diff --git a/channeld/channeld.c b/channeld/channeld.c
index 89707e29a361..c0e357e9ca8e 100644
--- a/channeld/channeld.c
+++ b/channeld/channeld.c
@@ -1224,28 +1224,31 @@ static u8 *got_commitsig_msg(const tal_t *ctx,
 	for (size_t i = 0; i < tal_count(changed_htlcs); i++) {
 		const struct htlc *htlc = changed_htlcs[i];
 		if (htlc->state == RCVD_ADD_COMMIT) {
-			struct added_htlc *a = tal_arr_expand(&added);
-			struct secret *s = tal_arr_expand(&shared_secret);
-			a->id = htlc->id;
-			a->amount_msat = htlc->msatoshi;
-			a->payment_hash = htlc->rhash;
-			a->cltv_expiry = abs_locktime_to_blocks(&htlc->expiry);
-			memcpy(a->onion_routing_packet,
+			struct added_htlc a;
+			struct secret s;
+
+			a.id = htlc->id;
+			a.amount_msat = htlc->msatoshi;
+			a.payment_hash = htlc->rhash;
+			a.cltv_expiry = abs_locktime_to_blocks(&htlc->expiry);
+			memcpy(a.onion_routing_packet,
 			       htlc->routing,
-			       sizeof(a->onion_routing_packet));
+			       sizeof(a.onion_routing_packet));
 			/* Invalid shared secret gets set to all-zero: our
 			 * code generator can't make arrays of optional values */
 			if (!htlc->shared_secret)
-				memset(s, 0, sizeof(*s));
+				memset(&s, 0, sizeof(s));
 			else
-				*s = *htlc->shared_secret;
+				s = *htlc->shared_secret;
+			tal_arr_expand(&added, a);
+			tal_arr_expand(&shared_secret, s);
 		} else if (htlc->state == RCVD_REMOVE_COMMIT) {
 			if (htlc->r) {
-				struct fulfilled_htlc *f;
+				struct fulfilled_htlc f;
 				assert(!htlc->fail && !htlc->failcode);
-				f = tal_arr_expand(&fulfilled);
-				f->id = htlc->id;
-				f->payment_preimage = *htlc->r;
+				f.id = htlc->id;
+				f.payment_preimage = *htlc->r;
+				tal_arr_expand(&fulfilled, f);
 			} else {
 				struct failed_htlc *f;
 				assert(htlc->fail || htlc->failcode);
@@ -1255,15 +1258,16 @@ static u8 *got_commitsig_msg(const tal_t *ctx,
 				f->failreason = cast_const(u8 *, htlc->fail);
 				f->scid = cast_const(struct short_channel_id *,
 							htlc->failed_scid);
-				*tal_arr_expand(&failed) = f;
+				tal_arr_expand(&failed, f);
 			}
 		} else {
-			struct changed_htlc *c = tal_arr_expand(&changed);
+			struct changed_htlc c;
 			assert(htlc->state == RCVD_REMOVE_ACK_COMMIT
 			       || htlc->state == RCVD_ADD_ACK_COMMIT);
 
-			c->id = htlc->id;
-			c->newstate = htlc->state;
+			c.id = htlc->id;
+			c.newstate = htlc->state;
+			tal_arr_expand(&changed, c);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -1418,15 +1422,16 @@ static u8 *got_revoke_msg(const tal_t *ctx, u64 revoke_num,
 	struct changed_htlc *changed = tal_arr(tmpctx, struct changed_htlc, 0);
 
 	for (size_t i = 0; i < tal_count(changed_htlcs); i++) {
-		struct changed_htlc *c = tal_arr_expand(&changed);
+		struct changed_htlc c;
 		const struct htlc *htlc = changed_htlcs[i];
 
 		status_trace("HTLC %"PRIu64"[%s] => %s",
 			     htlc->id, side_to_str(htlc_owner(htlc)),
 			     htlc_state_name(htlc->state));
 
-		c->id = changed_htlcs[i]->id;
-		c->newstate = changed_htlcs[i]->state;
+		c.id = changed_htlcs[i]->id;
+		c.newstate = changed_htlcs[i]->state;
+		tal_arr_expand(&changed, c);
 	}
 
 	msg = towire_channel_got_revoke(ctx, revoke_num, per_commitment_secret,
diff --git a/channeld/full_channel.c b/channeld/full_channel.c
index cffada329f6d..91a91dd81c59 100644
--- a/channeld/full_channel.c
+++ b/channeld/full_channel.c
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ static void htlc_arr_append(const struct htlc ***arr, const struct htlc *htlc)
 {
 	if (!arr)
 		return;
-	*tal_arr_expand(arr) = htlc;
+	tal_arr_expand(arr, htlc);
 }
 
 /* What does adding the HTLC do to the balance for this side */
@@ -227,8 +227,8 @@ static void add_htlcs(struct bitcoin_tx ***txs,
 		/* Append to array. */
 		assert(tal_count(*txs) == tal_count(*wscripts));
 
-		*tal_arr_expand(wscripts) = wscript;
-		*tal_arr_expand(txs) = tx;
+		tal_arr_expand(wscripts, wscript);
+		tal_arr_expand(txs, tx);
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/common/bolt11.c b/common/bolt11.c
index 553bd6412775..6f8285714512 100644
--- a/common/bolt11.c
+++ b/common/bolt11.c
@@ -424,13 +424,15 @@ static char *decode_r(struct bolt11 *b11,
         pull_bits_certain(hu5, data, data_len, r8, data_length * 5, false);
 
         do {
-                if (!fromwire_route_info(&cursor, &rlen, tal_arr_expand(&r))) {
+		struct route_info ri;
+                if (!fromwire_route_info(&cursor, &rlen, &ri)) {
                         return tal_fmt(b11, "r: hop %zu truncated", n);
                 }
+		tal_arr_expand(&r, ri);
         } while (rlen);
 
         /* Append route */
-	*tal_arr_expand(&b11->routes) = tal_steal(b11, r);
+	tal_arr_expand(&b11->routes, tal_steal(b11, r));
         return NULL;
 }
 
diff --git a/common/decode_short_channel_ids.c b/common/decode_short_channel_ids.c
index 4bdf89817015..c97abe4abc84 100644
--- a/common/decode_short_channel_ids.c
+++ b/common/decode_short_channel_ids.c
@@ -48,8 +48,9 @@ struct short_channel_id *decode_short_ids(const tal_t *ctx, const u8 *encoded)
 	case SHORTIDS_UNCOMPRESSED:
 		scids = tal_arr(ctx, struct short_channel_id, 0);
 		while (max) {
-			fromwire_short_channel_id(&encoded, &max,
-						  tal_arr_expand(&scids));
+			struct short_channel_id scid;
+			fromwire_short_channel_id(&encoded, &max, &scid);
+			tal_arr_expand(&scids, scid);
 		}
 
 		/* encoded is set to NULL if we ran over */
diff --git a/common/memleak.c b/common/memleak.c
index 488d00cc2ff8..82c1ed1e5b4f 100644
--- a/common/memleak.c
+++ b/common/memleak.c
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ void *notleak_(const void *ptr, bool plus_children)
 	if (!notleaks)
 		return cast_const(void *, ptr);
 
-	*tal_arr_expand(&notleaks) = ptr;
-	*tal_arr_expand(&notleak_children) = plus_children;
+	tal_arr_expand(&notleaks, ptr);
+	tal_arr_expand(&notleak_children, plus_children);
 
 	tal_add_notifier(ptr, TAL_NOTIFY_FREE|TAL_NOTIFY_MOVE, notleak_change);
 	return cast_const(void *, ptr);
diff --git a/common/msg_queue.c b/common/msg_queue.c
index d5e82beaa2a7..6190de97dfa5 100644
--- a/common/msg_queue.c
+++ b/common/msg_queue.c
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ struct msg_queue *msg_queue_new(const tal_t *ctx)
 
 static void do_enqueue(struct msg_queue *q, const u8 *add TAKES)
 {
-	*tal_arr_expand(&q->q) = tal_dup_arr(q, u8, add, tal_count(add), 0);
+	tal_arr_expand(&q->q, tal_dup_arr(q, u8, add, tal_count(add), 0));
 
 	/* In case someone is waiting */
 	io_wake(q);
diff --git a/common/param.c b/common/param.c
index d576abab5b22..adabdd1f1b38 100644
--- a/common/param.c
+++ b/common/param.c
@@ -21,13 +21,15 @@ static bool param_add(struct param **params,
 	if (!(name && cbx && arg))
 		return false;
 #endif
-	struct param *last = tal_arr_expand(params);
+	struct param last;
 
-	last->is_set = false;
-	last->name = name;
-	last->required = required;
-	last->cbx = cbx;
-	last->arg = arg;
+	last.is_set = false;
+	last.name = name;
+	last.required = required;
+	last.cbx = cbx;
+	last.arg = arg;
+
+	tal_arr_expand(params, last);
 	return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/common/utils.h b/common/utils.h
index 5cff73610468..f7106ca7691e 100644
--- a/common/utils.h
+++ b/common/utils.h
@@ -19,15 +19,13 @@ char *tal_hex(const tal_t *ctx, const tal_t *data);
 /* Allocate and fill a buffer with the data of this hex string. */
 u8 *tal_hexdata(const tal_t *ctx, const void *str, size_t len);
 
-/* Helper macro to extend tal_arr and return pointer new last element. */
-#if HAVE_STATEMENT_EXPR
-/* More efficient version calls tal_count() once */
-#define tal_arr_expand(p)					\
-	({ size_t n = tal_count(*p); tal_resize((p), n+1); *(p) + n; })
-#else
-#define tal_arr_expand(p) \
-	(tal_resize((p), tal_count(*(p))+1), (*p) + tal_count(*(p))-1)
-#endif
+/* Note: p is never a complex expression, otherwise this multi-evaluates! */
+#define tal_arr_expand(p, s)						\
+	do {								\
+		size_t n = tal_count(*(p));				\
+		tal_resize((p), n+1);					\
+		(*(p))[n] = (s);					\
+	} while(0)
 
 /**
  * Remove an element from an array
diff --git a/connectd/connectd.c b/connectd/connectd.c
index 8ccb76df9bfe..5d49246e211a 100644
--- a/connectd/connectd.c
+++ b/connectd/connectd.c
@@ -767,9 +767,10 @@ static void add_listen_fd(struct daemon *daemon, int fd, bool mayfail)
 	/*~ utils.h contains a convenience macro tal_arr_expand which
 	 * reallocates a tal_arr to make it one longer, then returns a pointer
 	 * to the (new) last element. */
-	struct listen_fd *l = tal_arr_expand(&daemon->listen_fds);
-	l->fd = fd;
-	l->mayfail = mayfail;
+	struct listen_fd l;
+	l.fd = fd;
+	l.mayfail = mayfail;
+	tal_arr_expand(&daemon->listen_fds, l);
 }
 
 /*~ Helper routine to create and bind a socket of a given type; like many
@@ -876,13 +877,13 @@ static bool public_address(struct daemon *daemon, struct wireaddr *wireaddr)
 static void add_announcable(struct wireaddr **announcable,
 			    const struct wireaddr *addr)
 {
-	*tal_arr_expand(announcable) = *addr;
+	tal_arr_expand(announcable, *addr);
 }
 
 static void add_binding(struct wireaddr_internal **binding,
 			const struct wireaddr_internal *addr)
 {
-	*tal_arr_expand(binding) = *addr;
+	tal_arr_expand(binding, *addr);
 }
 
 /*~ ccan/asort provides a type-safe sorting function; it requires a comparison
@@ -1223,7 +1224,7 @@ static void add_seed_addrs(struct wireaddr_internal **addrs,
 		status_trace("Resolved %s to %s", addr,
 			     type_to_string(tmpctx, struct wireaddr,
 					    &a.u.wireaddr));
-		*tal_arr_expand(addrs) = a;
+		tal_arr_expand(addrs, a);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -1254,7 +1255,7 @@ static void add_gossip_addrs(struct wireaddr_internal **addrs,
 		struct wireaddr_internal addr;
 		addr.itype = ADDR_INTERNAL_WIREADDR;
 		addr.u.wireaddr = normal_addrs[i];
-		*tal_arr_expand(addrs) = addr;
+		tal_arr_expand(addrs, addr);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -1284,7 +1285,7 @@ static void try_connect_peer(struct daemon *daemon,
 
 	/* They can supply an optional address for the connect RPC */
 	if (addrhint)
-		*tal_arr_expand(&addrs) = *addrhint;
+		tal_arr_expand(&addrs, *addrhint);
 
 	add_gossip_addrs(&addrs, id);
 
@@ -1297,7 +1298,7 @@ static void try_connect_peer(struct daemon *daemon,
 			wireaddr_from_unresolved(&unresolved,
 						 seedname(tmpctx, id),
 						 DEFAULT_PORT);
-			*tal_arr_expand(&addrs) = unresolved;
+			tal_arr_expand(&addrs, unresolved);
 		} else if (daemon->use_dns) {
 			add_seed_addrs(&addrs, id,
 				       daemon->broken_resolver_response);
diff --git a/gossipd/gossipd.c b/gossipd/gossipd.c
index d04300a5c910..7dbddca70dd8 100644
--- a/gossipd/gossipd.c
+++ b/gossipd/gossipd.c
@@ -1022,8 +1022,8 @@ static void maybe_create_next_scid_reply(struct peer *peer)
 			queue_peer_msg(peer, chan->half[1].channel_update);
 
 		/* Record node ids for later transmission of node_announcement */
-		*tal_arr_expand(&peer->scid_query_nodes) = chan->nodes[0]->id;
-		*tal_arr_expand(&peer->scid_query_nodes) = chan->nodes[1]->id;
+		tal_arr_expand(&peer->scid_query_nodes, chan->nodes[0]->id);
+		tal_arr_expand(&peer->scid_query_nodes, chan->nodes[1]->id);
 		sent = true;
 	}
 
@@ -1919,14 +1919,12 @@ static void append_half_channel(struct gossip_getchannels_entry **entries,
 				int idx)
 {
 	const struct half_chan *c = &chan->half[idx];
-	struct gossip_getchannels_entry *e;
+	struct gossip_getchannels_entry e;
 
 	/* If we've never seen a channel_update for this direction... */
 	if (!is_halfchan_defined(c))
 		return;
 
-	e = tal_arr_expand(entries);
-
 	/* Our 'struct chan' contains two nodes: they are in pubkey_cmp order
 	 * (ie. chan->nodes[0] is the lesser pubkey) and this is the same as
 	 * the direction bit in `channel_update`s `channel_flags`.
@@ -1936,18 +1934,20 @@ static void append_half_channel(struct gossip_getchannels_entry **entries,
 	 * pubkeys to DER and back: that proves quite expensive, and we assume
 	 * we're on the same architecture as lightningd, so we just send them
 	 * raw in this case. */
-	raw_pubkey(e->source, &chan->nodes[idx]->id);
-	raw_pubkey(e->destination, &chan->nodes[!idx]->id);
-	e->satoshis = chan->satoshis;
-	e->channel_flags = c->channel_flags;
-	e->message_flags = c->message_flags;
-	e->local_disabled = chan->local_disabled;
-	e->public = is_chan_public(chan);
-	e->short_channel_id = chan->scid;
-	e->last_update_timestamp = c->last_timestamp;
-	e->base_fee_msat = c->base_fee;
-	e->fee_per_millionth = c->proportional_fee;
-	e->delay = c->delay;
+	raw_pubkey(e.source, &chan->nodes[idx]->id);
+	raw_pubkey(e.destination, &chan->nodes[!idx]->id);
+	e.satoshis = chan->satoshis;
+	e.channel_flags = c->channel_flags;
+	e.message_flags = c->message_flags;
+	e.local_disabled = chan->local_disabled;
+	e.public = is_chan_public(chan);
+	e.short_channel_id = chan->scid;
+	e.last_update_timestamp = c->last_timestamp;
+	e.base_fee_msat = c->base_fee;
+	e.fee_per_millionth = c->proportional_fee;
+	e.delay = c->delay;
+
+	tal_arr_expand(entries, e);
 }
 
 /*~ Marshal (possibly) both channel directions into entries */
@@ -2002,21 +2002,21 @@ static void append_node(const struct gossip_getnodes_entry ***entries,
 {
 	struct gossip_getnodes_entry *e;
 
-	*tal_arr_expand(entries) = e
-		= tal(*entries, struct gossip_getnodes_entry);
+	e = tal(*entries, struct gossip_getnodes_entry);
 	raw_pubkey(e->nodeid, &n->id);
 	e->last_timestamp = n->last_timestamp;
 	/* Timestamp on wire is an unsigned 32 bit: we use a 64-bit signed, so
 	 * -1 means "we never received a channel_update". */
-	if (e->last_timestamp < 0)
-		return;
+	if (e->last_timestamp >= 0) {
+		e->globalfeatures = n->globalfeatures;
+		e->addresses = n->addresses;
+		BUILD_ASSERT(ARRAY_SIZE(e->alias) == ARRAY_SIZE(n->alias));
+		BUILD_ASSERT(ARRAY_SIZE(e->color) == ARRAY_SIZE(n->rgb_color));
+		memcpy(e->alias, n->alias, ARRAY_SIZE(e->alias));
+		memcpy(e->color, n->rgb_color, ARRAY_SIZE(e->color));
+	}
 
-	e->globalfeatures = n->globalfeatures;
-	e->addresses = n->addresses;
-	BUILD_ASSERT(ARRAY_SIZE(e->alias) == ARRAY_SIZE(n->alias));
-	BUILD_ASSERT(ARRAY_SIZE(e->color) == ARRAY_SIZE(n->rgb_color));
-	memcpy(e->alias, n->alias, ARRAY_SIZE(e->alias));
-	memcpy(e->color, n->rgb_color, ARRAY_SIZE(e->color));
+	tal_arr_expand(entries, e);
 }
 
 /* Simply routine when they ask for `listnodes` */
@@ -2125,7 +2125,7 @@ static struct io_plan *get_incoming_channels(struct io_conn *conn,
 		for (size_t i = 0; i < tal_count(node->chans); i++) {
 			const struct chan *c = node->chans[i];
 			const struct half_chan *hc;
-			struct route_info *ri;
+			struct route_info ri;
 
 			/* Don't leak private channels. */
 			if (!is_chan_public(c))
@@ -2136,12 +2136,12 @@ static struct io_plan *get_incoming_channels(struct io_conn *conn,
 			if (!is_halfchan_enabled(hc))
 				continue;
 
-			ri = tal_arr_expand(&r);
-			ri->pubkey = other_node(node, c)->id;
-			ri->short_channel_id = c->scid;
-			ri->fee_base_msat = hc->base_fee;
-			ri->fee_proportional_millionths = hc->proportional_fee;
-			ri->cltv_expiry_delta = hc->delay;
+			ri.pubkey = other_node(node, c)->id;
+			ri.short_channel_id = c->scid;
+			ri.fee_base_msat = hc->base_fee;
+			ri.fee_proportional_millionths = hc->proportional_fee;
+			ri.cltv_expiry_delta = hc->delay;
+			tal_arr_expand(&r, ri);
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/gossipd/routing.c b/gossipd/routing.c
index c92be999e3e4..217ebe6dcf5d 100644
--- a/gossipd/routing.c
+++ b/gossipd/routing.c
@@ -314,8 +314,8 @@ struct chan *new_chan(struct routing_state *rstate,
 	chan->satoshis = satoshis;
 	chan->local_disabled = false;
 
-	*tal_arr_expand(&n2->chans) = chan;
-	*tal_arr_expand(&n1->chans) = chan;
+	tal_arr_expand(&n2->chans, chan);
+	tal_arr_expand(&n1->chans, chan);
 
 	/* Populate with (inactive) connections */
 	init_half_chan(rstate, chan, n1idx);
@@ -1306,7 +1306,7 @@ static struct wireaddr *read_addresses(const tal_t *ctx, const u8 *ser)
 			break;
 		}
 
-		*tal_arr_expand(&wireaddrs) = wireaddr;
+		tal_arr_expand(&wireaddrs, wireaddr);
 	}
 	return wireaddrs;
 }
diff --git a/lightningd/bitcoind.c b/lightningd/bitcoind.c
index da0bbca87449..9baa22e71a84 100644
--- a/lightningd/bitcoind.c
+++ b/lightningd/bitcoind.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
 /* Add the n'th arg to *args, incrementing n and keeping args of size n+1 */
 static void add_arg(const char ***args, const char *arg)
 {
-	*tal_arr_expand(args) = arg;
+	tal_arr_expand(args, arg);
 }
 
 static const char **gather_args(const struct bitcoind *bitcoind,
diff --git a/lightningd/chaintopology.c b/lightningd/chaintopology.c
index 3e94d84986d1..c9bfa5e8d28c 100644
--- a/lightningd/chaintopology.c
+++ b/lightningd/chaintopology.c
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ static void rebroadcast_txs(struct chain_topology *topo, struct command *cmd)
 		if (wallet_transaction_height(topo->ld->wallet, &otx->txid))
 			continue;
 
-		*tal_arr_expand(&txs->txs) = tal_strdup(txs, otx->hextx);
+		tal_arr_expand(&txs->txs, tal_strdup(txs, otx->hextx));
 	}
 
 	/* Let this do the dirty work. */
diff --git a/lightningd/channel_control.c b/lightningd/channel_control.c
index 6fce5239e28b..8e3e0b932635 100644
--- a/lightningd/channel_control.c
+++ b/lightningd/channel_control.c
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ void channel_notify_new_block(struct lightningd *ld,
 	list_for_each (&ld->peers, peer, list) {
 		list_for_each (&peer->channels, channel, list)
 			if (is_fundee_should_forget(ld, channel, block_height)) {
-				*tal_arr_expand(&to_forget) = channel;
+				tal_arr_expand(&to_forget, channel);
 			}
 	}
 
diff --git a/lightningd/invoice.c b/lightningd/invoice.c
index 9e42d5ad24aa..179bb7f922e9 100644
--- a/lightningd/invoice.c
+++ b/lightningd/invoice.c
@@ -343,10 +343,11 @@ static struct command_result *json_invoice(struct command *cmd,
 		fallback_scripts = tal_arr(cmd, const u8 *, 0);
 		for (i = fallbacks + 1; i < end; i = json_next(i)) {
 			struct command_result *r;
-			r = parse_fallback(cmd, buffer, i,
-					   tal_arr_expand(&fallback_scripts));
+			const u8 *fs;
+			r = parse_fallback(cmd, buffer, i, &fs);
 			if (r)
 				return r;
+			tal_arr_expand(&fallback_scripts, fs);
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/lightningd/json_stream.c b/lightningd/json_stream.c
index 611537a6b896..b90723d9100e 100644
--- a/lightningd/json_stream.c
+++ b/lightningd/json_stream.c
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ static void json_start_member(struct json_stream *js, const char *fieldname)
 static void js_indent(struct json_stream *js, jsmntype_t type)
 {
 #if DEVELOPER
-	*tal_arr_expand(&js->wrapping) = type;
+	tal_arr_expand(&js->wrapping, type);
 #endif
 	js->empty = true;
 	js->indent++;
diff --git a/lightningd/jsonrpc.c b/lightningd/jsonrpc.c
index 89a4dfdd597f..927bbb5d41ce 100644
--- a/lightningd/jsonrpc.c
+++ b/lightningd/jsonrpc.c
@@ -114,11 +114,14 @@ static struct json_stream *jcon_new_json_stream(const tal_t *ctx,
 						struct json_connection *jcon,
 						struct command *writer)
 {
+	struct json_stream *js = new_json_stream(ctx, writer);
+
 	/* Wake writer to start streaming, in case it's not already. */
 	io_wake(jcon);
 
 	/* FIXME: Keep streams around for recycling. */
-	return *tal_arr_expand(&jcon->js_arr) = new_json_stream(ctx, writer);
+	tal_arr_expand(&jcon->js_arr, js);
+	return js;
 }
 
 static void jcon_remove_json_stream(struct json_connection *jcon,
@@ -768,7 +771,7 @@ bool jsonrpc_command_add(struct jsonrpc *rpc, struct json_command *command)
 		if (streq(rpc->commands[i]->name, command->name))
 			return false;
 
-	*tal_arr_expand(&rpc->commands) = command;
+	tal_arr_expand(&rpc->commands, command);
 	return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/lightningd/options.c b/lightningd/options.c
index 09a1b7719361..90b4786ae948 100644
--- a/lightningd/options.c
+++ b/lightningd/options.c
@@ -129,17 +129,18 @@ static char *opt_add_addr_withtype(const char *arg,
 				   bool wildcard_ok)
 {
 	char const *err_msg;
+	struct wireaddr_internal wi;
 
 	assert(arg != NULL);
 
-	*tal_arr_expand(&ld->proposed_listen_announce) = ala;
-	if (!parse_wireaddr_internal(arg, tal_arr_expand(&ld->proposed_wireaddr),
+	tal_arr_expand(&ld->proposed_listen_announce, ala);
+	if (!parse_wireaddr_internal(arg, &wi,
 				     ld->portnum,
 				     wildcard_ok, !ld->use_proxy_always, false,
 				     &err_msg)) {
 		return tal_fmt(NULL, "Unable to parse address '%s': %s", arg, err_msg);
 	}
-
+	tal_arr_expand(&ld->proposed_wireaddr, wi);
 	return NULL;
 
 }
diff --git a/lightningd/peer_htlcs.c b/lightningd/peer_htlcs.c
index 83dd766b9d58..3f6463511e4c 100644
--- a/lightningd/peer_htlcs.c
+++ b/lightningd/peer_htlcs.c
@@ -1389,19 +1389,17 @@ static void add_htlc(struct added_htlc **htlcs,
 		     const u8 onion_routing_packet[TOTAL_PACKET_SIZE],
 		     enum htlc_state state)
 {
-	struct added_htlc *a;
-	enum htlc_state *h;
-
-	a = tal_arr_expand(htlcs);
-	h = tal_arr_expand(htlc_states);
-
-	a->id = id;
-	a->amount_msat = amount_msat;
-	a->payment_hash = *payment_hash;
-	a->cltv_expiry = cltv_expiry;
-	memcpy(a->onion_routing_packet, onion_routing_packet,
-	       sizeof(a->onion_routing_packet));
-	*h = state;
+	struct added_htlc a;
+
+	a.id = id;
+	a.amount_msat = amount_msat;
+	a.payment_hash = *payment_hash;
+	a.cltv_expiry = cltv_expiry;
+	memcpy(a.onion_routing_packet, onion_routing_packet,
+	       sizeof(a.onion_routing_packet));
+
+	tal_arr_expand(htlcs, a);
+	tal_arr_expand(htlc_states, state);
 }
 
 static void add_fulfill(u64 id, enum side side,
@@ -1409,14 +1407,13 @@ static void add_fulfill(u64 id, enum side side,
 			struct fulfilled_htlc **fulfilled_htlcs,
 			enum side **fulfilled_sides)
 {
-	struct fulfilled_htlc *f;
-	enum side *s;
-
-	f = tal_arr_expand(fulfilled_htlcs);
-	s = tal_arr_expand(fulfilled_sides);
-	f->id = id;
-	f->payment_preimage = *payment_preimage;
-	*s = side;
+	struct fulfilled_htlc f;
+
+	f.id = id;
+	f.payment_preimage = *payment_preimage;
+
+	tal_arr_expand(fulfilled_htlcs, f);
+	tal_arr_expand(fulfilled_sides, side);
 }
 
 static void add_fail(u64 id, enum side side,
@@ -1444,8 +1441,8 @@ static void add_fail(u64 id, enum side side,
 	else
 		newf->failreason = NULL;
 
-	*tal_arr_expand(failed_htlcs) = newf;
-	*tal_arr_expand(failed_sides) = side;
+	tal_arr_expand(failed_htlcs, newf);
+	tal_arr_expand(failed_sides, side);
 }
 
 /* FIXME: Load direct from db. */
diff --git a/lightningd/plugin.c b/lightningd/plugin.c
index 9299c8765e5a..e2b0d5bfcbe3 100644
--- a/lightningd/plugin.c
+++ b/lightningd/plugin.c
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ plugin_request_new_(struct plugin *plugin,
 static void plugin_send(struct plugin *plugin, struct json_stream *stream)
 {
 	tal_steal(plugin->js_arr, stream);
-	*tal_arr_expand(&plugin->js_arr) = stream;
+	tal_arr_expand(&plugin->js_arr, stream);
 	io_wake(plugin);
 }
 
@@ -746,7 +746,7 @@ static bool plugin_rpcmethod_add(struct plugin *plugin,
 			   cmd->name);
 		return false;
 	}
-	*tal_arr_expand(&plugin->methods) = cmd->name;
+	tal_arr_expand(&plugin->methods, cmd->name);
 	return true;
 }
 
@@ -808,7 +808,7 @@ static bool plugin_subscriptions_add(struct plugin *plugin, const char *buffer,
 			return false;
 		}
 
-		*tal_arr_expand(&plugin->subscriptions) = topic;
+		tal_arr_expand(&plugin->subscriptions, topic);
 	}
 	return true;
 }
diff --git a/lightningd/test/run-invoice-select-inchan.c b/lightningd/test/run-invoice-select-inchan.c
index 20e31fd5afe2..f5da0dbe8743 100644
--- a/lightningd/test/run-invoice-select-inchan.c
+++ b/lightningd/test/run-invoice-select-inchan.c
@@ -543,11 +543,12 @@ bool dev_disconnect_permanent(struct lightningd *ld UNNEEDED)
 
 static void add_inchan(struct route_info **inchans, int n)
 {
-	struct route_info *r = tal_arr_expand(inchans);
-	memset(&r->pubkey, n, sizeof(r->pubkey));
-	memset(&r->short_channel_id, n, sizeof(r->short_channel_id));
-	r->fee_base_msat = r->fee_proportional_millionths = r->cltv_expiry_delta
+	struct route_info r;
+	memset(&r.pubkey, n, sizeof(r.pubkey));
+	memset(&r.short_channel_id, n, sizeof(r.short_channel_id));
+	r.fee_base_msat = r.fee_proportional_millionths = r.cltv_expiry_delta
 		= n;
+	tal_arr_expand(inchans, r);
 }
 
 static void add_peer(struct lightningd *ld, int n, enum channel_state state,
diff --git a/onchaind/onchaind.c b/onchaind/onchaind.c
index 813438018f91..5ef5c773c18d 100644
--- a/onchaind/onchaind.c
+++ b/onchaind/onchaind.c
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ static struct tracked_output *
 	} else
 		out->remote_htlc_sig = NULL;
 
-	*tal_arr_expand(outs) = out;
+	tal_arr_expand(outs, out);
 
 	return out;
 }
@@ -1521,7 +1521,7 @@ static const size_t *match_htlc_output(const tal_t *ctx,
 		if (memeq(tx->output[outnum].script + 2,
 			  tal_count(tx->output[outnum].script) - 2,
 			  &sha, sizeof(sha)))
-			*tal_arr_expand(&matches) = i;
+			tal_arr_expand(&matches, i);
 	}
 	return matches;
 }
@@ -1560,7 +1560,7 @@ static void note_missing_htlcs(u8 **htlc_scripts,
 		if (tell_immediately[i])
 			wire_sync_write(REQ_FD, take(msg));
 		else
-			*tal_arr_expand(&missing_htlc_msgs) = msg;
+			tal_arr_expand(&missing_htlc_msgs, msg);
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/check-bolt.c b/tools/check-bolt.c
index 7f7877af4988..bda9db19ee24 100644
--- a/tools/check-bolt.c
+++ b/tools/check-bolt.c
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ static bool get_files(const char *dir, const char *subdir,
 
 	while ((e = readdir(d)) != NULL) {
 		int preflen;
-		struct bolt_file *bf;
+		struct bolt_file bf;
 
 		/* Must end in .md */
 		if (!strends(e->d_name, ".md"))
@@ -74,12 +74,12 @@ static bool get_files(const char *dir, const char *subdir,
 		if (verbose)
 			printf("Found bolt %.*s\n", preflen, e->d_name);
 
-		bf = tal_arr_expand(files);
-		bf->prefix = tal_strndup(*files, e->d_name, preflen);
-		bf->contents
+		bf.prefix = tal_strndup(*files, e->d_name, preflen);
+		bf.contents
 			= canonicalize(grab_file(*files,
 						 path_join(path, path,
 							   e->d_name)));
+		tal_arr_expand(files, bf);
 	}
 	return true;
 }
diff --git a/wallet/db.c b/wallet/db.c
index 9eb00d247cc1..1ec399ca53ea 100644
--- a/wallet/db.c
+++ b/wallet/db.c
@@ -782,8 +782,11 @@ sqlite3_column_short_channel_id_array(const tal_t *ctx,
 	len = sqlite3_column_bytes(stmt, col);
 	ret = tal_arr(ctx, struct short_channel_id, 0);
 
-	while (len != 0)
-		fromwire_short_channel_id(&ser, &len, tal_arr_expand(&ret));
+	while (len != 0) {
+		struct short_channel_id scid;
+		fromwire_short_channel_id(&ser, &len, &scid);
+		tal_arr_expand(&ret, scid);
+	}
 
 	return ret;
 }
diff --git a/wallet/txfilter.c b/wallet/txfilter.c
index f18519165632..581aa1dc3e76 100644
--- a/wallet/txfilter.c
+++ b/wallet/txfilter.c
@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@ struct txfilter *txfilter_new(const tal_t *ctx)
 
 void txfilter_add_scriptpubkey(struct txfilter *filter, const u8 *script TAKES)
 {
-	*tal_arr_expand(&filter->scriptpubkeys)
-		= tal_dup_arr(filter, u8, script, tal_count(script), 0);
+	tal_arr_expand(&filter->scriptpubkeys,
+		       tal_dup_arr(filter, u8, script, tal_count(script), 0));
 }
 
 void txfilter_add_derkey(struct txfilter *filter,
diff --git a/wallet/wallet.c b/wallet/wallet.c
index be34a30a66bf..956f80df6119 100644
--- a/wallet/wallet.c
+++ b/wallet/wallet.c
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ struct utxo **wallet_get_utxos(const tal_t *ctx, struct wallet *w, const enum ou
 	results = tal_arr(ctx, struct utxo*, 0);
 	for (i=0; sqlite3_step(stmt) == SQLITE_ROW; i++) {
 		struct utxo *u = wallet_stmt2output(results, stmt);
-		*tal_arr_expand(&results) = u;
+		tal_arr_expand(&results, u);
 	}
 
 	db_stmt_done(stmt);
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ struct utxo **wallet_get_unconfirmed_closeinfo_utxos(const tal_t *ctx, struct wa
        	results = tal_arr(ctx, struct utxo*, 0);
 	for (i=0; sqlite3_step(stmt) == SQLITE_ROW; i++) {
 		struct utxo *u = wallet_stmt2output(results, stmt);
-		*tal_arr_expand(&results) = u;
+		tal_arr_expand(&results, u);
 	}
 	db_stmt_done(stmt);
 
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ static const struct utxo **wallet_select(const tal_t *ctx, struct wallet *w,
 		size_t input_weight;
 		struct utxo *u = tal_steal(utxos, available[i]);
 
-		*tal_arr_expand(&utxos) = u;
+		tal_arr_expand(&utxos, u);
 
 		if (!wallet_update_output_status(
 			w, &available[i]->txid, available[i]->outnum,
@@ -549,8 +549,11 @@ wallet_htlc_sigs_load(const tal_t *ctx, struct wallet *w, u64 channelid)
 	secp256k1_ecdsa_signature *htlc_sigs = tal_arr(ctx, secp256k1_ecdsa_signature, 0);
 	sqlite3_bind_int64(stmt, 1, channelid);
 
-	while (stmt && sqlite3_step(stmt) == SQLITE_ROW)
-		sqlite3_column_signature(stmt, 0, tal_arr_expand(&htlc_sigs));
+	while (stmt && sqlite3_step(stmt) == SQLITE_ROW) {
+		secp256k1_ecdsa_signature sig;
+		sqlite3_column_signature(stmt, 0, &sig);
+		tal_arr_expand(&htlc_sigs, sig);
+	}
 
 	db_stmt_done(stmt);
 	log_debug(w->log, "Loaded %zu HTLC signatures from DB",
@@ -1565,17 +1568,18 @@ struct htlc_stub *wallet_htlc_stubs(const tal_t *ctx, struct wallet *wallet,
 	stubs = tal_arr(ctx, struct htlc_stub, 0);
 
 	while (sqlite3_step(stmt) == SQLITE_ROW) {
-		struct htlc_stub *stub = tal_arr_expand(&stubs);
+		struct htlc_stub stub;
 
 		assert(sqlite3_column_int64(stmt, 0) == chan->dbid);
 
 		/* FIXME: merge these two enums */
-		stub->owner = sqlite3_column_int(stmt, 1)==DIRECTION_INCOMING?REMOTE:LOCAL;
-		stub->cltv_expiry = sqlite3_column_int(stmt, 2);
-		stub->id = sqlite3_column_int(stmt, 3);
+		stub.owner = sqlite3_column_int(stmt, 1)==DIRECTION_INCOMING?REMOTE:LOCAL;
+		stub.cltv_expiry = sqlite3_column_int(stmt, 2);
+		stub.id = sqlite3_column_int(stmt, 3);
 
 		sqlite3_column_sha256(stmt, 4, &payment_hash);
-		ripemd160(&stub->ripemd, payment_hash.u.u8, sizeof(payment_hash.u));
+		ripemd160(&stub.ripemd, payment_hash.u.u8, sizeof(payment_hash.u));
+		tal_arr_expand(&stubs, stub);
 	}
 	db_stmt_done(stmt);
 	return stubs;