diff --git a/common.c b/common.c
index cf950c8..a72453b 100644
--- a/common.c
+++ b/common.c
@@ -2010,7 +2010,7 @@ config_schema_call_changed (struct config_item *item)
 
 // - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 
-// XXX: this doesn't necessarily have to be well designed at all
+// XXX: the callbacks may be overdesigned and of little to no practical use
 
 typedef void (*config_module_load_fn)
 	(struct config_item *subtree, void *user_data);
@@ -2022,13 +2022,6 @@ struct config_module
 	void *user_data;                    ///< User data
 };
 
-static struct config_module *
-config_module_new ()
-{
-	struct config_module *self = xcalloc (1, sizeof *self);
-	return self;
-}
-
 static void
 config_module_destroy (struct config_module *self)
 {
@@ -2047,7 +2040,7 @@ config_init (struct config *self)
 {
 	memset (self, 0, sizeof *self);
 	str_map_init (&self->modules);
-	self->modules.free = (void (*) (void *)) config_module_destroy;
+	self->modules.free = (str_map_free_fn) config_module_destroy;
 }
 
 static void
@@ -2062,7 +2055,7 @@ static void
 config_register_module (struct config *self,
 	const char *name, config_module_load_fn loader, void *user_data)
 {
-	struct config_module *module = config_module_new ();
+	struct config_module *module = xcalloc (1, sizeof *module);
 	module->name = xstrdup (name);
 	module->loader = loader;
 	module->user_data = user_data;
@@ -2074,7 +2067,8 @@ static void
 config_load (struct config *self, struct config_item *root)
 {
 	hard_assert (root->type == CONFIG_ITEM_OBJECT);
-	if (self->root)  config_item_destroy (self->root);
+	if (self->root)
+		config_item_destroy (self->root);
 	self->root = root;
 
 	struct str_map_iter iter;