diff --git a/reftable/generic.c b/reftable/generic.c
index b9f1c7c18a..1cf68fe124 100644
--- a/reftable/generic.c
+++ b/reftable/generic.c
@@ -12,25 +12,39 @@ license that can be found in the LICENSE file or at
 #include "reftable-iterator.h"
 #include "reftable-generic.h"
 
+void table_init_iter(struct reftable_table *tab,
+		     struct reftable_iterator *it,
+		     uint8_t typ)
+{
+
+	tab->ops->init_iter(tab->table_arg, it, typ);
+}
+
 int reftable_table_seek_ref(struct reftable_table *tab,
 			    struct reftable_iterator *it, const char *name)
 {
-	struct reftable_record rec = { .type = BLOCK_TYPE_REF,
-				       .u.ref = {
-					       .refname = (char *)name,
-				       } };
-	return tab->ops->seek_record(tab->table_arg, it, &rec);
+	struct reftable_record want = {
+		.type = BLOCK_TYPE_REF,
+		.u.ref = {
+			.refname = (char *)name,
+		},
+	};
+	table_init_iter(tab, it, BLOCK_TYPE_REF);
+	return it->ops->seek(it->iter_arg, &want);
 }
 
 int reftable_table_seek_log(struct reftable_table *tab,
 			    struct reftable_iterator *it, const char *name)
 {
-	struct reftable_record rec = { .type = BLOCK_TYPE_LOG,
-				       .u.log = {
-					       .refname = (char *)name,
-					       .update_index = ~((uint64_t)0),
-				       } };
-	return tab->ops->seek_record(tab->table_arg, it, &rec);
+	struct reftable_record want = {
+		.type = BLOCK_TYPE_LOG,
+		.u.log = {
+			.refname = (char *)name,
+			.update_index = ~((uint64_t)0),
+		},
+	};
+	table_init_iter(tab, it, BLOCK_TYPE_LOG);
+	return it->ops->seek(it->iter_arg, &want);
 }
 
 int reftable_table_read_ref(struct reftable_table *tab, const char *name,
@@ -152,11 +166,21 @@ int reftable_iterator_next_log(struct reftable_iterator *it,
 	return err;
 }
 
+int iterator_seek(struct reftable_iterator *it, struct reftable_record *want)
+{
+	return it->ops->seek(it->iter_arg, want);
+}
+
 int iterator_next(struct reftable_iterator *it, struct reftable_record *rec)
 {
 	return it->ops->next(it->iter_arg, rec);
 }
 
+static int empty_iterator_seek(void *arg, struct reftable_record *want)
+{
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static int empty_iterator_next(void *arg, struct reftable_record *rec)
 {
 	return 1;
@@ -167,6 +191,7 @@ static void empty_iterator_close(void *arg)
 }
 
 static struct reftable_iterator_vtable empty_vtable = {
+	.seek = &empty_iterator_seek,
 	.next = &empty_iterator_next,
 	.close = &empty_iterator_close,
 };
diff --git a/reftable/generic.h b/reftable/generic.h
index 98886a0640..8341fa570e 100644
--- a/reftable/generic.h
+++ b/reftable/generic.h
@@ -14,19 +14,24 @@ license that can be found in the LICENSE file or at
 
 /* generic interface to reftables */
 struct reftable_table_vtable {
-	int (*seek_record)(void *tab, struct reftable_iterator *it,
-			   struct reftable_record *);
+	void (*init_iter)(void *tab, struct reftable_iterator *it, uint8_t typ);
 	uint32_t (*hash_id)(void *tab);
 	uint64_t (*min_update_index)(void *tab);
 	uint64_t (*max_update_index)(void *tab);
 };
 
+void table_init_iter(struct reftable_table *tab,
+		     struct reftable_iterator *it,
+		     uint8_t typ);
+
 struct reftable_iterator_vtable {
+	int (*seek)(void *iter_arg, struct reftable_record *want);
 	int (*next)(void *iter_arg, struct reftable_record *rec);
 	void (*close)(void *iter_arg);
 };
 
 void iterator_set_empty(struct reftable_iterator *it);
+int iterator_seek(struct reftable_iterator *it, struct reftable_record *want);
 int iterator_next(struct reftable_iterator *it, struct reftable_record *rec);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/reftable/iter.c b/reftable/iter.c
index aa9ac199b1..b4528fab47 100644
--- a/reftable/iter.c
+++ b/reftable/iter.c
@@ -23,6 +23,13 @@ static void filtering_ref_iterator_close(void *iter_arg)
 	reftable_iterator_destroy(&fri->it);
 }
 
+static int filtering_ref_iterator_seek(void *iter_arg,
+				       struct reftable_record *want)
+{
+	struct filtering_ref_iterator *fri = iter_arg;
+	return iterator_seek(&fri->it, want);
+}
+
 static int filtering_ref_iterator_next(void *iter_arg,
 				       struct reftable_record *rec)
 {
@@ -73,6 +80,7 @@ static int filtering_ref_iterator_next(void *iter_arg,
 }
 
 static struct reftable_iterator_vtable filtering_ref_iterator_vtable = {
+	.seek = &filtering_ref_iterator_seek,
 	.next = &filtering_ref_iterator_next,
 	.close = &filtering_ref_iterator_close,
 };
@@ -119,6 +127,12 @@ static int indexed_table_ref_iter_next_block(struct indexed_table_ref_iter *it)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static int indexed_table_ref_iter_seek(void *p, struct reftable_record *want)
+{
+	BUG("seeking indexed table is not supported");
+	return -1;
+}
+
 static int indexed_table_ref_iter_next(void *p, struct reftable_record *rec)
 {
 	struct indexed_table_ref_iter *it = p;
@@ -175,6 +189,7 @@ int new_indexed_table_ref_iter(struct indexed_table_ref_iter **dest,
 }
 
 static struct reftable_iterator_vtable indexed_table_ref_iter_vtable = {
+	.seek = &indexed_table_ref_iter_seek,
 	.next = &indexed_table_ref_iter_next,
 	.close = &indexed_table_ref_iter_close,
 };
diff --git a/reftable/merged.c b/reftable/merged.c
index 18a2a6f09b..fc7946d90d 100644
--- a/reftable/merged.c
+++ b/reftable/merged.c
@@ -31,12 +31,18 @@ struct merged_iter {
 };
 
 static void merged_iter_init(struct merged_iter *mi,
-			     struct reftable_merged_table *mt)
+			     struct reftable_merged_table *mt,
+			     uint8_t typ)
 {
 	memset(mi, 0, sizeof(*mi));
 	mi->advance_index = -1;
 	mi->suppress_deletions = mt->suppress_deletions;
+
 	REFTABLE_CALLOC_ARRAY(mi->subiters, mt->stack_len);
+	for (size_t i = 0; i < mt->stack_len; i++) {
+		reftable_record_init(&mi->subiters[i].rec, typ);
+		table_init_iter(&mt->stack[i], &mi->subiters[i].iter, typ);
+	}
 	mi->stack_len = mt->stack_len;
 }
 
@@ -68,6 +74,27 @@ static int merged_iter_advance_subiter(struct merged_iter *mi, size_t idx)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static int merged_iter_seek(struct merged_iter *mi, struct reftable_record *want)
+{
+	int err;
+
+	mi->advance_index = -1;
+
+	for (size_t i = 0; i < mi->stack_len; i++) {
+		err = iterator_seek(&mi->subiters[i].iter, want);
+		if (err < 0)
+			return err;
+		if (err > 0)
+			continue;
+
+		err = merged_iter_advance_subiter(mi, i);
+		if (err < 0)
+			return err;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static int merged_iter_next_entry(struct merged_iter *mi,
 				  struct reftable_record *rec)
 {
@@ -133,6 +160,11 @@ static int merged_iter_next_entry(struct merged_iter *mi,
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static int merged_iter_seek_void(void *it, struct reftable_record *want)
+{
+	return merged_iter_seek(it, want);
+}
+
 static int merged_iter_next_void(void *p, struct reftable_record *rec)
 {
 	struct merged_iter *mi = p;
@@ -147,6 +179,7 @@ static int merged_iter_next_void(void *p, struct reftable_record *rec)
 }
 
 static struct reftable_iterator_vtable merged_iter_vtable = {
+	.seek = merged_iter_seek_void,
 	.next = &merged_iter_next_void,
 	.close = &merged_iter_close,
 };
@@ -220,47 +253,13 @@ reftable_merged_table_min_update_index(struct reftable_merged_table *mt)
 	return mt->min;
 }
 
-static int reftable_table_seek_record(struct reftable_table *tab,
-				      struct reftable_iterator *it,
-				      struct reftable_record *rec)
+static void merged_table_init_iter(struct reftable_merged_table *mt,
+				   struct reftable_iterator *it,
+				   uint8_t typ)
 {
-	return tab->ops->seek_record(tab->table_arg, it, rec);
-}
-
-static int merged_table_seek_record(struct reftable_merged_table *mt,
-				    struct reftable_iterator *it,
-				    struct reftable_record *rec)
-{
-	struct merged_iter merged, *p;
-	int err;
-
-	merged_iter_init(&merged, mt);
-
-	for (size_t i = 0; i < mt->stack_len; i++) {
-		reftable_record_init(&merged.subiters[i].rec,
-				     reftable_record_type(rec));
-
-		err = reftable_table_seek_record(&mt->stack[i],
-						 &merged.subiters[i].iter, rec);
-		if (err < 0)
-			goto out;
-		if (err > 0)
-			continue;
-
-		err = merged_iter_advance_subiter(&merged, i);
-		if (err < 0)
-			goto out;
-	}
-
-	p = reftable_malloc(sizeof(*p));
-	*p = merged;
-	iterator_from_merged_iter(it, p);
-	err = 0;
-
-out:
-	if (err < 0)
-		merged_iter_close(&merged);
-	return err;
+	struct merged_iter *mi = reftable_malloc(sizeof(*mi));
+	merged_iter_init(mi, mt, typ);
+	iterator_from_merged_iter(it, mi);
 }
 
 int reftable_merged_table_seek_ref(struct reftable_merged_table *mt,
@@ -273,7 +272,8 @@ int reftable_merged_table_seek_ref(struct reftable_merged_table *mt,
 			.refname = (char *)name,
 		},
 	};
-	return merged_table_seek_record(mt, it, &rec);
+	merged_table_init_iter(mt, it, BLOCK_TYPE_REF);
+	return iterator_seek(it, &rec);
 }
 
 int reftable_merged_table_seek_log_at(struct reftable_merged_table *mt,
@@ -285,7 +285,8 @@ int reftable_merged_table_seek_log_at(struct reftable_merged_table *mt,
 					       .refname = (char *)name,
 					       .update_index = update_index,
 				       } };
-	return merged_table_seek_record(mt, it, &rec);
+	merged_table_init_iter(mt, it, BLOCK_TYPE_LOG);
+	return iterator_seek(it, &rec);
 }
 
 int reftable_merged_table_seek_log(struct reftable_merged_table *mt,
@@ -301,11 +302,11 @@ uint32_t reftable_merged_table_hash_id(struct reftable_merged_table *mt)
 	return mt->hash_id;
 }
 
-static int reftable_merged_table_seek_void(void *tab,
-					   struct reftable_iterator *it,
-					   struct reftable_record *rec)
+static void reftable_merged_table_init_iter_void(void *tab,
+						 struct reftable_iterator *it,
+						 uint8_t typ)
 {
-	return merged_table_seek_record(tab, it, rec);
+	merged_table_init_iter(tab, it, typ);
 }
 
 static uint32_t reftable_merged_table_hash_id_void(void *tab)
@@ -324,7 +325,7 @@ static uint64_t reftable_merged_table_max_update_index_void(void *tab)
 }
 
 static struct reftable_table_vtable merged_table_vtable = {
-	.seek_record = reftable_merged_table_seek_void,
+	.init_iter = reftable_merged_table_init_iter_void,
 	.hash_id = reftable_merged_table_hash_id_void,
 	.min_update_index = reftable_merged_table_min_update_index_void,
 	.max_update_index = reftable_merged_table_max_update_index_void,
diff --git a/reftable/reader.c b/reftable/reader.c
index 021608f638..a5a13cb0b9 100644
--- a/reftable/reader.c
+++ b/reftable/reader.c
@@ -369,29 +369,6 @@ static int table_iter_next(struct table_iter *ti, struct reftable_record *rec)
 	}
 }
 
-static int table_iter_next_void(void *ti, struct reftable_record *rec)
-{
-	return table_iter_next(ti, rec);
-}
-
-static void table_iter_close_void(void *ti)
-{
-	table_iter_close(ti);
-}
-
-static struct reftable_iterator_vtable table_iter_vtable = {
-	.next = &table_iter_next_void,
-	.close = &table_iter_close_void,
-};
-
-static void iterator_from_table_iter(struct reftable_iterator *it,
-				     struct table_iter *ti)
-{
-	assert(!it->ops);
-	it->iter_arg = ti;
-	it->ops = &table_iter_vtable;
-}
-
 static int table_iter_seek_to(struct table_iter *ti, uint64_t off, uint8_t typ)
 {
 	int err;
@@ -576,43 +553,74 @@ static int table_iter_seek_indexed(struct table_iter *ti,
 	return err;
 }
 
-static int reader_seek(struct reftable_reader *r, struct reftable_iterator *it,
-		       struct reftable_record *rec)
+static int table_iter_seek(struct table_iter *ti,
+			   struct reftable_record *want)
 {
-	uint8_t typ = reftable_record_type(rec);
-	struct reftable_reader_offsets *offs = reader_offsets_for(r, typ);
-	struct table_iter ti, *p;
+	uint8_t typ = reftable_record_type(want);
+	struct reftable_reader_offsets *offs = reader_offsets_for(ti->r, typ);
 	int err;
 
-	if (!offs->is_present) {
-		iterator_set_empty(it);
-		return 0;
-	}
-
-	table_iter_init(&ti, r);
-
-	err = table_iter_seek_start(&ti, reftable_record_type(rec),
+	err = table_iter_seek_start(ti, reftable_record_type(want),
 				    !!offs->index_offset);
 	if (err < 0)
 		goto out;
 
 	if (offs->index_offset)
-		err = table_iter_seek_indexed(&ti, rec);
+		err = table_iter_seek_indexed(ti, want);
 	else
-		err = table_iter_seek_linear(&ti, rec);
+		err = table_iter_seek_linear(ti, want);
 	if (err)
 		goto out;
 
-	REFTABLE_ALLOC_ARRAY(p, 1);
-	*p = ti;
-	iterator_from_table_iter(it, p);
-
 out:
-	if (err)
-		table_iter_close(&ti);
 	return err;
 }
 
+static int table_iter_seek_void(void *ti, struct reftable_record *want)
+{
+	return table_iter_seek(ti, want);
+}
+
+static int table_iter_next_void(void *ti, struct reftable_record *rec)
+{
+	return table_iter_next(ti, rec);
+}
+
+static void table_iter_close_void(void *ti)
+{
+	table_iter_close(ti);
+}
+
+static struct reftable_iterator_vtable table_iter_vtable = {
+	.seek = &table_iter_seek_void,
+	.next = &table_iter_next_void,
+	.close = &table_iter_close_void,
+};
+
+static void iterator_from_table_iter(struct reftable_iterator *it,
+				     struct table_iter *ti)
+{
+	assert(!it->ops);
+	it->iter_arg = ti;
+	it->ops = &table_iter_vtable;
+}
+
+static void reader_init_iter(struct reftable_reader *r,
+			     struct reftable_iterator *it,
+			     uint8_t typ)
+{
+	struct reftable_reader_offsets *offs = reader_offsets_for(r, typ);
+
+	if (offs->is_present) {
+		struct table_iter *ti;
+		REFTABLE_ALLOC_ARRAY(ti, 1);
+		table_iter_init(ti, r);
+		iterator_from_table_iter(it, ti);
+	} else {
+		iterator_set_empty(it);
+	}
+}
+
 int reftable_reader_seek_ref(struct reftable_reader *r,
 			     struct reftable_iterator *it, const char *name)
 {
@@ -622,19 +630,23 @@ int reftable_reader_seek_ref(struct reftable_reader *r,
 			.refname = (char *)name,
 		},
 	};
-	return reader_seek(r, it, &rec);
+	reader_init_iter(r, it, BLOCK_TYPE_REF);
+	return iterator_seek(it, &rec);
 }
 
 int reftable_reader_seek_log_at(struct reftable_reader *r,
 				struct reftable_iterator *it, const char *name,
 				uint64_t update_index)
 {
-	struct reftable_record rec = { .type = BLOCK_TYPE_LOG,
-				       .u.log = {
-					       .refname = (char *)name,
-					       .update_index = update_index,
-				       } };
-	return reader_seek(r, it, &rec);
+	struct reftable_record rec = {
+		.type = BLOCK_TYPE_LOG,
+		.u.log = {
+			.refname = (char *)name,
+			.update_index = update_index,
+		},
+	};
+	reader_init_iter(r, it, BLOCK_TYPE_LOG);
+	return iterator_seek(it, &rec);
 }
 
 int reftable_reader_seek_log(struct reftable_reader *r,
@@ -692,7 +704,8 @@ static int reftable_reader_refs_for_indexed(struct reftable_reader *r,
 	struct indexed_table_ref_iter *itr = NULL;
 
 	/* Look through the reverse index. */
-	err = reader_seek(r, &oit, &want);
+	reader_init_iter(r, &oit, BLOCK_TYPE_OBJ);
+	err = iterator_seek(&oit, &want);
 	if (err != 0)
 		goto done;
 
@@ -773,10 +786,11 @@ uint64_t reftable_reader_min_update_index(struct reftable_reader *r)
 
 /* generic table interface. */
 
-static int reftable_reader_seek_void(void *tab, struct reftable_iterator *it,
-				     struct reftable_record *rec)
+static void reftable_reader_init_iter_void(void *tab,
+					   struct reftable_iterator *it,
+					   uint8_t typ)
 {
-	return reader_seek(tab, it, rec);
+	reader_init_iter(tab, it, typ);
 }
 
 static uint32_t reftable_reader_hash_id_void(void *tab)
@@ -795,7 +809,7 @@ static uint64_t reftable_reader_max_update_index_void(void *tab)
 }
 
 static struct reftable_table_vtable reader_vtable = {
-	.seek_record = reftable_reader_seek_void,
+	.init_iter = reftable_reader_init_iter_void,
 	.hash_id = reftable_reader_hash_id_void,
 	.min_update_index = reftable_reader_min_update_index_void,
 	.max_update_index = reftable_reader_max_update_index_void,