diff --git a/include/notcurses/notcurses.h b/include/notcurses/notcurses.h
index 6e9f91dc4..9a21b4db4 100644
--- a/include/notcurses/notcurses.h
+++ b/include/notcurses/notcurses.h
@@ -1355,18 +1355,7 @@ API char* ncplane_at_yx(const struct ncplane* n, int y, int x,
 
 // Retrieve the current contents of the specified cell into 'c'. This cell is
 // invalidated if the associated plane is destroyed.
-static inline int
-ncplane_at_yx_cell(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, nccell* c){
-  char* egc = ncplane_at_yx(n, y, x, &c->stylemask, &c->channels);
-  if(!egc){
-    return -1;
-  }
-  uint64_t channels = c->channels; // need to preserve wide flag
-  int r = cell_load(n, c, egc);
-  c->channels = channels;
-  free(egc);
-  return r;
-}
+API int ncplane_at_yx_cell(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, nccell* c);
 
 // Create a flat string from the EGCs of the selected region of the ncplane
 // 'n'. Start at the plane's 'begy'x'begx' coordinate (which must lie on the
diff --git a/src/demo/fallin.c b/src/demo/fallin.c
index e2235cbc7..3162f02c0 100644
--- a/src/demo/fallin.c
+++ b/src/demo/fallin.c
@@ -151,13 +151,8 @@ int fallin_demo(struct notcurses* nc){
           if(ncplane_at_yx_cell(stdn, usey, usex, &stdc) < 0){
             goto err;
           }
-          if(cell_prime(n, &c, cell_extended_gcluster(stdn, &stdc), stdc.stylemask, stdc.channels) < 0){
-            cell_release(stdn, &stdc);
-            goto err;
-          }
-          cell_release(stdn, &stdc);
           if(c.gcluster){
-            if(ncplane_putc_yx(n, usey - y, usex - x, &c) < 0){
+            if(ncplane_putc_yx(n, usey - y, usex - x, &stdc) < 0){
               // allow a fail if we were printing a wide char to the
               // last column of our plane
               if(!cell_double_wide_p(&c) || usex + 1 < x + newx){
@@ -166,7 +161,7 @@ int fallin_demo(struct notcurses* nc){
             }
           }
           usemap[usey * dimx + usex] = true;
-          cell_release(n, &c);
+          cell_release(n, &stdc);
         }
       }
       // shuffle the new ncplane into the array
diff --git a/src/lib/notcurses.c b/src/lib/notcurses.c
index 5c1af4b90..9e4a41cf5 100644
--- a/src/lib/notcurses.c
+++ b/src/lib/notcurses.c
@@ -235,6 +235,11 @@ char* ncplane_at_yx(const ncplane* n, int y, int x, uint16_t* stylemask, uint64_
   return ret;
 }
 
+int ncplane_at_yx_cell(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, nccell* c){
+  nccell* targ = ncplane_cell_ref_yx(n, y, x);
+  return cell_duplicate(n, c, targ);
+}
+
 void ncplane_dim_yx(const ncplane* n, int* rows, int* cols){
   if(rows){
     *rows = n->leny;