diff --git a/src/api/renderer.c b/src/api/renderer.c
index 6ef22023..7f66c860 100644
--- a/src/api/renderer.c
+++ b/src/api/renderer.c
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ static int f_font_load(lua_State *L) {
     return ret_code;
 
   RenFont** font = lua_newuserdata(L, sizeof(RenFont*));
-  *font = ren_font_load(&window_renderer, filename, size, antialiasing, hinting, style);
+  *font = ren_font_load(window_renderer, filename, size, antialiasing, hinting, style);
   if (!*font)
     return luaL_error(L, "failed to load font");
   luaL_setmetatable(L, API_TYPE_FONT);
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ static int f_font_copy(lua_State *L) {
   }
   for (int i = 0; i < FONT_FALLBACK_MAX && fonts[i]; ++i) {
     RenFont** font = lua_newuserdata(L, sizeof(RenFont*));
-    *font = ren_font_copy(&window_renderer, fonts[i], size, antialiasing, hinting, style);
+    *font = ren_font_copy(window_renderer, fonts[i], size, antialiasing, hinting, style);
     if (!*font)
       return luaL_error(L, "failed to copy font");
     luaL_setmetatable(L, API_TYPE_FONT);
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ static int f_font_get_width(lua_State *L) {
   size_t len;
   const char *text = luaL_checklstring(L, 2, &len);
 
-  lua_pushnumber(L, ren_font_group_get_width(&window_renderer, fonts, text, len, NULL));
+  lua_pushnumber(L, ren_font_group_get_width(window_renderer, fonts, text, len, NULL));
   return 1;
 }
 
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ static int f_font_get_size(lua_State *L) {
 static int f_font_set_size(lua_State *L) {
   RenFont* fonts[FONT_FALLBACK_MAX]; font_retrieve(L, fonts, 1);
   float size = luaL_checknumber(L, 2);
-  ren_font_group_set_size(&window_renderer, fonts, size);
+  ren_font_group_set_size(window_renderer, fonts, size);
   return 0;
 }
 
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ static int f_show_debug(lua_State *L) {
 
 static int f_get_size(lua_State *L) {
   int w, h;
-  ren_get_size(&window_renderer, &w, &h);
+  ren_get_size(window_renderer, &w, &h);
   lua_pushnumber(L, w);
   lua_pushnumber(L, h);
   return 2;
@@ -284,13 +284,13 @@ static int f_get_size(lua_State *L) {
 
 
 static int f_begin_frame(UNUSED lua_State *L) {
-  rencache_begin_frame(&window_renderer);
+  rencache_begin_frame(window_renderer);
   return 0;
 }
 
 
 static int f_end_frame(UNUSED lua_State *L) {
-  rencache_end_frame(&window_renderer);
+  rencache_end_frame(window_renderer);
   // clear the font reference table
   lua_newtable(L);
   lua_rawseti(L, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX, RENDERER_FONT_REF);
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ static int f_set_clip_rect(lua_State *L) {
   lua_Number w = luaL_checknumber(L, 3);
   lua_Number h = luaL_checknumber(L, 4);
   RenRect rect = rect_to_grid(x, y, w, h);
-  rencache_set_clip_rect(&window_renderer, rect);
+  rencache_set_clip_rect(window_renderer, rect);
   return 0;
 }
 
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ static int f_draw_rect(lua_State *L) {
   lua_Number h = luaL_checknumber(L, 4);
   RenRect rect = rect_to_grid(x, y, w, h);
   RenColor color = checkcolor(L, 5, 255);
-  rencache_draw_rect(&window_renderer, rect, color);
+  rencache_draw_rect(window_renderer, rect, color);
   return 0;
 }
 
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ static int f_draw_text(lua_State *L) {
   double x = luaL_checknumber(L, 3);
   int y = luaL_checknumber(L, 4);
   RenColor color = checkcolor(L, 5, 255);
-  x = rencache_draw_text(&window_renderer, fonts, text, len, x, y, color);
+  x = rencache_draw_text(window_renderer, fonts, text, len, x, y, color);
   lua_pushnumber(L, x);
   return 1;
 }
diff --git a/src/api/system.c b/src/api/system.c
index 2a09621f..da99f592 100644
--- a/src/api/system.c
+++ b/src/api/system.c
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ static SDL_HitTestResult SDLCALL hit_test(SDL_Window *window, const SDL_Point *p
   const int controls_width = hit_info->controls_width;
   int w, h;
 
-  SDL_GetWindowSize(window_renderer.window, &w, &h);
+  SDL_GetWindowSize(window_renderer->window, &w, &h);
 
   if (pt->y < hit_info->title_height &&
     #if RESIZE_FROM_TOP
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ top:
 
     case SDL_WINDOWEVENT:
       if (e.window.event == SDL_WINDOWEVENT_RESIZED) {
-        ren_resize_window(&window_renderer);
+        ren_resize_window(window_renderer);
         lua_pushstring(L, "resized");
         /* The size below will be in points. */
         lua_pushinteger(L, e.window.data1);
@@ -225,8 +225,8 @@ top:
       SDL_GetMouseState(&mx, &my);
       lua_pushstring(L, "filedropped");
       lua_pushstring(L, e.drop.file);
-      lua_pushinteger(L, mx * window_renderer.scale_x);
-      lua_pushinteger(L, my * window_renderer.scale_y);
+      lua_pushinteger(L, mx * window_renderer->scale_x);
+      lua_pushinteger(L, my * window_renderer->scale_y);
       SDL_free(e.drop.file);
       return 4;
 
@@ -283,8 +283,8 @@ top:
       if (e.button.button == 1) { SDL_CaptureMouse(1); }
       lua_pushstring(L, "mousepressed");
       lua_pushstring(L, button_name(e.button.button));
-      lua_pushinteger(L, e.button.x * window_renderer.scale_x);
-      lua_pushinteger(L, e.button.y * window_renderer.scale_y);
+      lua_pushinteger(L, e.button.x * window_renderer->scale_x);
+      lua_pushinteger(L, e.button.y * window_renderer->scale_y);
       lua_pushinteger(L, e.button.clicks);
       return 5;
 
@@ -292,8 +292,8 @@ top:
       if (e.button.button == 1) { SDL_CaptureMouse(0); }
       lua_pushstring(L, "mousereleased");
       lua_pushstring(L, button_name(e.button.button));
-      lua_pushinteger(L, e.button.x * window_renderer.scale_x);
-      lua_pushinteger(L, e.button.y * window_renderer.scale_y);
+      lua_pushinteger(L, e.button.x * window_renderer->scale_x);
+      lua_pushinteger(L, e.button.y * window_renderer->scale_y);
       return 4;
 
     case SDL_MOUSEMOTION:
@@ -305,10 +305,10 @@ top:
         e.motion.yrel += event_plus.motion.yrel;
       }
       lua_pushstring(L, "mousemoved");
-      lua_pushinteger(L, e.motion.x * window_renderer.scale_x);
-      lua_pushinteger(L, e.motion.y * window_renderer.scale_y);
-      lua_pushinteger(L, e.motion.xrel * window_renderer.scale_x);
-      lua_pushinteger(L, e.motion.yrel * window_renderer.scale_y);
+      lua_pushinteger(L, e.motion.x * window_renderer->scale_x);
+      lua_pushinteger(L, e.motion.y * window_renderer->scale_y);
+      lua_pushinteger(L, e.motion.xrel * window_renderer->scale_x);
+      lua_pushinteger(L, e.motion.yrel * window_renderer->scale_y);
       return 5;
 
     case SDL_MOUSEWHEEL:
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ top:
       return 3;
 
       case SDL_FINGERDOWN:
-      SDL_GetWindowSize(window_renderer.window, &w, &h);
+      SDL_GetWindowSize(window_renderer->window, &w, &h);
 
       lua_pushstring(L, "touchpressed");
       lua_pushinteger(L, (lua_Integer)(e.tfinger.x * w));
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ top:
       return 4;
 
     case SDL_FINGERUP:
-      SDL_GetWindowSize(window_renderer.window, &w, &h);
+      SDL_GetWindowSize(window_renderer->window, &w, &h);
 
       lua_pushstring(L, "touchreleased");
       lua_pushinteger(L, (lua_Integer)(e.tfinger.x * w));
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ top:
         e.tfinger.dx += event_plus.tfinger.dx;
         e.tfinger.dy += event_plus.tfinger.dy;
       }
-      SDL_GetWindowSize(window_renderer.window, &w, &h);
+      SDL_GetWindowSize(window_renderer->window, &w, &h);
 
       lua_pushstring(L, "touchmoved");
       lua_pushinteger(L, (lua_Integer)(e.tfinger.x * w));
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ top:
       #ifdef LITE_USE_SDL_RENDERER
         rencache_invalidate();
       #else
-        SDL_UpdateWindowSurface(window_renderer.window);
+        SDL_UpdateWindowSurface(window_renderer->window);
       #endif
       lua_pushstring(L, e.type == SDL_APP_WILLENTERFOREGROUND ? "enteringforeground" : "enteredforeground");
       return 1;
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ static int f_set_cursor(lua_State *L) {
 
 static int f_set_window_title(lua_State *L) {
   const char *title = luaL_checkstring(L, 1);
-  SDL_SetWindowTitle(window_renderer.window, title);
+  SDL_SetWindowTitle(window_renderer->window, title);
   return 0;
 }
 
@@ -439,39 +439,39 @@ enum { WIN_NORMAL, WIN_MINIMIZED, WIN_MAXIMIZED, WIN_FULLSCREEN };
 
 static int f_set_window_mode(lua_State *L) {
   int n = luaL_checkoption(L, 1, "normal", window_opts);
-  SDL_SetWindowFullscreen(window_renderer.window,
+  SDL_SetWindowFullscreen(window_renderer->window,
     n == WIN_FULLSCREEN ? SDL_WINDOW_FULLSCREEN_DESKTOP : 0);
-  if (n == WIN_NORMAL) { SDL_RestoreWindow(window_renderer.window); }
-  if (n == WIN_MAXIMIZED) { SDL_MaximizeWindow(window_renderer.window); }
-  if (n == WIN_MINIMIZED) { SDL_MinimizeWindow(window_renderer.window); }
+  if (n == WIN_NORMAL) { SDL_RestoreWindow(window_renderer->window); }
+  if (n == WIN_MAXIMIZED) { SDL_MaximizeWindow(window_renderer->window); }
+  if (n == WIN_MINIMIZED) { SDL_MinimizeWindow(window_renderer->window); }
   return 0;
 }
 
 
 static int f_set_window_bordered(lua_State *L) {
   int bordered = lua_toboolean(L, 1);
-  SDL_SetWindowBordered(window_renderer.window, bordered);
+  SDL_SetWindowBordered(window_renderer->window, bordered);
   return 0;
 }
 
 
 static int f_set_window_hit_test(lua_State *L) {
   if (lua_gettop(L) == 0) {
-    SDL_SetWindowHitTest(window_renderer.window, NULL, NULL);
+    SDL_SetWindowHitTest(window_renderer->window, NULL, NULL);
     return 0;
   }
   window_hit_info->title_height = luaL_checknumber(L, 1);
   window_hit_info->controls_width = luaL_checknumber(L, 2);
   window_hit_info->resize_border = luaL_checknumber(L, 3);
-  SDL_SetWindowHitTest(window_renderer.window, hit_test, window_hit_info);
+  SDL_SetWindowHitTest(window_renderer->window, hit_test, window_hit_info);
   return 0;
 }
 
 
 static int f_get_window_size(lua_State *L) {
   int x, y, w, h;
-  SDL_GetWindowSize(window_renderer.window, &w, &h);
-  SDL_GetWindowPosition(window_renderer.window, &x, &y);
+  SDL_GetWindowSize(window_renderer->window, &w, &h);
+  SDL_GetWindowPosition(window_renderer->window, &x, &y);
   lua_pushinteger(L, w);
   lua_pushinteger(L, h);
   lua_pushinteger(L, x);
@@ -485,22 +485,22 @@ static int f_set_window_size(lua_State *L) {
   double h = luaL_checknumber(L, 2);
   double x = luaL_checknumber(L, 3);
   double y = luaL_checknumber(L, 4);
-  SDL_SetWindowSize(window_renderer.window, w, h);
-  SDL_SetWindowPosition(window_renderer.window, x, y);
-  ren_resize_window(&window_renderer);
+  SDL_SetWindowSize(window_renderer->window, w, h);
+  SDL_SetWindowPosition(window_renderer->window, x, y);
+  ren_resize_window(window_renderer);
   return 0;
 }
 
 
 static int f_window_has_focus(lua_State *L) {
-  unsigned flags = SDL_GetWindowFlags(window_renderer.window);
+  unsigned flags = SDL_GetWindowFlags(window_renderer->window);
   lua_pushboolean(L, flags & SDL_WINDOW_INPUT_FOCUS);
   return 1;
 }
 
 
 static int f_get_window_mode(lua_State *L) {
-  unsigned flags = SDL_GetWindowFlags(window_renderer.window);
+  unsigned flags = SDL_GetWindowFlags(window_renderer->window);
   if (flags & SDL_WINDOW_FULLSCREEN_DESKTOP) {
     lua_pushstring(L, "fullscreen");
   } else if (flags & SDL_WINDOW_MINIMIZED) {
@@ -538,8 +538,8 @@ static int f_raise_window(lua_State *L) {
     to allow the window to be focused. Also on wayland the raise window event
     may not always be obeyed.
   */
-  SDL_SetWindowInputFocus(window_renderer.window);
-  SDL_RaiseWindow(window_renderer.window);
+  SDL_SetWindowInputFocus(window_renderer->window);
+  SDL_RaiseWindow(window_renderer->window);
   return 0;
 }
 
@@ -916,7 +916,7 @@ static int f_fuzzy_match(lua_State *L) {
 
 static int f_set_window_opacity(lua_State *L) {
   double n = luaL_checknumber(L, 1);
-  int r = SDL_SetWindowOpacity(window_renderer.window, n);
+  int r = SDL_SetWindowOpacity(window_renderer->window, n);
   lua_pushboolean(L, r > -1);
   return 1;
 }
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 252b0f45..104e5fe2 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
     fprintf(stderr, "Error creating lite-xl window: %s", SDL_GetError());
     exit(1);
   }
-  ren_init(window);
+  window_renderer = ren_init(window);
 
   lua_State *L;
 init_lua:
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ init_lua:
 
   // This allows the window to be destroyed before lite-xl is done with
   // reaping child processes
-  ren_free_window_resources(&window_renderer);
+  ren_free(window_renderer);
   lua_close(L);
 
   return EXIT_SUCCESS;
diff --git a/src/renderer.c b/src/renderer.c
index cd5ec7ba..f1c5bb54 100644
--- a/src/renderer.c
+++ b/src/renderer.c
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 #define MAX_LOADABLE_GLYPHSETS (MAX_UNICODE / GLYPHSET_SIZE)
 #define SUBPIXEL_BITMAPS_CACHED 3
 
-RenWindow window_renderer = {0};
+RenWindow* window_renderer = NULL;
 static FT_Library library;
 
 // draw_rect_surface is used as a 1x1 surface to simplify ren_draw_rect with blending
@@ -501,31 +501,35 @@ void ren_draw_rect(RenSurface *rs, RenRect rect, RenColor color) {
 }
 
 /*************** Window Management ****************/
-void ren_free_window_resources(RenWindow *window_renderer) {
+RenWindow* ren_init(SDL_Window *win) {
+  assert(win);
+  int error = FT_Init_FreeType( &library );
+  if ( error ) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "internal font error when starting the application\n");
+    return NULL;
+  }
+  RenWindow* window_renderer = malloc(sizeof(RenWindow));
+
+  window_renderer->window = win;
+  renwin_init_surface(window_renderer);
+  renwin_init_command_buf(window_renderer);
+  renwin_clip_to_surface(window_renderer);
+  draw_rect_surface = SDL_CreateRGBSurface(0, 1, 1, 32,
+                       0xFF000000, 0x00FF0000, 0x0000FF00, 0x000000FF);
+
+  return window_renderer;
+}
+
+void ren_free(RenWindow* window_renderer) {
+  assert(window_renderer);
   renwin_free(window_renderer);
   SDL_FreeSurface(draw_rect_surface);
   free(window_renderer->command_buf);
   window_renderer->command_buf = NULL;
   window_renderer->command_buf_size = 0;
+  free(window_renderer);
 }
 
-// TODO remove global and return RenWindow*
-void ren_init(SDL_Window *win) {
-  assert(win);
-  int error = FT_Init_FreeType( &library );
-  if ( error ) {
-    fprintf(stderr, "internal font error when starting the application\n");
-    return;
-  }
-  window_renderer.window = win;
-  renwin_init_surface(&window_renderer);
-  renwin_init_command_buf(&window_renderer);
-  renwin_clip_to_surface(&window_renderer);
-  draw_rect_surface = SDL_CreateRGBSurface(0, 1, 1, 32,
-                       0xFF000000, 0x00FF0000, 0x0000FF00, 0x000000FF);
-}
-
-
 void ren_resize_window(RenWindow *window_renderer) {
   renwin_resize_surface(window_renderer);
   renwin_update_scale(window_renderer);
diff --git a/src/renderer.h b/src/renderer.h
index 1c865c8f..78811341 100644
--- a/src/renderer.h
+++ b/src/renderer.h
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ typedef struct { SDL_Surface *surface; int scale; } RenSurface;
 
 struct RenWindow;
 typedef struct RenWindow RenWindow;
-extern RenWindow window_renderer;
+extern RenWindow* window_renderer;
 
 RenFont* ren_font_load(RenWindow *window_renderer, const char *filename, float size, ERenFontAntialiasing antialiasing, ERenFontHinting hinting, unsigned char style);
 RenFont* ren_font_copy(RenWindow *window_renderer, RenFont* font, float size, ERenFontAntialiasing antialiasing, ERenFontHinting hinting, int style);
@@ -39,12 +39,12 @@ double ren_draw_text(RenSurface *rs, RenFont **font, const char *text, size_t le
 
 void ren_draw_rect(RenSurface *rs, RenRect rect, RenColor color);
 
-void ren_init(SDL_Window *win);
+RenWindow* ren_init(SDL_Window *win);
+void ren_free(RenWindow* window_renderer);
 void ren_resize_window(RenWindow *window_renderer);
 void ren_update_rects(RenWindow *window_renderer, RenRect *rects, int count);
 void ren_set_clip_rect(RenWindow *window_renderer, RenRect rect);
 void ren_get_size(RenWindow *window_renderer, int *x, int *y); /* Reports the size in points. */
-void ren_free_window_resources(RenWindow *window_renderer);
 
 
 #endif