diff --git a/src/wasm_runtime/src/module.rs b/src/wasm_runtime/src/module.rs
index e3fa630..a030082 100644
--- a/src/wasm_runtime/src/module.rs
+++ b/src/wasm_runtime/src/module.rs
@@ -120,6 +120,39 @@ fn init_wasm_runtime() -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
     Ok(get_flatbuffer_result::<i32>(0))
 }
 
+// Helper function to handle common module loading logic after module creation
+fn instantiate_module(module: Module, engine: &Engine) -> Result<()> {
+    let linker = CUR_LINKER.lock();
+    let linker = linker.deref().as_ref().ok_or(HyperlightGuestError::new(
+        ErrorCode::GuestError,
+        "impossible: wasm runtime has no valid linker".to_string(),
+    ))?;
+
+    let mut store = Store::new(engine, ());
+    let instance = linker.instantiate(&mut store, &module)?;
+
+    // Module must export malloc and free as these
+    // are used to marshal param/return values
+    if instance.get_func(&mut store, "malloc").is_none() {
+        return Err(HyperlightGuestError::new(
+            ErrorCode::GuestError,
+            "WASM module must export 'malloc' function".to_string(),
+        ));
+    }
+
+    if instance.get_func(&mut store, "free").is_none() {
+        return Err(HyperlightGuestError::new(
+            ErrorCode::GuestError,
+            "WASM module must export 'free' function".to_string(),
+        ));
+    }
+
+    *CUR_MODULE.lock() = Some(module);
+    *CUR_STORE.lock() = Some(store);
+    *CUR_INSTANCE.lock() = Some(instance);
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 fn load_wasm_module(function_call: &FunctionCall) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
     if let (
         ParameterValue::VecBytes(ref wasm_bytes),
@@ -130,19 +163,8 @@ fn load_wasm_module(function_call: &FunctionCall) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
         &function_call.parameters.as_ref().unwrap()[1],
         &*CUR_ENGINE.lock(),
     ) {
-        let linker = CUR_LINKER.lock();
-        let linker = linker.deref().as_ref().ok_or(HyperlightGuestError::new(
-            ErrorCode::GuestError,
-            "impossible: wasm runtime has no valid linker".to_string(),
-        ))?;
-
         let module = unsafe { Module::deserialize(engine, wasm_bytes)? };
-        let mut store = Store::new(engine, ());
-        let instance = linker.instantiate(&mut store, &module)?;
-
-        *CUR_MODULE.lock() = Some(module);
-        *CUR_STORE.lock() = Some(store);
-        *CUR_INSTANCE.lock() = Some(instance);
+        instantiate_module(module, engine)?;
         Ok(get_flatbuffer_result::<i32>(0))
     } else {
         Err(HyperlightGuestError::new(
@@ -158,19 +180,8 @@ fn load_wasm_module_phys(function_call: &FunctionCall) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
         &function_call.parameters.as_ref().unwrap()[1],
         &*CUR_ENGINE.lock(),
     ) {
-        let linker = CUR_LINKER.lock();
-        let linker = linker.deref().as_ref().ok_or(HyperlightGuestError::new(
-            ErrorCode::GuestError,
-            "impossible: wasm runtime has no valid linker".to_string(),
-        ))?;
-
         let module = unsafe { Module::deserialize_raw(engine, platform::map_buffer(*phys, *len))? };
-        let mut store = Store::new(engine, ());
-        let instance = linker.instantiate(&mut store, &module)?;
-
-        *CUR_MODULE.lock() = Some(module);
-        *CUR_STORE.lock() = Some(store);
-        *CUR_INSTANCE.lock() = Some(instance);
+        instantiate_module(module, engine)?;
         Ok(get_flatbuffer_result::<()>(()))
     } else {
         Err(HyperlightGuestError::new(