diff --git a/inst/include/cpp11/protect.hpp b/inst/include/cpp11/protect.hpp
index 9cb4876a..259b7065 100644
--- a/inst/include/cpp11/protect.hpp
+++ b/inst/include/cpp11/protect.hpp
@@ -281,26 +281,20 @@ inline SEXP insert(SEXP x) {
     return R_NilValue;
   }
 
-  PROTECT(x);
-
   SEXP list = get();
 
   // Get references to the head of the preserve list and the next element
-  // after the head
   SEXP head = list;
   SEXP next = CDR(list);
 
-  // Add a new cell that points to the current head + next.
-  SEXP cell = PROTECT(Rf_cons(head, next));
+  // Create the new cell
+  SEXP cell = Rf_cons(head, next);
   SET_TAG(cell, x);
 
-  // Update the head + next to point at the newly-created cell,
-  // effectively inserting that cell between the current head + next.
+  // Update the list structure
   SETCDR(head, cell);
   SETCAR(next, cell);
 
-  UNPROTECT(2);
-
   return cell;
 }
 
diff --git a/inst/include/cpp11/r_vector.hpp b/inst/include/cpp11/r_vector.hpp
index 576f4fe6..0381f388 100644
--- a/inst/include/cpp11/r_vector.hpp
+++ b/inst/include/cpp11/r_vector.hpp
@@ -1320,16 +1320,17 @@ inline typename r_vector<T>::iterator r_vector<T>::iterator::operator+(R_xlen_t
 template <typename T>
 inline SEXP r_vector<T>::reserve_data(SEXP x, bool is_altrep, R_xlen_t size) {
   // Resize core data
-  SEXP out = PROTECT(resize_data(x, is_altrep, size));
+  SEXP out = resize_data(x, is_altrep, size);
 
   // Resize names, if required
-  // Protection seems needed to make rchk happy
-  SEXP names = PROTECT(Rf_getAttrib(x, R_NamesSymbol));
+  SEXP names = Rf_getAttrib(x, R_NamesSymbol);
   if (names != R_NilValue) {
     if (Rf_xlength(names) != size) {
-      names = resize_names(names, size);
+      SEXP new_names = resize_names(names, size);
+      Rf_setAttrib(out, R_NamesSymbol, new_names);
+    } else {
+      Rf_setAttrib(out, R_NamesSymbol, names);
     }
-    Rf_setAttrib(out, R_NamesSymbol, names);
   }
 
   // Copy over "most" attributes, and set OBJECT bit and S4 bit as needed.
@@ -1338,8 +1339,6 @@ inline SEXP r_vector<T>::reserve_data(SEXP x, bool is_altrep, R_xlen_t size) {
   // as this is a vector.
   // Does not look like it would ever error in our use cases, so no `safe[]`.
   Rf_copyMostAttrib(x, out);
-
-  UNPROTECT(2);
   return out;
 }
 
@@ -1347,7 +1346,7 @@ template <typename T>
 inline SEXP r_vector<T>::resize_data(SEXP x, bool is_altrep, R_xlen_t size) {
   underlying_type const* v_x = get_const_p(is_altrep, x);
 
-  SEXP out = PROTECT(safe[Rf_allocVector](get_sexptype(), size));
+  SEXP out = safe[Rf_allocVector](get_sexptype(), size);
   underlying_type* v_out = get_p(ALTREP(out), out);
 
   const R_xlen_t x_size = Rf_xlength(x);
@@ -1364,21 +1363,18 @@ inline SEXP r_vector<T>::resize_data(SEXP x, bool is_altrep, R_xlen_t size) {
     }
   }
 
-  UNPROTECT(1);
   return out;
 }
 
 template <typename T>
 inline SEXP r_vector<T>::resize_names(SEXP x, R_xlen_t size) {
-  const SEXP* v_x = STRING_PTR_RO(x);
-
-  SEXP out = PROTECT(safe[Rf_allocVector](STRSXP, size));
+  SEXP out = safe[Rf_allocVector](STRSXP, size);
 
   const R_xlen_t x_size = Rf_xlength(x);
   const R_xlen_t copy_size = (x_size > size) ? size : x_size;
 
   for (R_xlen_t i = 0; i < copy_size; ++i) {
-    SET_STRING_ELT(out, i, v_x[i]);
+    SET_STRING_ELT(out, i, STRING_ELT(x, i));
   }
 
   // Ensure remaining names are initialized to `""`
@@ -1386,7 +1382,6 @@ inline SEXP r_vector<T>::resize_names(SEXP x, R_xlen_t size) {
     SET_STRING_ELT(out, i, R_BlankString);
   }
 
-  UNPROTECT(1);
   return out;
 }