diff --git a/blockheader.go b/blockheader.go
index 2b74fcc9..12b53013 100644
--- a/blockheader.go
+++ b/blockheader.go
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ func readBlockHeader(r io.Reader, pver uint32, bh *BlockHeader) error {
 // writeBlockHeader writes a bitcoin block header to w.
 func writeBlockHeader(w io.Writer, pver uint32, bh *BlockHeader) error {
 	sec := uint32(bh.Timestamp.Unix())
-	err := writeElements(w, bh.Version, bh.PrevBlock, bh.MerkleRoot,
+	err := writeElements(w, bh.Version, &bh.PrevBlock, &bh.MerkleRoot,
 		sec, bh.Bits, bh.Nonce)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/common.go b/common.go
index 4822db07..299b9f6f 100644
--- a/common.go
+++ b/common.go
@@ -17,9 +17,7 @@ import (
 const maxVarIntPayload = 9
 
 // readElement reads the next sequence of bytes from r using little endian
-// depending on the concrete type of element pointed to.  It also accepts a
-// scratch buffer that is used for the primitive values rather than creating
-// a new buffer on every call.
+// depending on the concrete type of element pointed to.
 func readElement(r io.Reader, element interface{}) error {
 	var scratch [8]byte
 
@@ -140,6 +138,106 @@ func readElements(r io.Reader, elements ...interface{}) error {
 
 // writeElement writes the little endian representation of element to w.
 func writeElement(w io.Writer, element interface{}) error {
+	var scratch [8]byte
+
+	// Attempt to read the element based on the concrete type via fast
+	// type assertions first.
+	switch e := element.(type) {
+	case int32:
+		b := scratch[0:4]
+		binary.LittleEndian.PutUint32(b, uint32(e))
+		_, err := w.Write(b)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		return nil
+
+	case uint32:
+		b := scratch[0:4]
+		binary.LittleEndian.PutUint32(b, e)
+		_, err := w.Write(b)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		return nil
+
+	case int64:
+		b := scratch[0:8]
+		binary.LittleEndian.PutUint64(b, uint64(e))
+		_, err := w.Write(b)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		return nil
+
+	case uint64:
+		b := scratch[0:8]
+		binary.LittleEndian.PutUint64(b, e)
+		_, err := w.Write(b)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		return nil
+
+	// Message header checksum.
+	case [4]byte:
+		_, err := w.Write(e[:])
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		return nil
+
+	// Message header command.
+	case [commandSize]uint8:
+		_, err := w.Write(e[:])
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		return nil
+
+	// IP address.
+	case [16]byte:
+		_, err := w.Write(e[:])
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		return nil
+
+	case *ShaHash:
+		_, err := w.Write(e[:])
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		return nil
+
+	case ServiceFlag:
+		b := scratch[0:8]
+		binary.LittleEndian.PutUint64(b, uint64(e))
+		_, err := w.Write(b)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		return nil
+
+	case InvType:
+		b := scratch[0:4]
+		binary.LittleEndian.PutUint32(b, uint32(e))
+		_, err := w.Write(b)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		return nil
+
+	case BitcoinNet:
+		b := scratch[0:4]
+		binary.LittleEndian.PutUint32(b, uint32(e))
+		_, err := w.Write(b)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	return binary.Write(w, binary.LittleEndian, element)
 }
 
diff --git a/invvect.go b/invvect.go
index 1cac91b5..a45cfbde 100644
--- a/invvect.go
+++ b/invvect.go
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ func readInvVect(r io.Reader, pver uint32, iv *InvVect) error {
 
 // writeInvVect serializes an InvVect to w depending on the protocol version.
 func writeInvVect(w io.Writer, pver uint32, iv *InvVect) error {
-	err := writeElements(w, iv.Type, iv.Hash)
+	err := writeElements(w, iv.Type, &iv.Hash)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/msggetblocks.go b/msggetblocks.go
index 9f083630..848fe159 100644
--- a/msggetblocks.go
+++ b/msggetblocks.go
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ func (msg *MsgGetBlocks) BtcEncode(w io.Writer, pver uint32) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	err = writeElement(w, msg.HashStop)
+	err = writeElement(w, &msg.HashStop)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/msggetheaders.go b/msggetheaders.go
index b360203a..e0c91146 100644
--- a/msggetheaders.go
+++ b/msggetheaders.go
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ func (msg *MsgGetHeaders) BtcEncode(w io.Writer, pver uint32) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	err = writeElement(w, msg.HashStop)
+	err = writeElement(w, &msg.HashStop)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}