
-	if ok {
-		return false, name
-	}
-	if m.byName == nil {
-		m.byName = make(map[string]string)
-		m.byPath = make(map[string]string)
-	}
-
-	original := path.Base(p)
-	for i := 0; i <= math.MaxInt; i++ {
-		name := original
-		if i > 0 {
-			name = fmt.Sprintf("%s_%d", original, i)
-		}
-		_, ok = m.byName[name]
-		if ok { // name clash
-			continue
-		}
-		m.byName[name] = p
-		m.byPath[p] = name
-		return true, name
-	}
-
-	panic("exhausted suffixes")
-}
-
-// Ensure path is imported, and its import name matches the one provided. Panics
-// otherwise.
-func (m *importsmap) Ensure(name, path string) {
-	// Since the goal is to panic, it's ok to potentially add an import with
-	// the wrong name.
-	_, importname := m.Add(path)
-	if importname != name {
-		panic(fmt.Errorf("import package '%s' is imported as '%s'; expected '%s'", path, importname, name))
-	}
-}
-
-func cutLast(s, sep string) (before, after string, found bool) {
-	i := strings.LastIndex(s, sep)
-	if i < 0 {
-		return s, "", false
-	}
-	return string(s[:i]), string(s[i+1:]), true
-}
-
-func public(name string) bool {
-	c := name[0] // want to panic if len is 0
-	return c >= 'A' && c <= 'Z'
-}
diff --git a/compiler/serde_test.go b/compiler/serde_test.go
deleted file mode 100644
index adc924c..0000000
--- a/compiler/serde_test.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,138 +0,0 @@
-package compiler_test
-
-import (
-	"fmt"
-	"log/slog"
-	"os"
-	"testing"
-
-	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp"
-	testdata "github.com/stealthrocket/coroutine/compiler/testdata/serde"
-	"github.com/stealthrocket/coroutine/internal/serde"
-)
-
-func enableDebugLogs() {
-	removeTime := func(groups []string, a slog.Attr) slog.Attr {
-		if a.Key == slog.TimeKey && len(groups) == 0 {
-			return slog.Attr{}
-		}
-		return a
-	}
-
-	var programLevel = new(slog.LevelVar)
-	h := slog.NewTextHandler(os.Stderr, &slog.HandlerOptions{
-		Level:       programLevel,
-		ReplaceAttr: removeTime,
-	})
-	slog.SetDefault(slog.New(h))
-	programLevel.Set(slog.LevelDebug)
-}
-
-func TestStruct1Empty(t *testing.T) {
-	enableDebugLogs()
-
-	s := testdata.Struct1{}
-
-	roundtripStruct1(t, s)
-}
-
-func TestStruct1Iface(t *testing.T) {
-	enableDebugLogs()
-
-	for i, s := range []testdata.Struct1{
-		{Iface: int(42)},
-		{Iface: true},
-		{Iface: "hello"},
-		{Iface: testdata.Inner{
-			A: 111,
-			B: "test1",
-		}},
-	} {
-		s := s
-		t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("%d", i), func(t *testing.T) {
-			roundtripStruct1(t, s)
-		})
-	}
-
-}
-
-func makes1() testdata.Struct1 {
-	str := "pointed at"
-	myint := 999
-	myintptr := &myint
-
-	bounce1 := &testdata.Bounce{
-		Value: 1,
-	}
-	bounce2 := &testdata.Bounce{
-		Value: 2,
-	}
-	bounce1.Other = bounce2
-	bounce2.Other = bounce1
-
-	return testdata.Struct1{
-		Str:  "hello",
-		Int:  42,
-		Ints: []int64{1, 2, 3},
-
-		Bool:       true,
-		Uint64:     11,
-		Uint32:     22,
-		Uint16:     33,
-		Uint8:      44,
-		Int64:      -11,
-		Int32:      -22,
-		Int16:      -33,
-		Int8:       -44,
-		Float32:    42.11,
-		Float64:    420.110,
-		Complex64:  42 + 11i,
-		Complex128: 420 + 110i,
-
-		FooSer:    testdata.NewFoo(),
-		StrPtr:    &str,
-		IntPtr:    &myint,
-		IntPtrPtr: &myintptr,
-
-		InnerV: testdata.Inner{
-			A: 53,
-			B: "test",
-		},
-
-		InnerP: &testdata.Inner{
-			A: 99,
-			B: "hello",
-		},
-
-		Bounce1: bounce1,
-
-		MapStrStr: map[string]string{"one": "un", "two": "deux", "three": "trois"},
-	}
-}
-
-func TestStruct1(t *testing.T) {
-	enableDebugLogs()
-
-	s := makes1()
-	roundtripStruct1(t, s)
-}
-
-func roundtripStruct1(t *testing.T, s testdata.Struct1) {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	serde.RegisterType[testdata.Struct1]()
-	b := serde.Serialize(s)
-	s2, b := serde.Deserialize(b)
-
-	opts := []cmp.Option{
-		cmp.AllowUnexported(testdata.Foo{}),
-	}
-
-	if diff := cmp.Diff(s, s2, opts...); diff != "" {
-		t.Fatalf("mismatch (-want +got):\n%s", diff)
-	}
-
-	if len(b) > 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("leftover bytes: %d", len(b))
-	}
-}
diff --git a/compiler/testdata/coroutine_durable.go b/compiler/testdata/coroutine_durable.go
index 922e365..11ec09e 100644
--- a/compiler/testdata/coroutine_durable.go
+++ b/compiler/testdata/coroutine_durable.go
@@ -6,12 +6,7 @@ package testdata
 
 import (
 	"github.com/stealthrocket/coroutine"
-	serde "github.com/stealthrocket/coroutine/serde"
-	runtime "runtime"
-	sync "sync"
-	atomic "sync/atomic"
-	syscall "syscall"
-	time "time"
+	"time"
 	"unsafe"
 )
 
@@ -4210,97 +4205,3 @@ func b(v int) (_ int) {
 	}
 	return
 }
-func init() {
-	serde.RegisterType[atomic.Bool]()
-	serde.RegisterType[atomic.Int32]()
-	serde.RegisterType[atomic.Int64]()
-	serde.RegisterType[atomic.Uint32]()
-	serde.RegisterType[atomic.Uint64]()
-	serde.RegisterType[atomic.Uintptr]()
-	serde.RegisterType[atomic.Value]()
-	serde.RegisterType[runtime.BlockProfileRecord]()
-	serde.RegisterType[runtime.Frame]()
-	serde.RegisterType[runtime.Frames]()
-	serde.RegisterType[runtime.Func]()
-	serde.RegisterType[runtime.MemProfileRecord]()
-	serde.RegisterType[runtime.MemStats]()
-	serde.RegisterType[runtime.PanicNilError]()
-	serde.RegisterType[runtime.Pinner]()
-	serde.RegisterType[runtime.StackRecord]()
-	serde.RegisterType[runtime.TypeAssertionError]()
-	serde.RegisterType[sync.Cond]()
-	serde.RegisterType[sync.Map]()
-	serde.RegisterType[sync.Mutex]()
-	serde.RegisterType[sync.Once]()
-	serde.RegisterType[sync.Pool]()
-	serde.RegisterType[sync.RWMutex]()
-	serde.RegisterType[sync.WaitGroup]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.BpfHdr]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.BpfInsn]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.BpfProgram]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.BpfStat]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.BpfVersion]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.Cmsghdr]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.Credential]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.Dirent]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.Errno]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.Fbootstraptransfer_t]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.FdSet]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.Flock_t]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.Fsid]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.Fstore_t]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.ICMPv6Filter]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.IPMreq]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.IPv6MTUInfo]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.IPv6Mreq]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.IfData]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.IfMsghdr]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.IfaMsghdr]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.IfmaMsghdr]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.IfmaMsghdr2]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.Inet4Pktinfo]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.Inet6Pktinfo]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.InterfaceAddrMessage]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.InterfaceMessage]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.InterfaceMulticastAddrMessage]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.Iovec]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.Kevent_t]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.Linger]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.Log2phys_t]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.Msghdr]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.ProcAttr]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.Radvisory_t]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.RawSockaddr]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.RawSockaddrAny]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.RawSockaddrDatalink]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.RawSockaddrInet4]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.RawSockaddrInet6]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.RawSockaddrUnix]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.Rlimit]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.RouteMessage]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.RtMetrics]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.RtMsghdr]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.Rusage]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.Signal]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.SockaddrDatalink]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.SockaddrInet4]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.SockaddrInet6]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.SockaddrUnix]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.SocketControlMessage]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.Stat_t]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.Statfs_t]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.SysProcAttr]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.Termios]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.Timespec]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.Timeval]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.Timeval32]()
-	serde.RegisterType[syscall.WaitStatus]()
-	serde.RegisterType[time.Duration]()
-	serde.RegisterType[time.Location]()
-	serde.RegisterType[time.Month]()
-	serde.RegisterType[time.ParseError]()
-	serde.RegisterType[time.Ticker]()
-	serde.RegisterType[time.Time]()
-	serde.RegisterType[time.Timer]()
-	serde.RegisterType[time.Weekday]()
-}
diff --git a/coroutine_durable.go b/coroutine_durable.go
index 1310979..dac3f8c 100644
--- a/coroutine_durable.go
+++ b/coroutine_durable.go
@@ -12,10 +12,6 @@ type serializedCoroutine struct {
 	resume bool
 }
 
-func init() {
-	serde.RegisterType[serializedCoroutine]()
-}
-
 // Context is passed to a coroutine and flows through all
 // functions that Yield (or could yield).
 type Context[R, S any] struct {
diff --git a/internal/serde/codec.go b/internal/serde/codec.go
index c650bb6..0462e89 100644
--- a/internal/serde/codec.go
+++ b/internal/serde/codec.go
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func init() {
-	RegisterTypeWithSerde[time.Time](serializeTime, deserializeTime)
+	RegisterSerde[time.Time](serializeTime, deserializeTime)
 }
 
 func serializeTime(s *Serializer, x *time.Time) error {
diff --git a/internal/serde/typemap.go b/internal/serde/typemap.go
index 967fc42..8709da0 100644
--- a/internal/serde/typemap.go
+++ b/internal/serde/typemap.go
@@ -9,66 +9,18 @@ import (
 // Global type register.
 var Types *TypeMap = NewTypeMap()
 
-// RegisterType into the global register to make it known to the serialization
-// system. It is only required to register named types.
-//
-// coroc usually generates calls to this function. It should be called in an
-// init function so that types are always registered in the same order.
-//
-// Named types are recursively added.
-func RegisterType[T any]() {
-	registerType[T](Types)
-}
-
-// Scan T and add all named types to the type map.
-func registerType[T any](tm *TypeMap) {
-	t := reflect.TypeOf((*T)(nil)).Elem()
-	tm.Add(t)
-	addNamedTypes(tm, make(set[reflect.Type]), t)
-}
-
-func addNamedTypes(tm *TypeMap, seen set[reflect.Type], t reflect.Type) {
-	if seen.has(t) {
-		return
-	}
-	seen.add(t)
-	if named(t) {
-		tm.Add(t)
-	}
-	switch t.Kind() {
-	case reflect.Struct:
-		for i := 0; i < t.NumField(); i++ {
-			f := t.Field(i)
-			addNamedTypes(tm, seen, f.Type)
-		}
-	case reflect.Func:
-		for i := 0; i < t.NumIn(); i++ {
-			addNamedTypes(tm, seen, t.In(i))
-		}
-		for i := 0; i < t.NumOut(); i++ {
-			addNamedTypes(tm, seen, t.Out(i))
-		}
-	case reflect.Map:
-		addNamedTypes(tm, seen, t.Key())
-		fallthrough
-	case reflect.Slice, reflect.Array, reflect.Pointer:
-		addNamedTypes(tm, seen, t.Elem())
-	}
-}
-
-// RegisterTypeWithSerde is the same as [RegisterType] but assigns serialization
-// and deserialization for this type.
-func RegisterTypeWithSerde[T any](
+// RegisterSerde assigns custom functions to serialize and deserialize a
+// specific type.
+func RegisterSerde[T any](
 	serializer func(*Serializer, *T) error,
 	deserializer func(*Deserializer, *T) error) {
-	registerTypeWithSerde[T](Types, serializer, deserializer)
+	registerSerde[T](Types, serializer, deserializer)
 }
 
-func registerTypeWithSerde[T any](tm *TypeMap,
+func registerSerde[T any](tm *TypeMap,
 	serializer func(*Serializer, *T) error,
 	deserializer func(*Deserializer, *T) error) {
 
-	registerType[T](tm)
 	t := reflect.TypeOf((*T)(nil)).Elem()
 
 	s := func(s *Serializer, p unsafe.Pointer) {
@@ -90,6 +42,7 @@ type SerializerFn func(*Serializer, unsafe.Pointer)
 type DeserializerFn func(d *Deserializer, p unsafe.Pointer)
 
 type serde struct {
+	id  int
 	ser SerializerFn
 	des DeserializerFn
 }
@@ -112,22 +65,15 @@ func (m *TypeMap) Attach(t reflect.Type, ser SerializerFn, des DeserializerFn) {
 		panic("both serializer and deserializer need to be provided")
 	}
 
-	_, ok := m.cache.GetK(t)
-	if !ok {
-		panic(fmt.Errorf("register type %s before attaching serde", t))
-	}
-
-	m.serdes[t] = serde{ser: ser, des: des}
-}
-
-func (m *TypeMap) Add(t reflect.Type) {
-	if _, ok := m.cache.GetK(t); ok {
-		return
+	s, exists := m.serdes[t]
+	if !exists {
+		s.id = len(m.custom)
+		m.custom = append(m.custom, t)
 	}
+	s.ser = ser
+	s.des = des
 
-	x := &typeinfo{kind: typeCustom, val: len(m.custom)}
-	m.custom = append(m.custom, t)
-	m.cache.Add(t, x)
+	m.serdes[t] = s
 }
 
 func (m *TypeMap) serdeOf(x reflect.Type) (serde, bool) {
@@ -150,13 +96,14 @@ func (m *doublemap[K, V]) GetV(v V) (K, bool) {
 	return k, ok
 }
 
-func (m *doublemap[K, V]) Add(k K, v V) {
+func (m *doublemap[K, V]) Add(k K, v V) V {
 	if m.fromK == nil {
 		m.fromK = make(map[K]V)
 		m.fromV = make(map[V]K)
 	}
 	m.fromK[k] = v
 	m.fromV[v] = k
+	return v
 }
 
 type set[T comparable] map[T]struct{}
diff --git a/internal/serde/types.go b/internal/serde/types.go
index f3067be..1b9d95f 100644
--- a/internal/serde/types.go
+++ b/internal/serde/types.go
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@ const (
 // to get right, and we will be revamping serde anyway.
 type typeinfo struct {
 	kind typekind
+
+	// Only present for named types. See documentation of [namedTypeOffset].
+	offset namedTypeOffset
+
 	// - typeCustom uses this field to store the index in the typemap of the
 	//   custom type it represents.
 	// - typeBasic uses it to store the reflect.Kind it represents.
@@ -41,6 +45,10 @@ type typeinfo struct {
 }
 
 func (t *typeinfo) reflectType(tm *TypeMap) reflect.Type {
+	if t.offset != 0 {
+		return typeForOffset(t.offset)
+	}
+
 	switch t.kind {
 	case typeNone:
 		return nil
@@ -142,13 +150,27 @@ func (m *TypeMap) ToType(t reflect.Type) *typeinfo {
 	}
 
 	if t == nil {
-		return &typeinfo{kind: typeNone}
+		return m.cache.Add(t, &typeinfo{kind: typeNone})
 	}
 
+	var offset namedTypeOffset
 	if named(t) {
-		panic(fmt.Errorf("named type should be registered (%s)", t))
+		offset = offsetForType(t)
+		// Technically types with an offset do not need more information
+		// than that. However for debugging purposes also generate the
+		// rest of the type information.
 	}
 
+	if s, ok := m.serdes[t]; ok {
+		return m.cache.Add(t, &typeinfo{
+			kind:   typeCustom,
+			offset: offset,
+			val:    s.id,
+		})
+	}
+
+	ti := &typeinfo{offset: offset}
+	m.cache.Add(t, ti) // add now for recursion
 	switch t.Kind() {
 	case reflect.Invalid:
 		panic("can't handle reflect.Invalid")
@@ -170,40 +192,29 @@ func (m *TypeMap) ToType(t reflect.Type) *typeinfo {
 		reflect.Complex128,
 		reflect.String,
 		reflect.Interface:
-		return &typeinfo{
-			kind: typeBasic,
-			val:  int(t.Kind()),
-		}
+		ti.kind = typeBasic
+		ti.val = int(t.Kind())
 	case reflect.Array:
-		return &typeinfo{
-			kind: typeArray,
-			elem: m.ToType(t.Elem()),
-			val:  t.Len(),
-		}
+		ti.kind = typeArray
+		ti.val = t.Len()
+		ti.elem = m.ToType(t.Elem())
 	case reflect.Map:
-		return &typeinfo{
-			kind: typeMap,
-			key:  m.ToType(t.Key()),
-			elem: m.ToType(t.Elem()),
-		}
+		ti.kind = typeMap
+		ti.key = m.ToType(t.Key())
+		ti.elem = m.ToType(t.Elem())
 	case reflect.Pointer:
-		return &typeinfo{
-			kind: typePointer,
-			elem: m.ToType(t.Elem()),
-		}
+		ti.kind = typePointer
+		ti.elem = m.ToType(t.Elem())
 	case reflect.Slice:
-		return &typeinfo{
-			kind: typeSlice,
-			elem: m.ToType(t.Elem()),
-		}
+		ti.kind = typeSlice
+		ti.elem = m.ToType(t.Elem())
 	case reflect.Struct:
 		n := t.NumField()
 		fields := make([]Field, n)
 		for i := 0; i < n; i++ {
 			f := t.Field(i)
-			// Unexported fields are not supported.
-			if !f.IsExported() {
-				panic(fmt.Errorf("struct with unexported fields should be registered (%s)", t))
+			if !f.IsExported() && offset == 0 {
+				ti.offset = offsetForType(t)
 			}
 			fields[i].name = f.Name
 			fields[i].anon = f.Anonymous
@@ -212,10 +223,8 @@ func (m *TypeMap) ToType(t reflect.Type) *typeinfo {
 			fields[i].tag = string(f.Tag)
 			fields[i].typ = m.ToType(f.Type)
 		}
-		return &typeinfo{
-			kind:   typeStruct,
-			fields: fields,
-		}
+		ti.kind = typeStruct
+		ti.fields = fields
 	case reflect.Func:
 		nin := t.NumIn()
 		nout := t.NumOut()
@@ -226,14 +235,13 @@ func (m *TypeMap) ToType(t reflect.Type) *typeinfo {
 		for i := 0; i < nout; i++ {
 			types[nin+i] = m.ToType(t.Out(i))
 		}
-		return &typeinfo{
-			kind: typeFunc,
-			val:  nin<<1 | boolint(t.IsVariadic()),
-			args: types,
-		}
+		ti.kind = typeFunc
+		ti.val = nin<<1 | boolint(t.IsVariadic())
+		ti.args = types
 	default:
 		panic(fmt.Errorf("unsupported reflect.Kind (%s)", t.Kind()))
 	}
+	return ti
 }
 
 func boolint(x bool) int {
diff --git a/internal/serde/unsafe.go b/internal/serde/unsafe.go
index c52fb21..d31c1cc 100644
--- a/internal/serde/unsafe.go
+++ b/internal/serde/unsafe.go
@@ -56,3 +56,23 @@ func staticOffset(p unsafe.Pointer) int {
 func staticPointer(offset int) unsafe.Pointer {
 	return unsafe.Add(staticuint64s, offset)
 }
+
+// namedType offset is the number of bytes from the address of the 'byte' type
+// value to the ptr field of a reflect.Type. It is used to roundtrip named types
+// for a given version of the program.
+type namedTypeOffset int
+
+func offsetForType(t reflect.Type) namedTypeOffset {
+	tptr := (*iface)(unsafe.Pointer(&t)).ptr
+	bptr := (*iface)(unsafe.Pointer(&byteT)).ptr
+	return namedTypeOffset(uintptr(tptr) - uintptr(bptr))
+}
+
+func typeForOffset(offset namedTypeOffset) reflect.Type {
+	biface := (*iface)(unsafe.Pointer(&byteT))
+	tiface := &iface{
+		typ: biface.typ,
+		ptr: unsafe.Add(biface.ptr, offset),
+	}
+	return *(*reflect.Type)(unsafe.Pointer(tiface))
+}
diff --git a/serde/serde_test.go b/serde/serde_test.go
index b4176fa..f1cb3d3 100644
--- a/serde/serde_test.go
+++ b/serde/serde_test.go
@@ -67,7 +67,6 @@ func TestReflect(t *testing.T) {
 
 		for _, x := range cases {
 			t := reflect.TypeOf(x)
-			serdeinternal.Types.Add(t)
 
 			if t.Kind() == reflect.Func {
 				a := types.FuncAddr(x)
@@ -99,7 +98,6 @@ func TestInt257(t *testing.T) {
 		true,
 		one,
 	}
-	serde.RegisterType[[]any]()
 	assertRoundTrip(t, x)
 }
 
@@ -137,7 +135,7 @@ func TestReflectCustom(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	testReflect(t, "int wrapper", func(t *testing.T) {
-		serde.RegisterTypeWithSerde[int](ser, des)
+		serde.RegisterSerde[int](ser, des)
 
 		x := 42
 		p := &x
@@ -160,8 +158,7 @@ func TestReflectCustom(t *testing.T) {
 			y   Y
 		}
 
-		serde.RegisterType[X]()
-		serde.RegisterTypeWithSerde[int](ser, des)
+		serde.RegisterSerde[int](ser, des)
 
 		x := X{
 			foo: "test",
@@ -186,8 +183,7 @@ func TestReflectCustom(t *testing.T) {
 			y   *Y
 		}
 
-		serde.RegisterType[X]()
-		serde.RegisterTypeWithSerde[int](ser, des)
+		serde.RegisterSerde[int](ser, des)
 
 		x := &X{y: &Y{}}
 		x.y.foo = "test"
@@ -202,8 +198,7 @@ func TestReflectCustom(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	testReflect(t, "custom type in slice", func(t *testing.T) {
-		serde.RegisterTypeWithSerde[int](ser, des)
-		serde.RegisterType[[]int]()
+		serde.RegisterSerde[int](ser, des)
 		x := []int{1, 2, 3, 42, 5, 6}
 		assertRoundTrip(t, x)
 		b := serdeinternal.Serialize(x)
@@ -226,7 +221,7 @@ func TestReflectCustom(t *testing.T) {
 			return nil
 		}
 
-		serde.RegisterTypeWithSerde[http.Client](ser, des)
+		serde.RegisterSerde[http.Client](ser, des)
 
 		x := http.Client{
 			CheckRedirect: func(req *http.Request, via []*http.Request) error {
@@ -268,8 +263,6 @@ func TestReflectSharing(t *testing.T) {
 		x.a[5] = 6
 		assertEqual(t, 6, x.b[5])
 
-		serde.RegisterType[X]()
-
 		out := assertRoundTrip(t, x)
 
 		// check map is shared after
@@ -305,8 +298,6 @@ func TestReflectSharing(t *testing.T) {
 		assertEqual(t, 3, cap(orig.s3))
 		assertEqual(t, 3, len(orig.s3))
 
-		serde.RegisterType[X]()
-
 		out := assertRoundTrip(t, orig)
 
 		// verify that the initial arrays were shared
@@ -350,8 +341,6 @@ func TestReflectSharing(t *testing.T) {
 		assertEqual(t, 3, cap(orig.s3))
 		assertEqual(t, 3, len(orig.s3))
 
-		serde.RegisterType[X]()
-
 		out := assertRoundTrip(t, orig)
 
 		// verify that the initial arrays were shared
@@ -394,7 +383,6 @@ func TestReflectSharing(t *testing.T) {
 		x.A.Y = 42
 		assertEqual(t, 42, *x.B.P)
 
-		serde.RegisterType[X]()
 		out := assertRoundTrip(t, x)
 
 		// verify the resulting pointer is correct
@@ -411,8 +399,6 @@ func TestReflectSharing(t *testing.T) {
 		x.z = x
 		assertEqual(t, x, x.z)
 
-		serde.RegisterType[X]()
-
 		out := assertRoundTrip(t, x)
 
 		assertEqual(t, out, out.z)
@@ -431,7 +417,6 @@ func TestReflectSharing(t *testing.T) {
 
 		x := X{Y{Z{42}}}
 
-		serde.RegisterType[X]()
 		assertRoundTrip(t, x)
 	})
 
@@ -455,7 +440,6 @@ func TestReflectSharing(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 		}
 
-		serde.RegisterType[X]()
 		assertRoundTrip(t, x)
 	})
 
@@ -477,7 +461,6 @@ func TestReflectSharing(t *testing.T) {
 
 		assertEqual(t, unsafe.Pointer(x), unsafe.Pointer(x.y.z))
 
-		serde.RegisterType[X]()
 		out := assertRoundTrip(t, x)
 
 		out.z.v = "test"
@@ -506,8 +489,6 @@ func TestReflectSharing(t *testing.T) {
 		assertEqual(t, 3, cap(x.s1))
 		assertEqual(t, 2, cap(x.s2))
 
-		serde.RegisterType[X]()
-
 		out := assertRoundTrip(t, x)
 
 		// check underlying arrays are not shared
@@ -527,7 +508,6 @@ func TestReflectSharing(t *testing.T) {
 			"trois": data[0:3],
 		}
 
-		serde.RegisterType[map[string][]int]()
 		out := assertRoundTrip(t, x)
 
 		out["un"][0] = 100
diff --git a/serde/typemap.go b/serde/typemap.go
index bd1df9b..c3bd73c 100644
--- a/serde/typemap.go
+++ b/serde/typemap.go
@@ -10,22 +10,8 @@ type SerializerFn[T any] func(*Serializer, *T) error
 // DeserializerFn is the signature of customer deserializer functions.
 type DeserializerFn[T any] func(*Deserializer, *T) error
 
-// RegisterType adds T to the global type register, as well as *T and all
-// types contained within.
-//
-// Types can be registered multiple times, but care should be taken to always
-// register them in a deterministic order; init functions are a good place for
-// that. Most of the time, coroc takes care of registering types.
-func RegisterType[T any]() {
-	serde.RegisterType[T]()
-}
-
-// RegisterTypeWithSerde adds T to the global type register in the same way
-// [RegisterType] does, but also attaches custom serialization and
-// deserialization functions to T.
-//
-// If T already has custom serialization and deserialization functions,
-// [RegisterTypeWithSerde] panics.
-func RegisterTypeWithSerde[T any](ser SerializerFn[T], des DeserializerFn[T]) {
-	serde.RegisterTypeWithSerde[T](ser, des)
+// RegisterSerde attaches custom serialization and deserialization functions to
+// type T.
+func RegisterSerde[T any](ser SerializerFn[T], des DeserializerFn[T]) {
+	serde.RegisterSerde[T](ser, des)
 }