diff --git a/src/emu/emulator.c b/src/emu/emulator.c
index 6748c1e3..f4d2cc77 100644
--- a/src/emu/emulator.c
+++ b/src/emu/emulator.c
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ DEFINE_OPTION_STRING(flash, "dc_flash.bin", "Path to flash ROM");
 
 struct emu {
   struct window *window;
-  struct window_listener *listener;
+  struct window_listener listener;
   struct dreamcast *dc;
   atomic_int running;
   int throttled;
@@ -225,20 +225,21 @@ void emu_run(struct emu *emu, const char *path) {
 }
 
 struct emu *emu_create(struct window *window) {
-  static const struct window_callbacks callbacks = {
-      &emu_paint, &emu_paint_debug_menu, &emu_keydown, NULL, NULL, &emu_close};
-
   struct emu *emu = calloc(1, sizeof(struct emu));
 
   emu->window = window;
-  emu->listener = win_add_listener(emu->window, &callbacks, emu);
+  emu->listener = (struct window_listener){
+      emu,        &emu_paint, &emu_paint_debug_menu, &emu_keydown, NULL, NULL,
+      &emu_close, {}};
   emu->running = ATOMIC_VAR_INIT(0);
 
+  win_add_listener(emu->window, &emu->listener);
+
   return emu;
 }
 
 void emu_destroy(struct emu *emu) {
-  win_remove_listener(emu->window, emu->listener);
+  win_remove_listener(emu->window, &emu->listener);
 
   if (emu->dc) {
     dc_destroy(emu->dc);
diff --git a/src/emu/tracer.c b/src/emu/tracer.c
index 32351a6e..282c73ad 100644
--- a/src/emu/tracer.c
+++ b/src/emu/tracer.c
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ struct tracer_texture_entry {
 
 struct tracer {
   struct window *window;
-  struct window_listener *listener;
+  struct window_listener listener;
   struct texture_provider provider;
   struct rb *rb;
   struct tr *tr;
@@ -851,21 +851,22 @@ void tracer_run(struct tracer *tracer, const char *path) {
 }
 
 struct tracer *tracer_create(struct window *window) {
-  static const struct window_callbacks callbacks = {
-      &tracer_paint, NULL, &tracer_keydown, NULL, NULL, &tracer_close};
-
   // ensure param / poly / vertex size LUTs are generated
   ta_build_tables();
 
   struct tracer *tracer = calloc(1, sizeof(struct tracer));
 
   tracer->window = window;
-  tracer->listener = win_add_listener(window, &callbacks, tracer);
+  tracer->listener = (struct window_listener){
+      tracer, &tracer_paint, NULL,          &tracer_keydown,
+      NULL,   NULL,          &tracer_close, {}};
   tracer->provider =
       (struct texture_provider){tracer, &tracer_texture_provider_find_texture};
   tracer->rb = window->rb;
   tracer->tr = tr_create(tracer->rb, &tracer->provider);
 
+  win_add_listener(tracer->window, &tracer->listener);
+
   // setup tile context buffers
   tracer->ctx.params = tracer->params;
 
@@ -902,7 +903,7 @@ void tracer_destroy(struct tracer *tracer) {
   if (tracer->trace) {
     trace_destroy(tracer->trace);
   }
-  win_remove_listener(tracer->window, tracer->listener);
+  win_remove_listener(tracer->window, &tracer->listener);
   tr_destroy(tracer->tr);
   free(tracer);
 }
diff --git a/src/renderer/gl_backend.c b/src/renderer/gl_backend.c
index 84f6c33c..6ddbcb5b 100644
--- a/src/renderer/gl_backend.c
+++ b/src/renderer/gl_backend.c
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ struct shader_program {
 
 struct rb {
   struct window *window;
-  struct window_listener *listener;
+  struct window_listener listener;
 
   SDL_GLContext ctx;
   int debug_wireframe;
@@ -698,12 +698,12 @@ void rb_destroy_texture(struct rb *rb, texture_handle_t handle) {
 }
 
 struct rb *rb_create(struct window *window) {
-  static const struct window_callbacks callbacks = {
-      NULL, &rb_paint_debug_menu, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL};
-
   struct rb *rb = (struct rb *)calloc(1, sizeof(struct rb));
   rb->window = window;
-  rb->listener = win_add_listener(rb->window, &callbacks, rb);
+  rb->listener = (struct window_listener){
+      rb, NULL, &rb_paint_debug_menu, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, {}};
+
+  win_add_listener(rb->window, &rb->listener);
 
   if (!rb_init_context(rb)) {
     rb_destroy(rb);
@@ -723,6 +723,6 @@ void rb_destroy(struct rb *rb) {
   rb_destroy_shaders(rb);
   rb_destroy_textures(rb);
   rb_destroy_context(rb);
-  win_remove_listener(rb->window, rb->listener);
+  win_remove_listener(rb->window, &rb->listener);
   free(rb);
 }
diff --git a/src/ui/microprofile.cc b/src/ui/microprofile.cc
index fd86606f..04e6ada4 100644
--- a/src/ui/microprofile.cc
+++ b/src/ui/microprofile.cc
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ static const int MAX_2D_SURFACES = 256;
 
 struct microprofile {
   struct window *window;
-  struct window_listener *listener;
+  struct window_listener listener;
   texture_handle_t font_texture;
   struct surface2d surfs[MAX_2D_SURFACES];
   int num_surfs;
@@ -259,14 +259,14 @@ void mp_end_frame(struct microprofile *mp) {
 }
 
 struct microprofile *mp_create(struct window *window) {
-  static const struct window_callbacks callbacks = {
-      NULL, NULL, &mp_keydown, NULL, &mp_mousemove, NULL};
-
   struct microprofile *mp = reinterpret_cast<struct microprofile *>(
       calloc(1, sizeof(struct microprofile)));
 
   mp->window = window;
-  mp->listener = win_add_listener(mp->window, &callbacks, mp);
+  mp->listener = (struct window_listener){
+      mp, NULL, NULL, &mp_keydown, NULL, &mp_mousemove, NULL, {}};
+
+  win_add_listener(mp->window, &mp->listener);
 
   // init microprofile
   struct rb *rb = mp->window->rb;
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ struct microprofile *mp_create(struct window *window) {
 void mp_destroy(struct microprofile *mp) {
   rb_destroy_texture(mp->window->rb, mp->font_texture);
 
-  win_remove_listener(mp->window, mp->listener);
+  win_remove_listener(mp->window, &mp->listener);
 
   free(mp);
 }
diff --git a/src/ui/nuklear.c b/src/ui/nuklear.c
index aadcffaa..814caeb1 100644
--- a/src/ui/nuklear.c
+++ b/src/ui/nuklear.c
@@ -129,12 +129,12 @@ void nk_end_frame(struct nuklear *nk) {
 }
 
 struct nuklear *nk_create(struct window *window) {
-  static const struct window_callbacks callbacks = {
-      NULL, NULL, &nk_keydown, &nk_textinput, &nk_mousemove, NULL};
-
   struct nuklear *nk = calloc(1, sizeof(struct nuklear));
   nk->window = window;
-  nk->listener = win_add_listener(nk->window, &callbacks, nk);
+  nk->listener = (struct window_listener){
+      nk, NULL, NULL, &nk_keydown, &nk_textinput, &nk_mousemove, NULL, {}};
+
+  win_add_listener(nk->window, &nk->listener);
 
   // create default font texture
   nk_font_atlas_init_default(&nk->atlas);
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ void nk_destroy(struct nuklear *nk) {
 
   rb_destroy_texture(nk->window->rb, nk->font_texture);
 
-  win_remove_listener(nk->window, nk->listener);
+  win_remove_listener(nk->window, &nk->listener);
 
   free(nk);
 }
diff --git a/src/ui/nuklear.h b/src/ui/nuklear.h
index 433cd061..80f6ec0b 100644
--- a/src/ui/nuklear.h
+++ b/src/ui/nuklear.h
@@ -12,16 +12,14 @@
 #include <nuklear.h>
 
 #include "renderer/backend.h"
-
-struct window;
-struct window_listener;
+#include "ui/window.h"
 
 #define NK_MAX_VERTICES 4096
 #define NK_MAX_ELEMENTS 16384
 
 struct nuklear {
   struct window *window;
-  struct window_listener *listener;
+  struct window_listener listener;
 
   //
   struct nk_context ctx;
diff --git a/src/ui/window.c b/src/ui/window.c
index 73a42ab9..9e576724 100644
--- a/src/ui/window.c
+++ b/src/ui/window.c
@@ -39,10 +39,9 @@ static void win_handle_paint(struct window *win) {
   nk_begin_frame(win->nk);
   mp_begin_frame(win->mp);
 
-  list_for_each_entry(listener, &win->live_listeners, struct window_listener,
-                      it) {
-    if (listener->cb.paint) {
-      listener->cb.paint(listener->data);
+  list_for_each_entry(listener, &win->listeners, struct window_listener, it) {
+    if (listener->paint) {
+      listener->paint(listener->data);
     }
   }
 
@@ -54,10 +53,10 @@ static void win_handle_paint(struct window *win) {
     if (nk_begin(ctx, &layout, "debug menu", bounds,
                  NK_WINDOW_BORDER | NK_WINDOW_MOVABLE | NK_WINDOW_SCALABLE |
                      NK_WINDOW_TITLE)) {
-      list_for_each_entry(listener, &win->live_listeners,
-                          struct window_listener, it) {
-        if (listener->cb.paint_debug_menu) {
-          listener->cb.paint_debug_menu(listener->data, ctx);
+      list_for_each_entry(listener, &win->listeners, struct window_listener,
+                          it) {
+        if (listener->paint_debug_menu) {
+          listener->paint_debug_menu(listener->data, ctx);
         }
       }
     }
@@ -72,10 +71,9 @@ static void win_handle_paint(struct window *win) {
 
 static void win_handle_keydown(struct window *win, enum keycode code,
                                int16_t value) {
-  list_for_each_entry(listener, &win->live_listeners, struct window_listener,
-                      it) {
-    if (listener->cb.keydown) {
-      listener->cb.keydown(listener->data, code, value);
+  list_for_each_entry(listener, &win->listeners, struct window_listener, it) {
+    if (listener->keydown) {
+      listener->keydown(listener->data, code, value);
     }
   }
 }
@@ -122,28 +120,25 @@ static void win_handle_hatdown(struct window *win, int hat, uint8_t state,
 }
 
 static void win_handle_textinput(struct window *win, const char *text) {
-  list_for_each_entry(listener, &win->live_listeners, struct window_listener,
-                      it) {
-    if (listener->cb.textinput) {
-      listener->cb.textinput(listener->data, text);
+  list_for_each_entry(listener, &win->listeners, struct window_listener, it) {
+    if (listener->textinput) {
+      listener->textinput(listener->data, text);
     }
   }
 }
 
 static void win_handle_mousemove(struct window *win, int x, int y) {
-  list_for_each_entry(listener, &win->live_listeners, struct window_listener,
-                      it) {
-    if (listener->cb.mousemove) {
-      listener->cb.mousemove(listener->data, x, y);
+  list_for_each_entry(listener, &win->listeners, struct window_listener, it) {
+    if (listener->mousemove) {
+      listener->mousemove(listener->data, x, y);
     }
   }
 }
 
 static void win_handle_close(struct window *win) {
-  list_for_each_entry(listener, &win->live_listeners, struct window_listener,
-                      it) {
-    if (listener->cb.close) {
-      listener->cb.close(listener->data);
+  list_for_each_entry(listener, &win->listeners, struct window_listener, it) {
+    if (listener->close) {
+      listener->close(listener->data);
     }
   }
 }
@@ -829,25 +824,12 @@ void win_pump_events(struct window *win) {
   win_handle_paint(win);
 }
 
-struct window_listener *win_add_listener(struct window *win,
-                                         const struct window_callbacks *cb,
-                                         void *data) {
-  struct window_listener *listener =
-      list_first_entry(&win->free_listeners, struct window_listener, it);
-  CHECK_NOTNULL(listener);
-  list_remove(&win->free_listeners, &listener->it);
-
-  listener->cb = *cb;
-  listener->data = data;
-  list_add(&win->live_listeners, &listener->it);
-
-  return listener;
+void win_add_listener(struct window *win, struct window_listener *listener) {
+  list_add(&win->listeners, &listener->it);
 }
 
 void win_remove_listener(struct window *win, struct window_listener *listener) {
-  list_remove(&win->live_listeners, &listener->it);
-
-  list_add(&win->free_listeners, &listener->it);
+  list_remove(&win->listeners, &listener->it);
 }
 
 struct window *win_create() {
@@ -856,11 +838,6 @@ struct window *win_create() {
   win->width = DEFAULT_WIDTH;
   win->height = DEFAULT_HEIGHT;
 
-  for (int i = 0; i < MAX_WINDOW_LISTENERS; i++) {
-    struct window_listener *listener = &win->listeners[i];
-    list_add(&win->free_listeners, &listener->it);
-  }
-
   // initialize window
   if (SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_VIDEO | SDL_INIT_JOYSTICK) < 0) {
     LOG_WARNING("SDL initialization failed: %s", SDL_GetError());
diff --git a/src/ui/window.h b/src/ui/window.h
index 520f224e..f7ca255f 100644
--- a/src/ui/window.h
+++ b/src/ui/window.h
@@ -22,18 +22,14 @@ struct SDL_Window;
 #define NUM_JOYSTICK_KEYS ((K_JOY31 - K_JOY0) + 1)
 #define NUM_JOYSTICK_HATS (((K_HAT15 - K_HAT0) + 1) / 4) /* 4 keys per hat */
 
-struct window_callbacks {
+struct window_listener {
+  void *data;
   void (*paint)(void *data);
   void (*paint_debug_menu)(void *data, struct nk_context *ctx);
   void (*keydown)(void *data, enum keycode code, int16_t value);
   void (*textinput)(void *data, const char *text);
   void (*mousemove)(void *data, int x, int y);
   void (*close)(void *data);
-};
-
-struct window_listener {
-  struct window_callbacks cb;
-  void *data;
   struct list_node it;
 };
 
@@ -51,9 +47,7 @@ struct window {
   bool text_input;
 
   // private state
-  struct window_listener listeners[MAX_WINDOW_LISTENERS];
-  struct list free_listeners;
-  struct list live_listeners;
+  struct list listeners;
 
   struct _SDL_Joystick *joystick;
   uint8_t hat_state[NUM_JOYSTICK_HATS];
@@ -62,9 +56,7 @@ struct window {
 void win_enable_debug_menu(struct window *win, bool active);
 void win_enable_text_input(struct window *win, bool active);
 void win_pump_events(struct window *win);
-struct window_listener *win_add_listener(struct window *win,
-                                         const struct window_callbacks *cb,
-                                         void *data);
+void win_add_listener(struct window *win, struct window_listener *listener);
 void win_remove_listener(struct window *win, struct window_listener *listener);
 struct window *win_create();
 void win_destroy(struct window *win);