diff --git a/include/laik/backend.h b/include/laik/backend.h
index b88fd27e..8fda8785 100644
--- a/include/laik/backend.h
+++ b/include/laik/backend.h
@@ -85,6 +85,8 @@ struct _Laik_Backend {
   // for elasticity: removal of processes which got started in a previous
   // resize is finished. They can be marked as dead and resources freed
   void (*finish_resize)();
+
+  Laik_Allocator* (*allocator)();
 };
 
 
diff --git a/src/data.c b/src/data.c
index fb077bdc..aa30c09b 100644
--- a/src/data.c
+++ b/src/data.c
@@ -156,6 +156,18 @@ void laik_switchstat_free(Laik_SwitchStat* ss, uint64_t bytes)
 
 static int data_id = 0;
 
+// get backend specific allocator
+static Laik_Allocator* allocator(Laik_Instance* inst, Laik_Data* d)
+{
+    (void)d;
+    Laik_Allocator* (*create)();
+    create = inst->backend->allocator;
+
+    assert(laik_allocator_def);
+
+    return create ? create() : laik_allocator_def;
+}
+
 Laik_Data* laik_new_data(Laik_Space* space, Laik_Type* type)
 {
     Laik_Data* d = malloc(sizeof(Laik_Data));
@@ -177,7 +189,8 @@ Laik_Data* laik_new_data(Laik_Space* space, Laik_Type* type)
     d->activePartitioning = 0;
     d->activeMappings = 0;
     assert(laik_allocator_def);
-    d->allocator = laik_allocator_def; // malloc/free + reuse if possible
+    d->allocator = allocator(space->inst, d); // malloc/free + reuse if possible
+    assert(d->allocator);
     d->layout_factory = laik_new_layout_lex; // by default, use lex layouts
     d->stat = laik_newSwitchStat();