diff --git a/src/kernel/block_allocator.h b/src/kernel/block_allocator.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f7a12fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/kernel/block_allocator.h
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+#pragma once
+/// \file block_allocator.h
+/// Definitions and functions for a generic block allocator
+
+#include <stddef.h>
+#include <util/vector.h>
+
+class block_allocator
+{
+public:
+    inline block_allocator(uintptr_t start, size_t size) :
+        m_next_block(start), m_block_size(size) {}
+
+    inline uintptr_t allocate() {
+        if (m_free.count() > 0)
+            return m_free.pop();
+        else
+            return __atomic_fetch_add(&m_next_block, m_block_size, __ATOMIC_SEQ_CST);
+    }
+
+    inline void free(uintptr_t p) { m_free.append(p); }
+    inline uintptr_t end() const { return m_next_block; }
+
+private:
+    uintptr_t m_next_block;
+    const size_t m_block_size;
+    util::vector<uintptr_t> m_free;
+};
diff --git a/src/kernel/objects/vm_area.cpp b/src/kernel/objects/vm_area.cpp
index 85318fd..51f757a 100644
--- a/src/kernel/objects/vm_area.cpp
+++ b/src/kernel/objects/vm_area.cpp
@@ -143,9 +143,8 @@ vm_area_open::get_page(uintptr_t offset, uintptr_t &phys)
 
 
 vm_area_guarded::vm_area_guarded(uintptr_t start, size_t buf_pages, size_t size, vm_flags flags) :
-    m_start {start},
-    m_pages {buf_pages},
-    m_next {mem::frame_size},
+    m_pages {buf_pages + 1}, // Sections are N+1 pages for the leading guard page
+    m_stacks {start, m_pages*mem::frame_size},
     vm_area_open {size, flags}
 {
 }
@@ -155,31 +154,26 @@ vm_area_guarded::~vm_area_guarded() {}
 uintptr_t
 vm_area_guarded::get_section()
 {
-    if (m_cache.count() > 0) {
-        return m_cache.pop();
-    }
-
-    uintptr_t addr = m_next;
-    m_next += (m_pages + 1) * mem::frame_size;
-    return m_start + addr;
+    // Account for the leading guard page
+    return m_stacks.allocate() + mem::frame_size;
 }
 
 void
 vm_area_guarded::return_section(uintptr_t addr)
 {
-    m_cache.append(addr);
+    // Account for the leading guard page
+    return m_stacks.free(addr - mem::frame_size);
 }
 
 bool
 vm_area_guarded::get_page(uintptr_t offset, uintptr_t &phys)
 {
-    if (offset > m_next)
+    if (offset >= m_stacks.end())
         return false;
 
-    // make sure this isn't in a guard page. (sections are
-    // m_pages big plus 1 leading guard page, so page 0 is
-    // invalid)
-    if ((offset >> 12) % (m_pages+1) == 0)
+    // make sure this isn't in a guard page. (sections have 1 leading
+    // guard page, so page 0 is invalid)
+    if ((offset >> 12) % m_pages == 0)
         return false;
 
     return vm_area_open::get_page(offset, phys);
diff --git a/src/kernel/objects/vm_area.h b/src/kernel/objects/vm_area.h
index 12f4ee7..926234b 100644
--- a/src/kernel/objects/vm_area.h
+++ b/src/kernel/objects/vm_area.h
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include <util/vector.h>
 #include <util/enum_bitfields.h>
 
+#include "block_allocator.h"
 #include "objects/kobject.h"
 
 class page_tree;
@@ -174,10 +175,8 @@ public:
     virtual bool get_page(uintptr_t offset, uintptr_t &phys) override;
 
 private:
-    util::vector<uintptr_t> m_cache;
-    uintptr_t m_start;
     size_t m_pages;
-    uintptr_t m_next;
+    block_allocator m_stacks;
 };
 
 } // namespace obj