diff --git a/src/bin/common/color.c b/src/bin/common/color.c
index 8bb96043..665558f5 100644
--- a/src/bin/common/color.c
+++ b/src/bin/common/color.c
@@ -122,9 +122,9 @@ static void sycc444_to_rgb(opj_image_t *img)
     cb = img->comps[1].data;
     cr = img->comps[2].data;
 
-    d0 = r = (int*)malloc(sizeof(int) * max);
-    d1 = g = (int*)malloc(sizeof(int) * max);
-    d2 = b = (int*)malloc(sizeof(int) * max);
+    d0 = r = (int*)opj_image_data_alloc(sizeof(int) * max);
+    d1 = g = (int*)opj_image_data_alloc(sizeof(int) * max);
+    d2 = b = (int*)opj_image_data_alloc(sizeof(int) * max);
 
     if (r == NULL || g == NULL || b == NULL) {
         goto fails;
@@ -139,19 +139,19 @@ static void sycc444_to_rgb(opj_image_t *img)
         ++g;
         ++b;
     }
-    free(img->comps[0].data);
+    opj_image_data_free(img->comps[0].data);
     img->comps[0].data = d0;
-    free(img->comps[1].data);
+    opj_image_data_free(img->comps[1].data);
     img->comps[1].data = d1;
-    free(img->comps[2].data);
+    opj_image_data_free(img->comps[2].data);
     img->comps[2].data = d2;
     img->color_space = OPJ_CLRSPC_SRGB;
     return;
 
 fails:
-    free(r);
-    free(g);
-    free(b);
+    opj_image_data_free(r);
+    opj_image_data_free(g);
+    opj_image_data_free(b);
 }/* sycc444_to_rgb() */
 
 static void sycc422_to_rgb(opj_image_t *img)
@@ -174,9 +174,9 @@ static void sycc422_to_rgb(opj_image_t *img)
     cb = img->comps[1].data;
     cr = img->comps[2].data;
 
-    d0 = r = (int*)malloc(sizeof(int) * max);
-    d1 = g = (int*)malloc(sizeof(int) * max);
-    d2 = b = (int*)malloc(sizeof(int) * max);
+    d0 = r = (int*)opj_image_data_alloc(sizeof(int) * max);
+    d1 = g = (int*)opj_image_data_alloc(sizeof(int) * max);
+    d2 = b = (int*)opj_image_data_alloc(sizeof(int) * max);
 
     if (r == NULL || g == NULL || b == NULL) {
         goto fails;
@@ -222,11 +222,11 @@ static void sycc422_to_rgb(opj_image_t *img)
         }
     }
 
-    free(img->comps[0].data);
+    opj_image_data_free(img->comps[0].data);
     img->comps[0].data = d0;
-    free(img->comps[1].data);
+    opj_image_data_free(img->comps[1].data);
     img->comps[1].data = d1;
-    free(img->comps[2].data);
+    opj_image_data_free(img->comps[2].data);
     img->comps[2].data = d2;
 
     img->comps[1].w = img->comps[2].w = img->comps[0].w;
@@ -237,9 +237,9 @@ static void sycc422_to_rgb(opj_image_t *img)
     return;
 
 fails:
-    free(r);
-    free(g);
-    free(b);
+    opj_image_data_free(r);
+    opj_image_data_free(g);
+    opj_image_data_free(b);
 }/* sycc422_to_rgb() */
 
 static void sycc420_to_rgb(opj_image_t *img)
@@ -262,9 +262,9 @@ static void sycc420_to_rgb(opj_image_t *img)
     cb = img->comps[1].data;
     cr = img->comps[2].data;
 
-    d0 = r = (int*)malloc(sizeof(int) * max);
-    d1 = g = (int*)malloc(sizeof(int) * max);
-    d2 = b = (int*)malloc(sizeof(int) * max);
+    d0 = r = (int*)opj_image_data_alloc(sizeof(int) * max);
+    d1 = g = (int*)opj_image_data_alloc(sizeof(int) * max);
+    d2 = b = (int*)opj_image_data_alloc(sizeof(int) * max);
 
     if (r == NULL || g == NULL || b == NULL) {
         goto fails;
@@ -380,11 +380,11 @@ static void sycc420_to_rgb(opj_image_t *img)
         }
     }
 
-    free(img->comps[0].data);
+    opj_image_data_free(img->comps[0].data);
     img->comps[0].data = d0;
-    free(img->comps[1].data);
+    opj_image_data_free(img->comps[1].data);
     img->comps[1].data = d1;
-    free(img->comps[2].data);
+    opj_image_data_free(img->comps[2].data);
     img->comps[2].data = d2;
 
     img->comps[1].w = img->comps[2].w = img->comps[0].w;
@@ -395,9 +395,9 @@ static void sycc420_to_rgb(opj_image_t *img)
     return;
 
 fails:
-    free(r);
-    free(g);
-    free(b);
+    opj_image_data_free(r);
+    opj_image_data_free(g);
+    opj_image_data_free(b);
 }/* sycc420_to_rgb() */
 
 void color_sycc_to_rgb(opj_image_t *img)
@@ -574,8 +574,8 @@ void color_apply_icc_profile(opj_image_t *image)
 
             max = max_w * max_h;
             nr_samples = (size_t)(max * 3U * sizeof(unsigned char));
-            in = inbuf = (unsigned char*)malloc(nr_samples);
-            out = outbuf = (unsigned char*)malloc(nr_samples);
+            in = inbuf = (unsigned char*)opj_image_data_alloc(nr_samples);
+            out = outbuf = (unsigned char*)opj_image_data_alloc(nr_samples);
 
             if (inbuf == NULL || outbuf == NULL) {
                 goto fails0;
@@ -605,15 +605,15 @@ void color_apply_icc_profile(opj_image_t *image)
             ok = 1;
 
 fails0:
-            free(inbuf);
-            free(outbuf);
+            opj_image_data_free(inbuf);
+            opj_image_data_free(outbuf);
         } else { /* prec > 8 */
             unsigned short *inbuf, *outbuf, *in, *out;
 
             max = max_w * max_h;
             nr_samples = (size_t)(max * 3U * sizeof(unsigned short));
-            in = inbuf = (unsigned short*)malloc(nr_samples);
-            out = outbuf = (unsigned short*)malloc(nr_samples);
+            in = inbuf = (unsigned short*)opj_image_data_alloc(nr_samples);
+            out = outbuf = (unsigned short*)opj_image_data_alloc(nr_samples);
 
             if (inbuf == NULL || outbuf == NULL) {
                 goto fails1;
@@ -643,8 +643,8 @@ fails0:
             ok = 1;
 
 fails1:
-            free(inbuf);
-            free(outbuf);
+            opj_image_data_free(inbuf);
+            opj_image_data_free(outbuf);
         }
     } else { /* image->numcomps <= 2 : GRAY, GRAYA */
         if (prec <= 8) {
@@ -653,8 +653,8 @@ fails1:
 
             max = max_w * max_h;
             nr_samples = (size_t)(max * 3 * sizeof(unsigned char));
-            in = inbuf = (unsigned char*)malloc(nr_samples);
-            out = outbuf = (unsigned char*)malloc(nr_samples);
+            in = inbuf = (unsigned char*)opj_image_data_alloc(nr_samples);
+            out = outbuf = (unsigned char*)opj_image_data_alloc(nr_samples);
             g = (int*)calloc((size_t)max, sizeof(int));
             b = (int*)calloc((size_t)max, sizeof(int));
 
@@ -703,18 +703,18 @@ fails1:
             ok = 1;
 
 fails2:
-            free(inbuf);
-            free(outbuf);
-            free(g);
-            free(b);
+            opj_image_data_free(inbuf);
+            opj_image_data_free(outbuf);
+            opj_image_data_free(g);
+            opj_image_data_free(b);
         } else { /* prec > 8 */
             unsigned short *in, *inbuf, *out, *outbuf;
             opj_image_comp_t *new_comps;
 
             max = max_w * max_h;
             nr_samples = (size_t)(max * 3U * sizeof(unsigned short));
-            in = inbuf = (unsigned short*)malloc(nr_samples);
-            out = outbuf = (unsigned short*)malloc(nr_samples);
+            in = inbuf = (unsigned short*)opj_image_data_alloc(nr_samples);
+            out = outbuf = (unsigned short*)opj_image_data_alloc(nr_samples);
             g = (int*)calloc((size_t)max, sizeof(int));
             b = (int*)calloc((size_t)max, sizeof(int));
 
@@ -763,10 +763,10 @@ fails2:
             ok = 1;
 
 fails3:
-            free(inbuf);
-            free(outbuf);
-            free(g);
-            free(b);
+            opj_image_data_free(inbuf);
+            opj_image_data_free(outbuf);
+            opj_image_data_free(g);
+            opj_image_data_free(b);
         }
     }/* if(image->numcomps > 2) */
 
@@ -881,9 +881,9 @@ void color_cielab_to_rgb(opj_image_t *image)
 
         max = image->comps[0].w * image->comps[0].h;
 
-        red = dst0 = (int*)malloc(max * sizeof(int));
-        green = dst1 = (int*)malloc(max * sizeof(int));
-        blue = dst2 = (int*)malloc(max * sizeof(int));
+        red = dst0 = (int*)opj_image_data_alloc(max * sizeof(int));
+        green = dst1 = (int*)opj_image_data_alloc(max * sizeof(int));
+        blue = dst2 = (int*)opj_image_data_alloc(max * sizeof(int));
 
         if (red == NULL || green == NULL || blue == NULL) {
             goto fails;
@@ -917,11 +917,11 @@ void color_cielab_to_rgb(opj_image_t *image)
         cmsCloseProfile(in);
         cmsCloseProfile(out);
 #endif
-        free(src0);
+        opj_image_data_free(src0);
         image->comps[0].data = dst0;
-        free(src1);
+        opj_image_data_free(src1);
         image->comps[1].data = dst1;
-        free(src2);
+        opj_image_data_free(src2);
         image->comps[2].data = dst2;
 
         image->color_space = new_space;
@@ -938,13 +938,13 @@ fails:
         cmsCloseProfile(out);
 #endif
         if (red) {
-            free(red);
+            opj_image_data_free(red);
         }
         if (green) {
-            free(green);
+            opj_image_data_free(green);
         }
         if (blue) {
-            free(blue);
+            opj_image_data_free(blue);
         }
         return;
     }
@@ -1004,7 +1004,7 @@ void color_cmyk_to_rgb(opj_image_t *image)
         image->comps[2].data[i] = (int)(255.0F * Y * K); /* B */
     }
 
-    free(image->comps[3].data);
+    opj_image_data_free(image->comps[3].data);
     image->comps[3].data = NULL;
     image->comps[0].prec = 8;
     image->comps[1].prec = 8;
diff --git a/src/lib/openjp2/image.c b/src/lib/openjp2/image.c
index ecd65ece..e29172b2 100644
--- a/src/lib/openjp2/image.c
+++ b/src/lib/openjp2/image.c
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ opj_image_t* OPJ_CALLCONV opj_image_create(OPJ_UINT32 numcmpts,
                 opj_image_destroy(image);
                 return NULL;
             }
-            comp->data = (OPJ_INT32*) opj_aligned_malloc(
+            comp->data = (OPJ_INT32*) opj_image_data_alloc(
                              (size_t)comp->w * comp->h * sizeof(OPJ_INT32));
             if (!comp->data) {
                 /* TODO replace with event manager, breaks API */
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ void OPJ_CALLCONV opj_image_destroy(opj_image_t *image)
             for (compno = 0; compno < image->numcomps; compno++) {
                 opj_image_comp_t *image_comp = &(image->comps[compno]);
                 if (image_comp->data) {
-                    opj_aligned_free(image_comp->data);
+                    opj_image_data_free(image_comp->data);
                 }
             }
             opj_free(image->comps);
diff --git a/src/lib/openjp2/j2k.c b/src/lib/openjp2/j2k.c
index afbcc9c5..9de69cec 100644
--- a/src/lib/openjp2/j2k.c
+++ b/src/lib/openjp2/j2k.c
@@ -8803,7 +8803,7 @@ static OPJ_BOOL opj_j2k_update_image_data(opj_tcd_t * p_tcd, OPJ_BYTE * p_data,
                 /* would overflow */
                 return OPJ_FALSE;
             }
-            l_img_comp_dest->data = (OPJ_INT32*) opj_aligned_malloc(l_width * l_height *
+            l_img_comp_dest->data = (OPJ_INT32*) opj_image_data_alloc(l_width * l_height *
                                     sizeof(OPJ_INT32));
             if (! l_img_comp_dest->data) {
                 return OPJ_FALSE;
@@ -10419,7 +10419,7 @@ static OPJ_BOOL opj_j2k_decode_tiles(opj_j2k_t *p_j2k,
 
         /* Transfer TCD data to output image data */
         for (i = 0; i < p_j2k->m_output_image->numcomps; i++) {
-            opj_aligned_free(p_j2k->m_output_image->comps[i].data);
+            opj_image_data_free(p_j2k->m_output_image->comps[i].data);
             p_j2k->m_output_image->comps[i].data =
                 p_j2k->m_tcd->tcd_image->tiles->comps[i].data;
             p_j2k->m_output_image->comps[i].resno_decoded =
@@ -10824,7 +10824,7 @@ OPJ_BOOL opj_j2k_get_tile(opj_j2k_t *p_j2k,
             p_j2k->m_output_image->comps[compno].resno_decoded;
 
         if (p_image->comps[compno].data) {
-            opj_aligned_free(p_image->comps[compno].data);
+            opj_image_data_free(p_image->comps[compno].data);
         }
 
         p_image->comps[compno].data = p_j2k->m_output_image->comps[compno].data;
diff --git a/src/lib/openjp2/openjpeg.c b/src/lib/openjp2/openjpeg.c
index 0071c03d..8293a58d 100644
--- a/src/lib/openjp2/openjpeg.c
+++ b/src/lib/openjp2/openjpeg.c
@@ -1007,3 +1007,14 @@ opj_stream_t* OPJ_CALLCONV opj_stream_create_file_stream(
 
     return l_stream;
 }
+
+
+void* OPJ_CALLCONV opj_image_data_alloc(OPJ_SIZE_T size)
+{
+    return opj_aligned_malloc(size);
+}
+
+void OPJ_CALLCONV opj_image_data_free(void* ptr)
+{
+    opj_aligned_free(ptr);
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/openjp2/openjpeg.h b/src/lib/openjp2/openjpeg.h
index 0aea383b..5fbf7ac3 100644
--- a/src/lib/openjp2/openjpeg.h
+++ b/src/lib/openjp2/openjpeg.h
@@ -1093,6 +1093,27 @@ OPJ_API void OPJ_CALLCONV opj_image_destroy(opj_image_t *image);
 OPJ_API opj_image_t* OPJ_CALLCONV opj_image_tile_create(OPJ_UINT32 numcmpts,
         opj_image_cmptparm_t *cmptparms, OPJ_COLOR_SPACE clrspc);
 
+/**
+ * Allocator for opj_image_t->comps[].data
+ * To be paired with opj_image_data_free.
+ *
+ * @param   size    number of bytes to allocate
+ *
+ * @return  a new pointer if successful, NULL otherwise.
+ * @since 2.2.0
+*/
+OPJ_API void* OPJ_CALLCONV opj_image_data_alloc(OPJ_SIZE_T size);
+
+/**
+ * Destructor for opj_image_t->comps[].data
+ * To be paired with opj_image_data_alloc.
+ *
+ * @param   ptr    Pointer to free
+ *
+ * @since 2.2.0
+*/
+OPJ_API void OPJ_CALLCONV opj_image_data_free(void* ptr);
+
 /*
 ==========================================================
    stream functions definitions
diff --git a/src/lib/openjp2/tcd.c b/src/lib/openjp2/tcd.c
index 1213bffe..2189dcc3 100644
--- a/src/lib/openjp2/tcd.c
+++ b/src/lib/openjp2/tcd.c
@@ -674,7 +674,7 @@ OPJ_BOOL opj_alloc_tile_component_data(opj_tcd_tilecomp_t *l_tilec)
     if ((l_tilec->data == 00) ||
             ((l_tilec->data_size_needed > l_tilec->data_size) &&
              (l_tilec->ownsData == OPJ_FALSE))) {
-        l_tilec->data = (OPJ_INT32 *) opj_aligned_malloc(l_tilec->data_size_needed);
+        l_tilec->data = (OPJ_INT32 *) opj_image_data_alloc(l_tilec->data_size_needed);
         if (! l_tilec->data) {
             return OPJ_FALSE;
         }
@@ -683,8 +683,8 @@ OPJ_BOOL opj_alloc_tile_component_data(opj_tcd_tilecomp_t *l_tilec)
         l_tilec->ownsData = OPJ_TRUE;
     } else if (l_tilec->data_size_needed > l_tilec->data_size) {
         /* We don't need to keep old data */
-        opj_aligned_free(l_tilec->data);
-        l_tilec->data = (OPJ_INT32 *) opj_aligned_malloc(l_tilec->data_size_needed);
+        opj_image_data_free(l_tilec->data);
+        l_tilec->data = (OPJ_INT32 *) opj_image_data_alloc(l_tilec->data_size_needed);
         if (! l_tilec->data) {
             l_tilec->data_size = 0;
             l_tilec->data_size_needed = 0;
@@ -1645,7 +1645,7 @@ static void opj_tcd_free_tile(opj_tcd_t *p_tcd)
         }
 
         if (l_tile_comp->ownsData && l_tile_comp->data) {
-            opj_aligned_free(l_tile_comp->data);
+            opj_image_data_free(l_tile_comp->data);
             l_tile_comp->data = 00;
             l_tile_comp->ownsData = 0;
             l_tile_comp->data_size = 0;