diff --git a/imports/wasi_snapshot_preview1/fs.go b/imports/wasi_snapshot_preview1/fs.go
index 615fcc64..7b187709 100644
--- a/imports/wasi_snapshot_preview1/fs.go
+++ b/imports/wasi_snapshot_preview1/fs.go
@@ -96,8 +96,8 @@ func fdAllocateFn(_ context.Context, mod api.Module, params []uint64) Errno {
 		return ErrnoInval
 	}
 
-	var st platform.Stat_t
-	if err := f.Stat(&st); err != nil {
+	st, err := f.Stat()
+	if err != nil {
 		return ToErrno(err)
 	}
 
@@ -350,12 +350,12 @@ func fdFilestatGetFunc(mod api.Module, fd, resultBuf uint32) Errno {
 		return ErrnoBadf
 	}
 
-	var st platform.Stat_t
-	if err := f.Stat(&st); err != nil {
+	st, err := f.Stat()
+	if err != nil {
 		return ToErrno(err)
 	}
 
-	if err := writeFilestat(buf, &st); err != nil {
+	if err = writeFilestat(buf, &st); err != nil {
 		return ToErrno(err)
 	}
 
@@ -896,11 +896,11 @@ func dotDirents(f *sys.FileEntry) ([]*platform.Dirent, error) {
 	}
 	dotDotIno := uint64(0)
 	if !f.IsPreopen && f.Name != "." {
-		var st platform.Stat_t
-		if err = f.FS.Stat(path.Dir(f.Name), &st); err != nil {
+		if st, err := f.FS.Stat(path.Dir(f.Name)); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
+		} else {
+			dotDotIno = st.Ino
 		}
-		dotDotIno = st.Ino
 	}
 	return []*platform.Dirent{
 		{Name: ".", Ino: dotIno, Type: fs.ModeDir},
@@ -1436,9 +1436,9 @@ func pathFilestatGetFn(_ context.Context, mod api.Module, params []uint64) Errno
 	var err error
 
 	if (flags & LOOKUP_SYMLINK_FOLLOW) == 0 {
-		err = preopen.Lstat(pathName, &st)
+		st, err = preopen.Lstat(pathName)
 	} else {
-		err = preopen.Stat(pathName, &st)
+		st, err = preopen.Stat(pathName)
 	}
 	if err != nil {
 		return ToErrno(err)
@@ -1451,7 +1451,7 @@ func pathFilestatGetFn(_ context.Context, mod api.Module, params []uint64) Errno
 		return ErrnoFault
 	}
 
-	if err := writeFilestat(buf, &st); err != nil {
+	if err = writeFilestat(buf, &st); err != nil {
 		return ToErrno(err)
 	}
 	return ErrnoSuccess
diff --git a/imports/wasi_snapshot_preview1/fs_test.go b/imports/wasi_snapshot_preview1/fs_test.go
index d8cfb2c2..e956db5c 100644
--- a/imports/wasi_snapshot_preview1/fs_test.go
+++ b/imports/wasi_snapshot_preview1/fs_test.go
@@ -63,8 +63,8 @@ func Test_fdAllocate(t *testing.T) {
 	require.True(t, ok)
 
 	requireSizeEqual := func(exp int64) {
-		var st platform.Stat_t
-		require.NoError(t, f.Stat(&st))
+		st, err := f.Stat()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
 		require.Equal(t, exp, st.Size)
 	}
 
@@ -849,8 +849,8 @@ func Test_fdFilestatSetTimes(t *testing.T) {
 			f, ok := fsc.LookupFile(fd)
 			require.True(t, ok)
 
-			var st platform.Stat_t
-			require.NoError(t, f.Stat(&st))
+			st, err := f.Stat()
+			require.NoError(t, err)
 			prevAtime, prevMtime := st.Atim, st.Mtim
 
 			requireErrnoResult(t, tc.expectedErrno, mod, FdFilestatSetTimesName,
@@ -862,8 +862,8 @@ func Test_fdFilestatSetTimes(t *testing.T) {
 				f, ok := fsc.LookupFile(fd)
 				require.True(t, ok)
 
-				var st platform.Stat_t
-				require.NoError(t, f.Stat(&st))
+				st, err = f.Stat()
+				require.NoError(t, err)
 				if tc.flags&FstflagsAtim != 0 {
 					require.Equal(t, tc.atime, st.Atim)
 				} else if tc.flags&FstflagsAtimNow != 0 {
@@ -3551,8 +3551,10 @@ func Test_pathFilestatSetTimes(t *testing.T) {
 			fsc := sys.FS()
 
 			var oldSt platform.Stat_t
+			var err error
 			if tc.expectedErrno == ErrnoSuccess {
-				require.NoError(t, fsc.RootFS().Stat(pathName, &oldSt))
+				oldSt, err = fsc.RootFS().Stat(pathName)
+				require.NoError(t, err)
 			}
 
 			requireErrnoResult(t, tc.expectedErrno, mod, PathFilestatSetTimesName, uint64(fd), uint64(tc.flags),
@@ -3563,8 +3565,8 @@ func Test_pathFilestatSetTimes(t *testing.T) {
 				return
 			}
 
-			var newSt platform.Stat_t
-			require.NoError(t, fsc.RootFS().Stat(pathName, &newSt))
+			newSt, err := fsc.RootFS().Stat(pathName)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
 
 			if platform.CompilerSupported() {
 				if tc.fstFlags&FstflagsAtim != 0 {
@@ -3639,8 +3641,7 @@ func Test_pathLink(t *testing.T) {
 			require.NoError(t, f.Close())
 		}()
 
-		var st platform.Stat_t
-		require.NoError(t, platform.StatFile(f, &st))
+		st, err := platform.StatFile(f)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		require.False(t, st.Mode&os.ModeSymlink == os.ModeSymlink)
 		require.Equal(t, uint64(2), st.Nlink)
@@ -4870,8 +4871,8 @@ func Test_fdReaddir_dotEntriesHaveRealInodes(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// get the real inode of the current directory
-	var st platform.Stat_t
-	require.NoError(t, preopen.Stat(readDirTarget, &st))
+	st, err := preopen.Stat(readDirTarget)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 	dirents := []byte{1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0}         // d_next = 1
 	dirents = append(dirents, u64.LeBytes(st.Ino)...) // d_ino
 	dirents = append(dirents, 1, 0, 0, 0)             // d_namlen = 1 character
@@ -4879,7 +4880,8 @@ func Test_fdReaddir_dotEntriesHaveRealInodes(t *testing.T) {
 	dirents = append(dirents, '.')                    // name
 
 	// get the real inode of the parent directory
-	require.NoError(t, preopen.Stat(".", &st))
+	st, err = preopen.Stat(".")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 	dirents = append(dirents, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) // d_next = 2
 	dirents = append(dirents, u64.LeBytes(st.Ino)...) // d_ino
 	dirents = append(dirents, 2, 0, 0, 0)             // d_namlen = 2 characters
@@ -4933,8 +4935,8 @@ func Test_fdReaddir_opened_file_written(t *testing.T) {
 	defer f.Close()
 
 	// get the real inode of the current directory
-	var st platform.Stat_t
-	require.NoError(t, preopen.Stat(dirName, &st))
+	st, err := preopen.Stat(dirName)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 	dirents := []byte{1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0}         // d_next = 1
 	dirents = append(dirents, u64.LeBytes(st.Ino)...) // d_ino
 	dirents = append(dirents, 1, 0, 0, 0)             // d_namlen = 1 character
@@ -4942,7 +4944,8 @@ func Test_fdReaddir_opened_file_written(t *testing.T) {
 	dirents = append(dirents, '.')                    // name
 
 	// get the real inode of the parent directory
-	require.NoError(t, preopen.Stat(".", &st))
+	st, err = preopen.Stat(".")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 	dirents = append(dirents, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) // d_next = 2
 	dirents = append(dirents, u64.LeBytes(st.Ino)...) // d_ino
 	dirents = append(dirents, 2, 0, 0, 0)             // d_namlen = 2 characters
@@ -4950,7 +4953,8 @@ func Test_fdReaddir_opened_file_written(t *testing.T) {
 	dirents = append(dirents, '.', '.')               // name
 
 	// get the real inode of the file
-	require.NoError(t, platform.StatFile(f, &st))
+	st, err = platform.StatFile(f)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 	dirents = append(dirents, 3, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) // d_next = 3
 	dirents = append(dirents, u64.LeBytes(st.Ino)...) // d_ino
 	dirents = append(dirents, 4, 0, 0, 0)             // d_namlen = 4 characters
diff --git a/internal/fstest/fstest.go b/internal/fstest/fstest.go
index 8bd223a0..aac0c564 100644
--- a/internal/fstest/fstest.go
+++ b/internal/fstest/fstest.go
@@ -100,16 +100,16 @@ func WriteTestFiles(tmpDir string) (err error) {
 			}
 
 			// os.Stat uses GetFileInformationByHandle internally.
-			var stat platform.Stat_t
-			if err = platform.Stat(path, &stat); err != nil {
+			var st platform.Stat_t
+			if st, err = platform.Stat(path); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
-			if stat.Mtim == info.ModTime().UnixNano() {
+			if st.Mtim == info.ModTime().UnixNano() {
 				return nil // synced!
 			}
 
 			// Otherwise, we need to sync the timestamps.
-			return os.Chtimes(path, time.Unix(0, stat.Atim), time.Unix(0, stat.Mtim))
+			return os.Chtimes(path, time.Unix(0, st.Atim), time.Unix(0, st.Mtim))
 		})
 	}
 	return
diff --git a/internal/gojs/fs.go b/internal/gojs/fs.go
index 280ab9eb..dd93aa55 100644
--- a/internal/gojs/fs.go
+++ b/internal/gojs/fs.go
@@ -134,11 +134,11 @@ func (s *jsfsStat) invoke(ctx context.Context, mod api.Module, args ...interface
 func syscallStat(mod api.Module, path string) (*jsSt, error) {
 	fsc := mod.(*wasm.CallContext).Sys.FS()
 
-	var stat platform.Stat_t
-	if err := fsc.RootFS().Stat(path, &stat); err != nil {
+	if st, err := fsc.RootFS().Stat(path); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
+	} else {
+		return newJsSt(st), nil
 	}
-	return newJsSt(&stat), nil
 }
 
 // jsfsLstat implements jsFn for syscall.Lstat
@@ -161,11 +161,11 @@ func (l *jsfsLstat) invoke(ctx context.Context, mod api.Module, args ...interfac
 func syscallLstat(mod api.Module, path string) (*jsSt, error) {
 	fsc := mod.(*wasm.CallContext).Sys.FS()
 
-	var stat platform.Stat_t
-	if err := fsc.RootFS().Lstat(path, &stat); err != nil {
+	if st, err := fsc.RootFS().Lstat(path); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
+	} else {
+		return newJsSt(st), nil
 	}
-	return newJsSt(&stat), nil
 }
 
 // jsfsFstat implements jsFn for syscall.Open
@@ -190,14 +190,14 @@ func syscallFstat(fsc *internalsys.FSContext, fd uint32) (*jsSt, error) {
 		return nil, syscall.EBADF
 	}
 
-	var st platform.Stat_t
-	if err := f.Stat(&st); err != nil {
+	if st, err := f.Stat(); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
+	} else {
+		return newJsSt(st), nil
 	}
-	return newJsSt(&st), nil
 }
 
-func newJsSt(st *platform.Stat_t) *jsSt {
+func newJsSt(st platform.Stat_t) *jsSt {
 	ret := &jsSt{}
 	ret.isDir = st.Mode.IsDir()
 	ret.dev = st.Dev
diff --git a/internal/platform/futimens.go b/internal/platform/futimens.go
index b908101e..16db9975 100644
--- a/internal/platform/futimens.go
+++ b/internal/platform/futimens.go
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ func normalizeTimespec(path string, times *[2]syscall.Timespec, i int) (ts sysca
 		// - https://github.com/golang/go/issues/32558.
 		// - https://go-review.googlesource.com/c/go/+/219638 (unmerged)
 		var st Stat_t
-		if err = stat(path, &st); err != nil {
+		if st, err = stat(path); err != nil {
 			return
 		}
 		switch i {
diff --git a/internal/platform/futimens_test.go b/internal/platform/futimens_test.go
index f082b0a2..94f1d1c2 100644
--- a/internal/platform/futimens_test.go
+++ b/internal/platform/futimens_test.go
@@ -146,8 +146,8 @@ func testFutimens(t *testing.T, usePath bool) {
 					panic(tc)
 				}
 
-				var oldSt Stat_t
-				require.NoError(t, Lstat(statPath, &oldSt))
+				oldSt, err := Lstat(statPath)
+				require.NoError(t, err)
 
 				if usePath {
 					err = Utimens(path, tc.times, !symlinkNoFollow)
@@ -172,8 +172,8 @@ func testFutimens(t *testing.T, usePath bool) {
 					require.NoError(t, err)
 				}
 
-				var newSt Stat_t
-				require.NoError(t, Lstat(statPath, &newSt))
+				newSt, err := Lstat(statPath)
+				require.NoError(t, err)
 
 				if CompilerSupported() {
 					if tc.times != nil && tc.times[0].Nsec == UTIME_OMIT {
diff --git a/internal/platform/stat.go b/internal/platform/stat.go
index f41b3e5f..059ded7c 100644
--- a/internal/platform/stat.go
+++ b/internal/platform/stat.go
@@ -58,38 +58,39 @@ type Stat_t struct {
 // The primary difference between this and Stat is, when the path is a
 // symbolic link, the stat is about the link, not its target, such as directory
 // listings.
-func Lstat(path string, st *Stat_t) error {
-	err := lstat(path, st) // extracted to override more expensively in windows
-	return UnwrapOSError(err)
+func Lstat(path string) (Stat_t, error) {
+	st, err := lstat(path) // extracted to override more expensively in windows
+	return st, UnwrapOSError(err)
 }
 
 // Stat is like syscall.Stat. This returns syscall.ENOENT if the path doesn't
 // exist.
-func Stat(path string, st *Stat_t) error {
-	err := stat(path, st) // extracted to override more expensively in windows
-	return UnwrapOSError(err)
+func Stat(path string) (Stat_t, error) {
+	st, err := stat(path) // extracted to override more expensively in windows
+	return st, UnwrapOSError(err)
 }
 
 // StatFile is like syscall.Fstat, but for fs.File instead of a file
 // descriptor. This returns syscall.EBADF if the file or directory was closed.
 // Note: windows allows you to stat a closed directory.
-func StatFile(f fs.File, st *Stat_t) (err error) {
-	err = statFile(f, st)
+func StatFile(f fs.File) (Stat_t, error) {
+	st, err := statFile(f)
 	if err = UnwrapOSError(err); err == syscall.EIO {
 		err = syscall.EBADF
 	}
-	return
+	return st, err
 }
 
-func defaultStatFile(f fs.File, st *Stat_t) (err error) {
-	var t fs.FileInfo
-	if t, err = f.Stat(); err == nil {
-		fillStatFromFileInfo(st, t)
+func defaultStatFile(f fs.File) (Stat_t, error) {
+	if t, err := f.Stat(); err != nil {
+		return Stat_t{}, err
+	} else {
+		return statFromFileInfo(t), nil
 	}
-	return
 }
 
-func fillStatFromDefaultFileInfo(st *Stat_t, t fs.FileInfo) {
+func statFromDefaultFileInfo(t fs.FileInfo) Stat_t {
+	st := Stat_t{}
 	st.Ino = 0
 	st.Dev = 0
 	st.Mode = t.Mode()
@@ -99,4 +100,5 @@ func fillStatFromDefaultFileInfo(st *Stat_t, t fs.FileInfo) {
 	st.Atim = mtim
 	st.Mtim = mtim
 	st.Ctim = mtim
+	return st
 }
diff --git a/internal/platform/stat_bsd.go b/internal/platform/stat_bsd.go
index 4e8c9a20..f3640b44 100644
--- a/internal/platform/stat_bsd.go
+++ b/internal/platform/stat_bsd.go
@@ -8,24 +8,24 @@ import (
 	"syscall"
 )
 
-func lstat(path string, st *Stat_t) (err error) {
-	var t fs.FileInfo
-	if t, err = os.Lstat(path); err == nil {
-		fillStatFromFileInfo(st, t)
+func lstat(path string) (Stat_t, error) {
+	if t, err := os.Lstat(path); err != nil {
+		return Stat_t{}, err
+	} else {
+		return statFromFileInfo(t), nil
 	}
-	return
 }
 
-func stat(path string, st *Stat_t) (err error) {
-	var t fs.FileInfo
-	if t, err = os.Stat(path); err == nil {
-		fillStatFromFileInfo(st, t)
+func stat(path string) (Stat_t, error) {
+	if t, err := os.Stat(path); err != nil {
+		return Stat_t{}, err
+	} else {
+		return statFromFileInfo(t), nil
 	}
-	return
 }
 
-func statFile(f fs.File, st *Stat_t) error {
-	return defaultStatFile(f, st)
+func statFile(f fs.File) (Stat_t, error) {
+	return defaultStatFile(f)
 }
 
 func inoFromFileInfo(_ readdirFile, t fs.FileInfo) (ino uint64, err error) {
@@ -35,8 +35,9 @@ func inoFromFileInfo(_ readdirFile, t fs.FileInfo) (ino uint64, err error) {
 	return
 }
 
-func fillStatFromFileInfo(st *Stat_t, t fs.FileInfo) {
+func statFromFileInfo(t fs.FileInfo) Stat_t {
 	if d, ok := t.Sys().(*syscall.Stat_t); ok {
+		st := Stat_t{}
 		st.Dev = uint64(d.Dev)
 		st.Ino = d.Ino
 		st.Uid = d.Uid
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@ func fillStatFromFileInfo(st *Stat_t, t fs.FileInfo) {
 		st.Mtim = mtime.Sec*1e9 + mtime.Nsec
 		ctime := d.Ctimespec
 		st.Ctim = ctime.Sec*1e9 + ctime.Nsec
-	} else {
-		fillStatFromDefaultFileInfo(st, t)
+		return st
 	}
+	return statFromDefaultFileInfo(t)
 }
diff --git a/internal/platform/stat_linux.go b/internal/platform/stat_linux.go
index 03e94555..19a82438 100644
--- a/internal/platform/stat_linux.go
+++ b/internal/platform/stat_linux.go
@@ -11,35 +11,36 @@ import (
 	"syscall"
 )
 
-func lstat(path string, st *Stat_t) (err error) {
-	var t fs.FileInfo
-	if t, err = os.Lstat(path); err == nil {
-		fillStatFromFileInfo(st, t)
+func lstat(path string) (Stat_t, error) {
+	if t, err := os.Lstat(path); err != nil {
+		return Stat_t{}, err
+	} else {
+		return statFromFileInfo(t), nil
 	}
-	return
 }
 
-func stat(path string, st *Stat_t) (err error) {
-	var t fs.FileInfo
-	if t, err = os.Stat(path); err == nil {
-		fillStatFromFileInfo(st, t)
+func stat(path string) (Stat_t, error) {
+	if t, err := os.Stat(path); err != nil {
+		return Stat_t{}, err
+	} else {
+		return statFromFileInfo(t), nil
 	}
-	return
 }
 
-func statFile(f fs.File, st *Stat_t) error {
-	return defaultStatFile(f, st)
+func statFile(f fs.File) (Stat_t, error) {
+	return defaultStatFile(f)
 }
 
 func inoFromFileInfo(_ readdirFile, t fs.FileInfo) (ino uint64, err error) {
 	if d, ok := t.Sys().(*syscall.Stat_t); ok {
-		ino = (d.Ino)
+		ino = d.Ino
 	}
 	return
 }
 
-func fillStatFromFileInfo(st *Stat_t, t fs.FileInfo) {
+func statFromFileInfo(t fs.FileInfo) Stat_t {
 	if d, ok := t.Sys().(*syscall.Stat_t); ok {
+		st := Stat_t{}
 		st.Dev = uint64(d.Dev)
 		st.Ino = uint64(d.Ino)
 		st.Uid = d.Uid
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ func fillStatFromFileInfo(st *Stat_t, t fs.FileInfo) {
 		st.Mtim = mtime.Sec*1e9 + mtime.Nsec
 		ctime := d.Ctim
 		st.Ctim = ctime.Sec*1e9 + ctime.Nsec
-	} else {
-		fillStatFromDefaultFileInfo(st, t)
+		return st
 	}
+	return statFromDefaultFileInfo(t)
 }
diff --git a/internal/platform/stat_test.go b/internal/platform/stat_test.go
index 57e016d0..ca455c26 100644
--- a/internal/platform/stat_test.go
+++ b/internal/platform/stat_test.go
@@ -15,139 +15,152 @@ import (
 func TestLstat(t *testing.T) {
 	tmpDir := t.TempDir()
 
-	var stat Stat_t
-	require.EqualErrno(t, syscall.ENOENT, Lstat(path.Join(tmpDir, "cat"), &stat))
-	require.EqualErrno(t, syscall.ENOENT, Lstat(path.Join(tmpDir, "sub/cat"), &stat))
+	_, err := Lstat(path.Join(tmpDir, "cat"))
+	require.EqualErrno(t, syscall.ENOENT, err)
+	_, err = Lstat(path.Join(tmpDir, "sub/cat"))
+	require.EqualErrno(t, syscall.ENOENT, err)
 
+	var st Stat_t
 	t.Run("dir", func(t *testing.T) {
-		err := Lstat(tmpDir, &stat)
+		st, err = Lstat(tmpDir)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
-		require.True(t, stat.Mode.IsDir())
-		require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), stat.Ino)
+		require.True(t, st.Mode.IsDir())
+		require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), st.Ino)
 	})
 
 	file := path.Join(tmpDir, "file")
-	var statFile Stat_t
+	var stFile Stat_t
 
 	t.Run("file", func(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(file, []byte{1, 2}, 0o400))
-		require.NoError(t, Lstat(file, &statFile))
-		require.Zero(t, statFile.Mode.Type())
-		require.Equal(t, int64(2), statFile.Size)
-		require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), statFile.Ino)
+		stFile, err = Lstat(file)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.Zero(t, stFile.Mode.Type())
+		require.Equal(t, int64(2), stFile.Size)
+		require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), stFile.Ino)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("link to file", func(t *testing.T) {
-		requireLinkStat(t, file, &statFile)
+		requireLinkStat(t, file, stFile)
 	})
 
 	subdir := path.Join(tmpDir, "sub")
-	var statSubdir Stat_t
+	var stSubdir Stat_t
 	t.Run("subdir", func(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NoError(t, os.Mkdir(subdir, 0o500))
 
-		require.NoError(t, Lstat(subdir, &statSubdir))
-		require.True(t, statSubdir.Mode.IsDir())
-		require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), statSubdir.Ino)
+		stSubdir, err = Lstat(subdir)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.True(t, stSubdir.Mode.IsDir())
+		require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), stSubdir.Ino)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("link to dir", func(t *testing.T) {
-		requireLinkStat(t, subdir, &statSubdir)
+		requireLinkStat(t, subdir, stSubdir)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("link to dir link", func(t *testing.T) {
 		pathLink := subdir + "-link"
-		var statLink Stat_t
-		require.NoError(t, Lstat(pathLink, &statLink))
+		stLink, err := Lstat(pathLink)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
 
-		requireLinkStat(t, pathLink, &statLink)
+		requireLinkStat(t, pathLink, stLink)
 	})
 }
 
-func requireLinkStat(t *testing.T, path string, stat *Stat_t) {
+func requireLinkStat(t *testing.T, path string, stat Stat_t) {
 	link := path + "-link"
-	var linkStat Stat_t
 	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(path, link))
 
-	require.NoError(t, Lstat(link, &linkStat))
-	require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), linkStat.Ino)
-	require.NotEqual(t, stat.Ino, linkStat.Ino) // inodes are not equal
-	require.Equal(t, fs.ModeSymlink, linkStat.Mode.Type())
+	stLink, err := Lstat(link)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), stLink.Ino)
+	require.NotEqual(t, stat.Ino, stLink.Ino) // inodes are not equal
+	require.Equal(t, fs.ModeSymlink, stLink.Mode.Type())
 	// From https://linux.die.net/man/2/lstat:
 	// The size of a symbolic link is the length of the pathname it
 	// contains, without a terminating null byte.
 	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" { // size is zero, not the path length
-		require.Zero(t, linkStat.Size)
+		require.Zero(t, stLink.Size)
 	} else {
-		require.Equal(t, int64(len(path)), linkStat.Size)
+		require.Equal(t, int64(len(path)), stLink.Size)
 	}
 }
 
 func TestStat(t *testing.T) {
 	tmpDir := t.TempDir()
 
-	var stat Stat_t
-	require.EqualErrno(t, syscall.ENOENT, Stat(path.Join(tmpDir, "cat"), &stat))
-	require.EqualErrno(t, syscall.ENOENT, Stat(path.Join(tmpDir, "sub/cat"), &stat))
+	_, err := Stat(path.Join(tmpDir, "cat"))
+	require.EqualErrno(t, syscall.ENOENT, err)
+	_, err = Stat(path.Join(tmpDir, "sub/cat"))
+	require.EqualErrno(t, syscall.ENOENT, err)
+
+	var st Stat_t
 
 	t.Run("dir", func(t *testing.T) {
-		err := Stat(tmpDir, &stat)
+		st, err = Stat(tmpDir)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
-		require.True(t, stat.Mode.IsDir())
-		require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), stat.Ino)
+		require.True(t, st.Mode.IsDir())
+		require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), st.Ino)
 	})
 
 	file := path.Join(tmpDir, "file")
-	var statFile Stat_t
+	var stFile Stat_t
 
 	t.Run("file", func(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(file, nil, 0o400))
-		require.NoError(t, Stat(file, &statFile))
-		require.False(t, statFile.Mode.IsDir())
-		require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), stat.Ino)
+
+		stFile, err = Stat(file)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.False(t, stFile.Mode.IsDir())
+		require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), st.Ino)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("link to file", func(t *testing.T) {
 		link := path.Join(tmpDir, "file-link")
 		require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(file, link))
 
-		require.NoError(t, Stat(link, &stat))
-		require.Equal(t, statFile, stat) // resolves to the file
+		stLink, err := Stat(link)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.Equal(t, stFile, stLink) // resolves to the file
 	})
 
 	subdir := path.Join(tmpDir, "sub")
-	var statSubdir Stat_t
+	var stSubdir Stat_t
 	t.Run("subdir", func(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NoError(t, os.Mkdir(subdir, 0o500))
 
-		require.NoError(t, Stat(subdir, &statSubdir))
-		require.True(t, statSubdir.Mode.IsDir())
-		require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), stat.Ino)
+		stSubdir, err = Stat(subdir)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.True(t, stSubdir.Mode.IsDir())
+		require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), st.Ino)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("link to dir", func(t *testing.T) {
 		link := path.Join(tmpDir, "dir-link")
 		require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(subdir, link))
 
-		require.NoError(t, Stat(link, &stat))
-		require.Equal(t, statSubdir, stat) // resolves to the dir
+		stLink, err := Stat(link)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.Equal(t, stSubdir, stLink) // resolves to the dir
 	})
 }
 
 func TestStatFile(t *testing.T) {
 	tmpDir := t.TempDir()
 
-	var stat Stat_t
+	var st Stat_t
 
 	tmpDirF, err := OpenFile(tmpDir, syscall.O_RDONLY, 0)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	defer tmpDirF.Close()
 
 	t.Run("dir", func(t *testing.T) {
-		err = StatFile(tmpDirF, &stat)
+		st, err = StatFile(tmpDirF)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
-		require.True(t, stat.Mode.IsDir())
-		requireDirectoryDevIno(t, stat)
+		require.True(t, st.Mode.IsDir())
+		requireDirectoryDevIno(t, st)
 	})
 
 	// Windows allows you to stat a closed dir because it is accessed by path,
@@ -155,7 +168,8 @@ func TestStatFile(t *testing.T) {
 	if runtime.GOOS != "windows" {
 		t.Run("closed dir", func(t *testing.T) {
 			require.NoError(t, tmpDirF.Close())
-			require.EqualErrno(t, syscall.EBADF, StatFile(tmpDirF, &stat))
+			st, err = StatFile(tmpDirF)
+			require.EqualErrno(t, syscall.EBADF, err)
 		})
 	}
 
@@ -166,16 +180,16 @@ func TestStatFile(t *testing.T) {
 	defer fileF.Close()
 
 	t.Run("file", func(t *testing.T) {
-		err = StatFile(fileF, &stat)
+		st, err = StatFile(fileF)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
-		require.False(t, stat.Mode.IsDir())
-		require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), stat.Ino)
+		require.False(t, st.Mode.IsDir())
+		require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), st.Ino)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("closed file", func(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NoError(t, fileF.Close())
-		require.EqualErrno(t, syscall.EBADF, StatFile(fileF, &stat))
-		require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), stat.Ino)
+		_, err = StatFile(fileF)
+		require.EqualErrno(t, syscall.EBADF, err)
 	})
 
 	subdir := path.Join(tmpDir, "sub")
@@ -185,16 +199,17 @@ func TestStatFile(t *testing.T) {
 	defer subdirF.Close()
 
 	t.Run("subdir", func(t *testing.T) {
-		err = StatFile(subdirF, &stat)
+		st, err = StatFile(subdirF)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
-		require.True(t, stat.Mode.IsDir())
-		requireDirectoryDevIno(t, stat)
+		require.True(t, st.Mode.IsDir())
+		requireDirectoryDevIno(t, st)
 	})
 
 	if runtime.GOOS != "windows" { // windows allows you to stat a closed dir
 		t.Run("closed subdir", func(t *testing.T) {
 			require.NoError(t, subdirF.Close())
-			require.EqualErrno(t, syscall.EBADF, StatFile(subdirF, &stat))
+			st, err = StatFile(subdirF)
+			require.EqualErrno(t, syscall.EBADF, err)
 		})
 	}
 }
@@ -238,14 +253,14 @@ func Test_StatFile_times(t *testing.T) {
 			err := os.Chtimes(file, time.UnixMicro(tc.atimeNsec/1e3), time.UnixMicro(tc.mtimeNsec/1e3))
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 
-			file, err := os.Open(file)
+			f, err := os.Open(file)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
-			defer file.Close()
+			defer f.Close()
 
-			var stat Stat_t
-			require.NoError(t, StatFile(file, &stat))
-			require.Equal(t, stat.Atim, tc.atimeNsec)
-			require.Equal(t, stat.Mtim, tc.mtimeNsec)
+			st, err := StatFile(f)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			require.Equal(t, st.Atim, tc.atimeNsec)
+			require.Equal(t, st.Mtim, tc.mtimeNsec)
 		})
 	}
 }
@@ -274,28 +289,29 @@ func TestStatFile_dev_inode(t *testing.T) {
 	defer l2.Close()
 
 	// First, stat the directory
-	var stat1 Stat_t
-	require.NoError(t, StatFile(d, &stat1))
-	requireDirectoryDevIno(t, stat1)
+	st1, err := StatFile(d)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	requireDirectoryDevIno(t, st1)
 
 	// Now, stat the files in it
-	require.NoError(t, StatFile(f1, &stat1))
+	st1, err = StatFile(f1)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	var stat2 Stat_t
-	require.NoError(t, StatFile(f2, &stat2))
+	st2, err := StatFile(f2)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	var stat3 Stat_t
-	require.NoError(t, StatFile(l2, &stat3))
+	st3, err := StatFile(l2)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// The files should be on the same device, but different inodes
-	require.Equal(t, stat1.Dev, stat2.Dev)
-	require.NotEqual(t, stat1.Ino, stat2.Ino)
-	require.Equal(t, stat2, stat3) // stat on a link is for its target
+	require.Equal(t, st1.Dev, st2.Dev)
+	require.NotEqual(t, st1.Ino, st2.Ino)
+	require.Equal(t, st2, st3) // stat on a link is for its target
 
 	// Redoing stat should result in the same inodes
-	var stat1Again Stat_t
-	require.NoError(t, StatFile(f1, &stat1Again))
-	require.Equal(t, stat1.Dev, stat1Again.Dev)
+	st1Again, err := StatFile(f1)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, st1.Dev, st1Again.Dev)
 
 	// On Windows, we cannot rename while opening.
 	// So we manually close here before renaming.
@@ -309,9 +325,10 @@ func TestStatFile_dev_inode(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	defer f1.Close()
 
-	require.NoError(t, StatFile(f1, &stat1Again))
-	require.Equal(t, stat1.Dev, stat1Again.Dev)
-	require.Equal(t, stat1.Ino, stat1Again.Ino)
+	st1Again, err = StatFile(f1)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, st1.Dev, st1Again.Dev)
+	require.Equal(t, st1.Ino, st1Again.Ino)
 }
 
 func requireDirectoryDevIno(t *testing.T, st Stat_t) {
@@ -344,8 +361,8 @@ func TestStat_uid_gid(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NoError(t, os.Mkdir(dir, 0o0700))
 		require.NoError(t, chgid(dir, gid))
 
-		var st Stat_t
-		require.NoError(t, Stat(dir, &st))
+		st, err := Stat(dir)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
 		require.Equal(t, uid, st.Uid)
 		require.Equal(t, gid, st.Gid)
 	})
@@ -356,8 +373,8 @@ func TestStat_uid_gid(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(tmpDir, link))
 		require.NoError(t, chgid(link, gid))
 
-		var st Stat_t
-		require.NoError(t, Lstat(link, &st))
+		st, err := Lstat(link)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
 		require.Equal(t, uid, st.Uid)
 		require.Equal(t, gid, st.Gid)
 	})
@@ -368,8 +385,8 @@ func TestStat_uid_gid(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(file, nil, 0o0600))
 		require.NoError(t, chgid(file, gid))
 
-		var st Stat_t
-		require.NoError(t, Lstat(file, &st))
+		st, err := Lstat(file)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
 		require.Equal(t, uid, st.Uid)
 		require.Equal(t, gid, st.Gid)
 	})
diff --git a/internal/platform/stat_unsupported.go b/internal/platform/stat_unsupported.go
index 397c137b..d2c73b9c 100644
--- a/internal/platform/stat_unsupported.go
+++ b/internal/platform/stat_unsupported.go
@@ -7,35 +7,30 @@ import (
 	"os"
 )
 
-func lstat(path string, st *Stat_t) (err error) {
+func lstat(path string) (Stat_t, error) {
 	t, err := os.Lstat(path)
-	if err = UnwrapOSError(err); err == nil {
-		fillStatFromFileInfo(st, t)
+	if err = UnwrapOSError(err); err != nil {
+		return statFromFileInfo(t), nil
 	}
-	return
+	return Stat_t{}, err
 }
 
-func stat(path string, st *Stat_t) (err error) {
+func stat(path string) (Stat_t, error) {
 	t, err := os.Stat(path)
 	if err = UnwrapOSError(err); err == nil {
-		fillStatFromFileInfo(st, t)
+		return statFromFileInfo(t), nil
 	}
-	return
+	return Stat_t{}, err
 }
 
-func statFile(f fs.File, st *Stat_t) error {
-	return defaultStatFile(f, st)
+func statFile(f fs.File) (Stat_t, error) {
+	return defaultStatFile(f)
 }
 
 func inoFromFileInfo(readdirFile, fs.FileInfo) (ino uint64, err error) {
 	return
 }
 
-func fillStatFromFileInfo(st *Stat_t, t fs.FileInfo) {
-	fillStatFromDefaultFileInfo(st, t)
-}
-
-func fillStatFromOpenFile(st *Stat_t, fd uintptr, t os.FileInfo) (err error) {
-	fillStatFromFileInfo(st, t)
-	return
+func statFromFileInfo(t fs.FileInfo) Stat_t {
+	return statFromDefaultFileInfo(t)
 }
diff --git a/internal/platform/stat_windows.go b/internal/platform/stat_windows.go
index f44a4835..e0a517ba 100644
--- a/internal/platform/stat_windows.go
+++ b/internal/platform/stat_windows.go
@@ -8,26 +8,26 @@ import (
 	"syscall"
 )
 
-func lstat(path string, st *Stat_t) error {
+func lstat(path string) (Stat_t, error) {
 	attrs := uint32(syscall.FILE_FLAG_BACKUP_SEMANTICS)
 	// Use FILE_FLAG_OPEN_REPARSE_POINT, otherwise CreateFile will follow symlink.
 	// See https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/FileIO/symbolic-link-effects-on-file-systems-functions#createfile-and-createfiletransacted
 	attrs |= syscall.FILE_FLAG_OPEN_REPARSE_POINT
-	return statPath(attrs, path, st)
+	return statPath(attrs, path)
 }
 
-func stat(path string, st *Stat_t) error {
+func stat(path string) (Stat_t, error) {
 	attrs := uint32(syscall.FILE_FLAG_BACKUP_SEMANTICS)
-	return statPath(attrs, path, st)
+	return statPath(attrs, path)
 }
 
-func statPath(createFileAttrs uint32, path string, st *Stat_t) (err error) {
+func statPath(createFileAttrs uint32, path string) (Stat_t, error) {
 	if len(path) == 0 {
-		return syscall.ENOENT
+		return Stat_t{}, syscall.ENOENT
 	}
 	pathp, err := syscall.UTF16PtrFromString(path)
 	if err != nil {
-		return syscall.EINVAL
+		return Stat_t{}, syscall.EINVAL
 	}
 
 	// open the file handle
@@ -39,41 +39,41 @@ func statPath(createFileAttrs uint32, path string, st *Stat_t) (err error) {
 		if err == syscall.ENOTDIR {
 			err = syscall.ENOENT
 		}
-		return err
+		return Stat_t{}, err
 	}
 	defer syscall.CloseHandle(h)
 
-	return statHandle(h, st)
+	return statHandle(h)
 }
 
-func statFile(f fs.File, st *Stat_t) (err error) {
+func statFile(f fs.File) (Stat_t, error) {
 	if of, ok := f.(fdFile); ok {
 		// Attempt to get the stat by handle, which works for normal files
-		err = statHandle(syscall.Handle(of.Fd()), st)
+		st, err := statHandle(syscall.Handle(of.Fd()))
 
 		// ERROR_INVALID_HANDLE happens before Go 1.20. Don't fail as we only
 		// use that approach to fill in inode data, which is not critical.
 		if err != ERROR_INVALID_HANDLE {
-			return
+			return st, err
 		}
 	}
-	return defaultStatFile(f, st)
+	return defaultStatFile(f)
 }
 
 // inoFromFileInfo uses stat to get the inode information of the file.
 func inoFromFileInfo(f readdirFile, t fs.FileInfo) (ino uint64, err error) {
 	if pf, ok := f.(PathFile); ok {
-		var st Stat_t
 		inoPath := path.Clean(path.Join(pf.Path(), t.Name()))
-		if err = lstat(inoPath, &st); err == nil {
+		if st, err := lstat(inoPath); err == nil {
 			ino = st.Ino
 		}
 	}
 	return // not in Win32FileAttributeData
 }
 
-func fillStatFromFileInfo(st *Stat_t, t fs.FileInfo) {
+func statFromFileInfo(t fs.FileInfo) Stat_t {
 	if d, ok := t.Sys().(*syscall.Win32FileAttributeData); ok {
+		st := Stat_t{}
 		st.Ino = 0 // not in Win32FileAttributeData
 		st.Dev = 0 // not in Win32FileAttributeData
 		st.Mode = t.Mode()
@@ -82,20 +82,21 @@ func fillStatFromFileInfo(st *Stat_t, t fs.FileInfo) {
 		st.Atim = d.LastAccessTime.Nanoseconds()
 		st.Mtim = d.LastWriteTime.Nanoseconds()
 		st.Ctim = d.CreationTime.Nanoseconds()
+		return st
 	} else {
-		fillStatFromDefaultFileInfo(st, t)
+		return statFromDefaultFileInfo(t)
 	}
 }
 
-func statHandle(h syscall.Handle, st *Stat_t) (err error) {
+func statHandle(h syscall.Handle) (Stat_t, error) {
 	winFt, err := syscall.GetFileType(h)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return Stat_t{}, err
 	}
 
 	var fi syscall.ByHandleFileInformation
 	if err = syscall.GetFileInformationByHandle(h, &fi); err != nil {
-		return err
+		return Stat_t{}, err
 	}
 
 	var m fs.FileMode
@@ -116,6 +117,7 @@ func statHandle(h syscall.Handle, st *Stat_t) (err error) {
 		m |= fs.ModeDir | 0o111 // e.g. 0o444 -> 0o555
 	}
 
+	st := Stat_t{}
 	// FileIndex{High,Low} can be combined and used as a unique identifier like inode.
 	// https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/fileapi/ns-fileapi-by_handle_file_information
 	st.Dev = uint64(fi.VolumeSerialNumber)
@@ -126,5 +128,5 @@ func statHandle(h syscall.Handle, st *Stat_t) (err error) {
 	st.Atim = fi.LastAccessTime.Nanoseconds()
 	st.Mtim = fi.LastWriteTime.Nanoseconds()
 	st.Ctim = fi.CreationTime.Nanoseconds()
-	return
+	return st, nil
 }
diff --git a/internal/platform/wrap_windows.go b/internal/platform/wrap_windows.go
index 5b9399ff..ba7d4c8f 100644
--- a/internal/platform/wrap_windows.go
+++ b/internal/platform/wrap_windows.go
@@ -120,8 +120,8 @@ func (w *windowsWrappedFile) requireFile(op string, readOnly, isDir bool) error
 // getFileType caches the file type as this cannot change on an open file.
 func (w *windowsWrappedFile) getFileType() (fs.FileMode, error) {
 	if w.fileType == nil {
-		var st Stat_t
-		if err := StatFile(w.File, &st); err != nil {
+		st, err := StatFile(w.File)
+		if err != nil {
 			return 0, nil
 		}
 		ft := st.Mode & fs.ModeType
diff --git a/internal/sys/fs.go b/internal/sys/fs.go
index 21e8a642..5f87d783 100644
--- a/internal/sys/fs.go
+++ b/internal/sys/fs.go
@@ -190,8 +190,7 @@ type cachedStat struct {
 // they couldn't be retrieved.
 func (f *FileEntry) CachedStat() (ino uint64, fileType fs.FileMode, err error) {
 	if f.cachedStat == nil {
-		var st platform.Stat_t
-		if err = f.Stat(&st); err != nil {
+		if _, err = f.Stat(); err != nil {
 			return
 		}
 	}
@@ -199,14 +198,14 @@ func (f *FileEntry) CachedStat() (ino uint64, fileType fs.FileMode, err error) {
 }
 
 // Stat returns the underlying stat of this file.
-func (f *FileEntry) Stat(st *platform.Stat_t) (err error) {
+func (f *FileEntry) Stat() (st platform.Stat_t, err error) {
 	if ld, ok := f.File.(*lazyDir); ok {
 		var sf fs.File
 		if sf, err = ld.file(); err == nil {
-			err = platform.StatFile(sf, st)
+			st, err = platform.StatFile(sf)
 		}
 	} else {
-		err = platform.StatFile(f.File, st)
+		st, err = platform.StatFile(f.File)
 	}
 
 	if err == nil {
diff --git a/internal/sys/sys_test.go b/internal/sys/sys_test.go
index a000c422..b2dbab68 100644
--- a/internal/sys/sys_test.go
+++ b/internal/sys/sys_test.go
@@ -88,8 +88,8 @@ func TestFileEntry_cachedStat(t *testing.T) {
 	dirFS := sysfs.NewDirFS(tmpDir)
 
 	// get the expected inode
-	var st platform.Stat_t
-	require.NoError(t, platform.Stat(tmpDir, &st))
+	st, err := platform.Stat(tmpDir)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	tests := []struct {
 		name        string
diff --git a/internal/sysfs/adapter.go b/internal/sysfs/adapter.go
index cb398d6c..cc5b253c 100644
--- a/internal/sysfs/adapter.go
+++ b/internal/sysfs/adapter.go
@@ -51,18 +51,18 @@ func (a *adapter) OpenFile(path string, flag int, perm fs.FileMode) (fs.File, er
 }
 
 // Stat implements FS.Stat
-func (a *adapter) Stat(path string, stat *platform.Stat_t) error {
+func (a *adapter) Stat(path string) (platform.Stat_t, error) {
 	name := cleanPath(path)
 	f, err := a.fs.Open(name)
 	if err != nil {
-		return platform.UnwrapOSError(err)
+		return platform.Stat_t{}, platform.UnwrapOSError(err)
 	}
 	defer f.Close()
-	return platform.StatFile(f, stat)
+	return platform.StatFile(f)
 }
 
 // Lstat implements FS.Lstat
-func (a *adapter) Lstat(path string, stat *platform.Stat_t) error {
+func (a *adapter) Lstat(path string) (platform.Stat_t, error) {
 	// At this time, we make the assumption that fs.FS instances do not support
 	// symbolic links, therefore Lstat is the same as Stat. This is obviously
 	// not true but until fs.FS has a solid story for how to handle symlinks we
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ func (a *adapter) Lstat(path string, stat *platform.Stat_t) error {
 	//
 	// For further discussions on the topic, see:
 	// https://github.com/golang/go/issues/49580
-	return a.Stat(path, stat)
+	return a.Stat(path)
 }
 
 func cleanPath(name string) string {
diff --git a/internal/sysfs/adapter_test.go b/internal/sysfs/adapter_test.go
index 85f7c575..75aa7c7e 100644
--- a/internal/sysfs/adapter_test.go
+++ b/internal/sysfs/adapter_test.go
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/tetratelabs/wazero/internal/fstest"
-	"github.com/tetratelabs/wazero/internal/platform"
 	"github.com/tetratelabs/wazero/internal/testing/require"
 )
 
@@ -126,8 +125,8 @@ func TestAdapt_Lstat(t *testing.T) {
 		fullPath := joinPath(tmpDir, path)
 		linkPath := joinPath(tmpDir, path+"-link")
 		require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(fullPath, linkPath))
-		var stat platform.Stat_t
-		require.NoError(t, testFS.Lstat(filepath.Base(linkPath), &stat))
+		_, err := testFS.Lstat(filepath.Base(linkPath))
+		require.NoError(t, err)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/sysfs/dirfs.go b/internal/sysfs/dirfs.go
index 81281780..e209a8aa 100644
--- a/internal/sysfs/dirfs.go
+++ b/internal/sysfs/dirfs.go
@@ -46,13 +46,13 @@ func (d *dirFS) OpenFile(path string, flag int, perm fs.FileMode) (fs.File, erro
 }
 
 // Lstat implements FS.Lstat
-func (d *dirFS) Lstat(path string, stat *platform.Stat_t) error {
-	return platform.Lstat(d.join(path), stat)
+func (d *dirFS) Lstat(path string) (platform.Stat_t, error) {
+	return platform.Lstat(d.join(path))
 }
 
 // Stat implements FS.Stat
-func (d *dirFS) Stat(path string, stat *platform.Stat_t) error {
-	return platform.Stat(d.join(path), stat)
+func (d *dirFS) Stat(path string) (platform.Stat_t, error) {
+	return platform.Stat(d.join(path))
 }
 
 // Mkdir implements FS.Mkdir
diff --git a/internal/sysfs/dirfs_test.go b/internal/sysfs/dirfs_test.go
index 07576113..8da4fcb5 100644
--- a/internal/sysfs/dirfs_test.go
+++ b/internal/sysfs/dirfs_test.go
@@ -140,9 +140,9 @@ func testChmod(t *testing.T, testFS FS, path string) {
 }
 
 func requireMode(t *testing.T, testFS FS, path string, mode fs.FileMode) {
-	var stat platform.Stat_t
-	require.NoError(t, testFS.Stat(path, &stat))
-	require.Equal(t, mode, stat.Mode.Perm())
+	st, err := testFS.Stat(path)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, mode, st.Mode.Perm())
 }
 
 func TestDirFS_Rename(t *testing.T) {
@@ -638,8 +638,8 @@ func TestDirFS_Utimesns(t *testing.T) {
 					panic(tc)
 				}
 
-				var oldSt platform.Stat_t
-				require.NoError(t, testFS.Lstat(statPath, &oldSt))
+				oldSt, err := testFS.Lstat(statPath)
+				require.NoError(t, err)
 
 				err = testFS.Utimens(path, tc.times, !symlinkNoFollow)
 				if symlinkNoFollow && !platform.SupportsSymlinkNoFollow {
@@ -648,8 +648,8 @@ func TestDirFS_Utimesns(t *testing.T) {
 				}
 				require.NoError(t, err)
 
-				var newSt platform.Stat_t
-				require.NoError(t, testFS.Lstat(statPath, &newSt))
+				newSt, err := testFS.Lstat(statPath)
+				require.NoError(t, err)
 
 				if platform.CompilerSupported() {
 					if tc.times != nil && tc.times[0].Nsec == platform.UTIME_OMIT {
@@ -711,8 +711,8 @@ func TestDirFS_Stat(t *testing.T) {
 			name := `e:xperi\ment.txt`
 			require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(path.Join(tmpDir, name), nil, 0o600))
 
-			var st platform.Stat_t
-			require.NoError(t, testFS.Stat(name, &st))
+			_, err := testFS.Stat(name)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
 		})
 	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/sysfs/readfs.go b/internal/sysfs/readfs.go
index ec1accd7..1d18a9d0 100644
--- a/internal/sysfs/readfs.go
+++ b/internal/sysfs/readfs.go
@@ -141,13 +141,13 @@ func maskForReads(f fs.File) fs.File {
 }
 
 // Lstat implements FS.Lstat
-func (r *readFS) Lstat(path string, lstat *platform.Stat_t) error {
-	return r.fs.Lstat(path, lstat)
+func (r *readFS) Lstat(path string) (platform.Stat_t, error) {
+	return r.fs.Lstat(path)
 }
 
 // Stat implements FS.Stat
-func (r *readFS) Stat(path string, stat *platform.Stat_t) error {
-	return r.fs.Stat(path, stat)
+func (r *readFS) Stat(path string) (platform.Stat_t, error) {
+	return r.fs.Stat(path)
 }
 
 // Readlink implements FS.Readlink
diff --git a/internal/sysfs/rootfs.go b/internal/sysfs/rootfs.go
index e6720a16..3a9ff181 100644
--- a/internal/sysfs/rootfs.go
+++ b/internal/sysfs/rootfs.go
@@ -192,11 +192,10 @@ func (d *openRootDir) readDir() (err error) {
 }
 
 func (d *openRootDir) rootEntry(name string, fsI int) (fs.DirEntry, error) {
-	var stat platform.Stat_t
-	if err := d.c.fs[fsI].Stat(".", &stat); err != nil {
+	if st, err := d.c.fs[fsI].Stat("."); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	} else {
-		return &dirInfo{name, &stat}, nil
+		return &dirInfo{name, st}, nil
 	}
 }
 
@@ -206,7 +205,7 @@ type dirInfo struct {
 	// directory is masked. For example, we don't want to leak the underlying
 	// host directory name.
 	name string
-	stat *platform.Stat_t
+	stat platform.Stat_t
 }
 
 func (i *dirInfo) Name() string               { return i.name }
@@ -247,15 +246,15 @@ func (d *openRootDir) ReadDir(count int) ([]fs.DirEntry, error) {
 }
 
 // Lstat implements FS.Lstat
-func (c *CompositeFS) Lstat(path string, stat *platform.Stat_t) error {
+func (c *CompositeFS) Lstat(path string) (platform.Stat_t, error) {
 	matchIndex, relativePath := c.chooseFS(path)
-	return c.fs[matchIndex].Lstat(relativePath, stat)
+	return c.fs[matchIndex].Lstat(relativePath)
 }
 
 // Stat implements FS.Stat
-func (c *CompositeFS) Stat(path string, stat *platform.Stat_t) error {
+func (c *CompositeFS) Stat(path string) (platform.Stat_t, error) {
 	matchIndex, relativePath := c.chooseFS(path)
-	return c.fs[matchIndex].Stat(relativePath, stat)
+	return c.fs[matchIndex].Stat(relativePath)
 }
 
 // Mkdir implements FS.Mkdir
diff --git a/internal/sysfs/sysfs.go b/internal/sysfs/sysfs.go
index 71865e9c..e677c120 100644
--- a/internal/sysfs/sysfs.go
+++ b/internal/sysfs/sysfs.go
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ type FS interface {
 	//     same value.
 	//   - When the path is a symbolic link, the stat returned is for the link,
 	//     not the file it refers to.
-	Lstat(path string, stat *platform.Stat_t) error
+	Lstat(path string) (platform.Stat_t, error)
 
 	// Stat is similar to syscall.Stat, except the path is relative to this
 	// file system.
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ type FS interface {
 	//     same value.
 	//   - When the path is a symbolic link, the stat returned is for the file
 	//     it refers to.
-	Stat(path string, stat *platform.Stat_t) error
+	Stat(path string) (platform.Stat_t, error)
 
 	// Mkdir is similar to os.Mkdir, except the path is relative to this file
 	// system, and syscall.Errno are returned instead of a os.PathError.
diff --git a/internal/sysfs/sysfs_test.go b/internal/sysfs/sysfs_test.go
index c1bc5e9b..aef35713 100644
--- a/internal/sysfs/sysfs_test.go
+++ b/internal/sysfs/sysfs_test.go
@@ -71,8 +71,8 @@ func testOpen_O_RDWR(t *testing.T, tmpDir string, testFS FS) {
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			defer f.Close()
 
-			var st platform.Stat_t
-			require.NoError(t, platform.StatFile(f, &st))
+			_, err = platform.StatFile(f)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
 		})
 	}
 }
@@ -263,84 +263,90 @@ human
 }
 
 func testLstat(t *testing.T, testFS FS) {
-	var stat platform.Stat_t
-	require.EqualErrno(t, syscall.ENOENT, testFS.Lstat("cat", &stat))
-	require.EqualErrno(t, syscall.ENOENT, testFS.Lstat("sub/cat", &stat))
+	_, err := testFS.Lstat("cat")
+	require.EqualErrno(t, syscall.ENOENT, err)
+	_, err = testFS.Lstat("sub/cat")
+	require.EqualErrno(t, syscall.ENOENT, err)
+
+	var st platform.Stat_t
 
 	t.Run("dir", func(t *testing.T) {
-		err := testFS.Lstat(".", &stat)
+		st, err = testFS.Lstat(".")
 		require.NoError(t, err)
-		require.True(t, stat.Mode.IsDir())
-		require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), stat.Ino)
+		require.True(t, st.Mode.IsDir())
+		require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), st.Ino)
 	})
 
-	var statFile platform.Stat_t
+	var stFile platform.Stat_t
 
 	t.Run("file", func(t *testing.T) {
-		require.NoError(t, testFS.Lstat("animals.txt", &statFile))
-		require.Zero(t, statFile.Mode.Type())
-		require.Equal(t, int64(30), statFile.Size)
-		require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), stat.Ino)
+		stFile, err = testFS.Lstat("animals.txt")
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.Zero(t, stFile.Mode.Type())
+		require.Equal(t, int64(30), stFile.Size)
+		require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), st.Ino)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("link to file", func(t *testing.T) {
-		requireLinkStat(t, testFS, "animals.txt", &statFile)
+		requireLinkStat(t, testFS, "animals.txt", stFile)
 	})
 
-	var statSubdir platform.Stat_t
+	var stSubdir platform.Stat_t
 	t.Run("subdir", func(t *testing.T) {
-		require.NoError(t, testFS.Lstat("sub", &statSubdir))
-		require.True(t, statSubdir.Mode.IsDir())
-		require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), stat.Ino)
+		stSubdir, err = testFS.Lstat("sub")
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.True(t, stSubdir.Mode.IsDir())
+		require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), st.Ino)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("link to dir", func(t *testing.T) {
-		requireLinkStat(t, testFS, "sub", &statSubdir)
+		requireLinkStat(t, testFS, "sub", stSubdir)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("link to dir link", func(t *testing.T) {
 		pathLink := "sub-link"
-		var statLink platform.Stat_t
-		require.NoError(t, testFS.Lstat(pathLink, &statLink))
+		stLink, err := testFS.Lstat(pathLink)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
 
-		requireLinkStat(t, testFS, pathLink, &statLink)
+		requireLinkStat(t, testFS, pathLink, stLink)
 	})
 }
 
-func requireLinkStat(t *testing.T, testFS FS, path string, stat *platform.Stat_t) {
+func requireLinkStat(t *testing.T, testFS FS, path string, stat platform.Stat_t) {
 	link := path + "-link"
-	var linkStat platform.Stat_t
-	require.NoError(t, testFS.Lstat(link, &linkStat))
-	require.NotEqual(t, stat.Ino, linkStat.Ino) // inodes are not equal
-	require.Equal(t, fs.ModeSymlink, linkStat.Mode.Type())
+	stLink, err := testFS.Lstat(link)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NotEqual(t, stat.Ino, stLink.Ino) // inodes are not equal
+	require.Equal(t, fs.ModeSymlink, stLink.Mode.Type())
 	// From https://linux.die.net/man/2/lstat:
 	// The size of a symbolic link is the length of the pathname it
 	// contains, without a terminating null byte.
 	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" { // size is zero, not the path length
-		require.Zero(t, linkStat.Size)
+		require.Zero(t, stLink.Size)
 	} else {
-		require.Equal(t, int64(len(path)), linkStat.Size)
+		require.Equal(t, int64(len(path)), stLink.Size)
 	}
 }
 
 func testStat(t *testing.T, testFS FS) {
-	var stat platform.Stat_t
-	require.EqualErrno(t, syscall.ENOENT, testFS.Stat("cat", &stat))
-	require.EqualErrno(t, syscall.ENOENT, testFS.Stat("sub/cat", &stat))
+	_, err := testFS.Stat("cat")
+	require.EqualErrno(t, syscall.ENOENT, err)
+	_, err = testFS.Stat("sub/cat")
+	require.EqualErrno(t, syscall.ENOENT, err)
 
-	err := testFS.Stat("sub/test.txt", &stat)
+	st, err := testFS.Stat("sub/test.txt")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.False(t, stat.Mode.IsDir())
-	require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), stat.Dev)
-	require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), stat.Ino)
+	require.False(t, st.Mode.IsDir())
+	require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), st.Dev)
+	require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), st.Ino)
 
-	err = testFS.Stat("sub", &stat)
+	st, err = testFS.Stat("sub")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.True(t, stat.Mode.IsDir())
+	require.True(t, st.Mode.IsDir())
 	// windows before go 1.20 has trouble reading the inode information on directories.
 	if runtime.GOOS != "windows" || platform.IsGo120 {
-		require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), stat.Dev)
-		require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), stat.Ino)
+		require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), st.Dev)
+		require.NotEqual(t, uint64(0), st.Ino)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/sysfs/unsupported.go b/internal/sysfs/unsupported.go
index 8aa21dae..7e5a4bc7 100644
--- a/internal/sysfs/unsupported.go
+++ b/internal/sysfs/unsupported.go
@@ -27,13 +27,13 @@ func (UnimplementedFS) OpenFile(path string, flag int, perm fs.FileMode) (fs.Fil
 }
 
 // Lstat implements FS.Lstat
-func (UnimplementedFS) Lstat(path string, stat *platform.Stat_t) error {
-	return syscall.ENOSYS
+func (UnimplementedFS) Lstat(path string) (platform.Stat_t, error) {
+	return platform.Stat_t{}, syscall.ENOSYS
 }
 
 // Stat implements FS.Stat
-func (UnimplementedFS) Stat(path string, stat *platform.Stat_t) error {
-	return syscall.ENOSYS
+func (UnimplementedFS) Stat(path string) (platform.Stat_t, error) {
+	return platform.Stat_t{}, syscall.ENOSYS
 }
 
 // Readlink implements FS.Readlink