diff --git a/ext/rubydex/declaration.c b/ext/rubydex/declaration.c
index 3f8366fe..e36e70c1 100644
--- a/ext/rubydex/declaration.c
+++ b/ext/rubydex/declaration.c
@@ -59,20 +59,10 @@ VALUE rdxi_declaration_class_for_kind(CDeclarationKind kind) {
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_declaration_name(VALUE self) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
     const char *name = rdx_declaration_name(graph, data->id);
 
-    if (name == NULL) {
-        return Qnil;
-    }
-
-    VALUE str = rb_utf8_str_new_cstr(name);
-    free_c_string(name);
-
-    return str;
+    return rdxi_owned_c_string_to_ruby(name);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -83,20 +73,10 @@ static VALUE rdxr_declaration_name(VALUE self) {
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_declaration_unqualified_name(VALUE self) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
     const char *name = rdx_declaration_unqualified_name(graph, data->id);
 
-    if (name == NULL) {
-        return Qnil;
-    }
-
-    VALUE str = rb_utf8_str_new_cstr(name);
-    free_c_string(name);
-
-    return str;
+    return rdxi_owned_c_string_to_ruby(name);
 }
 
 // Body function for rb_ensure in Declaration#definitions
@@ -130,10 +110,7 @@ static VALUE declaration_definitions_ensure(VALUE args) {
 // Size function for the Declaration#definitions enumerator
 static VALUE declaration_definitions_size(VALUE self, VALUE _args, VALUE _eobj) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
     struct DefinitionsIter *iter = rdx_declaration_definitions_iter_new(graph, data->id);
     size_t len = rdx_definitions_iter_len(iter);
     rdx_definitions_iter_free(iter);
@@ -153,10 +130,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_declaration_definitions(VALUE self) {
     }
 
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     void *iter = rdx_declaration_definitions_iter_new(graph, data->id);
     VALUE args = rb_ary_new_from_args(2, self, ULL2NUM((uintptr_t)iter));
@@ -173,10 +147,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_declaration_definitions(VALUE self) {
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_declaration_member(VALUE self, VALUE name) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     if (TYPE(name) != T_STRING) {
         rb_raise(rb_eTypeError, "expected String");
@@ -217,10 +188,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_declaration_find_member(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self) {
     }
 
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     const CDeclaration *decl = rdx_declaration_find_member(graph, data->id, StringValueCStr(member), only_inherited);
     if (decl == NULL) {
@@ -242,10 +210,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_declaration_find_member(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self) {
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_declaration_singleton_class(VALUE self) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
     const CDeclaration *decl = rdx_declaration_singleton_class(graph, data->id);
 
     if (decl == NULL) {
@@ -267,10 +232,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_declaration_singleton_class(VALUE self) {
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_declaration_owner(VALUE self) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
     const CDeclaration *decl = rdx_declaration_owner(graph, data->id);
 
     if (decl == NULL) {
@@ -296,10 +258,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_declaration_ancestors(VALUE self) {
     }
 
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     void *iter = rdx_declaration_ancestors(graph, data->id);
     if (iter == NULL) {
@@ -324,10 +283,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_declaration_descendants(VALUE self) {
     }
 
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     void *iter = rdx_declaration_descendants(graph, data->id);
     if (iter == NULL) {
@@ -352,10 +308,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_declaration_members(VALUE self) {
     }
 
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     void *iter = rdx_declaration_members(graph, data->id);
     if (iter == NULL) {
@@ -371,10 +324,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_declaration_members(VALUE self) {
 // Size function for constant declaration references enumerator
 static VALUE constant_declaration_references_size(VALUE self, VALUE _args, VALUE _eobj) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     struct ConstantReferencesIter *iter = rdx_declaration_constant_references_iter_new(graph, data->id);
     if (iter == NULL) {
@@ -399,10 +349,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_constant_declaration_references(VALUE self) {
     }
 
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     void *iter = rdx_declaration_constant_references_iter_new(graph, data->id);
     if (iter == NULL) {
@@ -418,10 +365,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_constant_declaration_references(VALUE self) {
 // Size function for method declaration references enumerator
 static VALUE method_declaration_references_size(VALUE self, VALUE _args, VALUE _eobj) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     struct MethodReferencesIter *iter = rdx_declaration_method_references_iter_new(graph, data->id);
     if (iter == NULL) {
@@ -446,10 +390,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_method_declaration_references(VALUE self) {
     }
 
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     void *iter = rdx_declaration_method_references_iter_new(graph, data->id);
     if (iter == NULL) {
@@ -493,10 +434,7 @@ static VALUE rdxi_visibility_to_symbol(CVisibility visibility) {
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_declaration_visibility(VALUE self) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     const CVisibility *visibility = rdx_graph_visibility(graph, data->id);
     if (visibility == NULL) {
@@ -518,10 +456,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_declaration_visibility(VALUE self) {
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_constant_alias_target(VALUE self) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     const CDeclaration *decl = rdx_constant_alias_target(graph, data->id);
     if (decl == NULL) {
diff --git a/ext/rubydex/definition.c b/ext/rubydex/definition.c
index 58bd4ac7..a302083c 100644
--- a/ext/rubydex/definition.c
+++ b/ext/rubydex/definition.c
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include "signature.h"
 #include "ruby/internal/scan_args.h"
 #include "rustbindings.h"
+#include "utils.h"
 
 /*
  * RDoc parser workaround for https://github.com/ruby/rdoc/issues/1744:
@@ -84,10 +85,7 @@ VALUE rdxi_definition_class_for_kind(DefinitionKind kind) {
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_definition_location(VALUE self) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     Location *loc = rdx_definition_location(graph, data->id);
     VALUE location = rdxi_build_location_value(loc);
@@ -104,10 +102,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_definition_location(VALUE self) {
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_definition_comments(VALUE self) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     CommentArray *arr = rdx_definition_comments(graph, data->id);
     if (arr == NULL || arr->len == 0) {
@@ -147,18 +142,10 @@ static VALUE rdxr_definition_comments(VALUE self) {
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_definition_name(VALUE self) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     const char *name = rdx_definition_name(graph, data->id);
-    if (name == NULL) {
-        return Qnil;
-    }
-    VALUE str = rb_utf8_str_new_cstr(name);
-    free_c_string(name);
-    return str;
+    return rdxi_owned_c_string_to_ruby(name);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -169,10 +156,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_definition_name(VALUE self) {
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_definition_deprecated(VALUE self) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     bool deprecated = rdx_definition_is_deprecated(graph, data->id);
     return deprecated ? Qtrue : Qfalse;
@@ -187,10 +171,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_definition_deprecated(VALUE self) {
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_definition_name_location(VALUE self) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     Location *loc = rdx_definition_name_location(graph, data->id);
     if (loc == NULL) {
@@ -210,10 +191,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_definition_name_location(VALUE self) {
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_definition_declaration(VALUE self) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     const struct CDeclaration *decl = rdx_definition_declaration(graph, data->id);
     if (decl == NULL) {
@@ -243,10 +221,7 @@ static VALUE rdxi_build_definition(VALUE graph_obj, void *graph, uint64_t defini
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_definition_lexical_owner(VALUE self) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     const uint64_t *owner_id = rdx_definition_lexical_nesting_id(graph, data->id);
     if (owner_id == NULL) {
@@ -267,10 +242,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_definition_lexical_owner(VALUE self) {
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_definition_lexical_nesting(VALUE self) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     VALUE nesting = rb_ary_new();
     uint64_t definition_id = data->id;
@@ -306,10 +278,7 @@ static VALUE rdxi_build_constant_reference(VALUE graph_obj, const CConstantRefer
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_class_definition_superclass(VALUE self) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     const CConstantReference *ref = rdx_class_definition_superclass(graph, data->id);
     if (ref == NULL) {
@@ -342,10 +311,7 @@ static VALUE rdxi_mixin_class_for_kind(MixinKind kind) {
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_definition_mixins(VALUE self) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     MixinsIter *iter = rdx_definition_mixins(graph, data->id);
     if (iter == NULL) {
@@ -375,10 +341,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_definition_mixins(VALUE self) {
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_method_definition_signatures(VALUE self) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     SignatureArray *arr = rdx_definition_signatures(graph, data->id);
     return rdxi_signatures_to_ruby(arr);
@@ -392,10 +355,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_method_definition_signatures(VALUE self) {
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_method_alias_definition_signatures(VALUE self) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     SignatureArray *arr = rdx_method_alias_definition_signatures(graph, data->id);
     return rdxi_signatures_to_ruby(arr);
@@ -410,10 +370,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_method_alias_definition_signatures(VALUE self) {
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_method_alias_definition_target(VALUE self) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     CMethodAliasTargetResult result = rdx_method_alias_definition_target(graph, data->id);
 
diff --git a/ext/rubydex/document.c b/ext/rubydex/document.c
index 615463c1..8a7e5c93 100644
--- a/ext/rubydex/document.c
+++ b/ext/rubydex/document.c
@@ -20,20 +20,10 @@ VALUE cDocument;
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_document_uri(VALUE self) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
     const char *uri = rdx_document_uri(graph, data->id);
 
-    if (uri == NULL) {
-        return Qnil;
-    }
-
-    VALUE str = rb_utf8_str_new_cstr(uri);
-    free_c_string(uri);
-
-    return str;
+    return rdxi_owned_c_string_to_ruby(uri);
 }
 
 // Body function for rb_ensure in Document#definitions
@@ -66,10 +56,7 @@ static VALUE document_definitions_ensure(VALUE args) {
 // Size function for the Document#definitions enumerator
 static VALUE document_definitions_size(VALUE self, VALUE _args, VALUE _eobj) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
     struct DefinitionsIter *iter = rdx_document_definitions_iter_new(graph, data->id);
     size_t len = rdx_definitions_iter_len(iter);
     rdx_definitions_iter_free(iter);
@@ -89,10 +76,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_document_definitions(VALUE self) {
     }
 
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
     void *iter = rdx_document_definitions_iter_new(graph, data->id);
     VALUE args = rb_ary_new_from_args(2, self, ULL2NUM((uintptr_t)iter));
     rb_ensure(document_definitions_yield, args, document_definitions_ensure, args);
@@ -103,10 +87,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_document_definitions(VALUE self) {
 // Size function for the Document#method_references enumerator
 static VALUE document_method_references_size(VALUE self, VALUE _args, VALUE _eobj) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
     struct MethodReferencesIter *iter = rdx_document_method_references_iter_new(graph, data->id);
     size_t len = rdx_method_references_iter_len(iter);
     rdx_method_references_iter_free(iter);
@@ -123,10 +104,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_document_method_references(VALUE self) {
     }
 
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
     void *iter = rdx_document_method_references_iter_new(graph, data->id);
     VALUE args = rb_ary_new_from_args(2, data->graph_obj, ULL2NUM((uintptr_t)iter));
     rb_ensure(rdxi_method_references_yield, args, rdxi_method_references_ensure, args);
diff --git a/ext/rubydex/graph.c b/ext/rubydex/graph.c
index 4eb79eae..96174f5b 100644
--- a/ext/rubydex/graph.c
+++ b/ext/rubydex/graph.c
@@ -843,8 +843,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_graph_workspace_path(VALUE self) {
         rb_raise(rb_eRuntimeError, "Converting workspace path to Ruby string failed");
     }
 
-    VALUE path = rb_utf8_str_new_cstr(result);
-    free_c_string(result);
+    VALUE path = rdxi_owned_c_string_to_ruby(result);
     return path;
 }
 
diff --git a/ext/rubydex/handle.h b/ext/rubydex/handle.h
index dba57acd..cfd82c19 100644
--- a/ext/rubydex/handle.h
+++ b/ext/rubydex/handle.h
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #ifndef RUBYDEX_HANDLE_H
 #define RUBYDEX_HANDLE_H
 
+#include "graph.h"
 #include "ruby.h"
 
 typedef struct {
@@ -34,6 +35,18 @@ static const rb_data_type_t handle_type = {
     .flags = RUBY_TYPED_FREE_IMMEDIATELY,
 };
 
+static inline void *rdxi_graph_from_handle(VALUE self, HandleData **out_data) {
+    HandleData *data;
+    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
+
+    void *graph;
+    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+
+    *out_data = data;
+
+    return graph;
+}
+
 static VALUE rdxr_handle_alloc(VALUE klass) {
     HandleData *data = ALLOC(HandleData);
 
diff --git a/ext/rubydex/reference.c b/ext/rubydex/reference.c
index bf0a656a..8d7e6c67 100644
--- a/ext/rubydex/reference.c
+++ b/ext/rubydex/reference.c
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include "handle.h"
 #include "location.h"
 #include "rustbindings.h"
+#include "utils.h"
 
 /*
  * RDoc parser workaround for https://github.com/ruby/rdoc/issues/1744:
@@ -24,19 +25,10 @@ VALUE cMethodReference;
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_constant_reference_name(VALUE self) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     const char *name = rdx_constant_reference_name(graph, data->id);
-    if (name == NULL) {
-        return Qnil;
-    }
-
-    VALUE str = rb_utf8_str_new_cstr(name);
-    free_c_string(name);
-    return str;
+    return rdxi_owned_c_string_to_ruby(name);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -47,10 +39,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_constant_reference_name(VALUE self) {
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_constant_reference_location(VALUE self) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     Location *loc = rdx_constant_reference_location(graph, data->id);
     VALUE location = rdxi_build_location_value(loc);
@@ -66,19 +55,10 @@ static VALUE rdxr_constant_reference_location(VALUE self) {
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_method_reference_name(VALUE self) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     const char *name = rdx_method_reference_name(graph, data->id);
-    if (name == NULL) {
-        return Qnil;
-    }
-
-    VALUE str = rb_utf8_str_new_cstr(name);
-    free_c_string(name);
-    return str;
+    return rdxi_owned_c_string_to_ruby(name);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -89,10 +69,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_method_reference_name(VALUE self) {
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_method_reference_location(VALUE self) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     Location *loc = rdx_method_reference_location(graph, data->id);
     VALUE location = rdxi_build_location_value(loc);
@@ -109,10 +86,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_method_reference_location(VALUE self) {
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_method_reference_receiver(VALUE self) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     const struct CDeclaration *decl = rdx_method_reference_receiver_declaration(graph, data->id);
     if (decl == NULL) {
@@ -134,10 +108,7 @@ static VALUE rdxr_method_reference_receiver(VALUE self) {
  */
 static VALUE rdxr_resolved_constant_reference_declaration(VALUE self) {
     HandleData *data;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(self, HandleData, &handle_type, data);
-
-    void *graph;
-    TypedData_Get_Struct(data->graph_obj, void *, &graph_type, graph);
+    void *graph = rdxi_graph_from_handle(self, &data);
 
     const struct CDeclaration *decl = rdx_resolved_constant_reference_declaration(graph, data->id);
     if (decl == NULL) {
diff --git a/ext/rubydex/utils.c b/ext/rubydex/utils.c
index 5860a8dd..bf046e86 100644
--- a/ext/rubydex/utils.c
+++ b/ext/rubydex/utils.c
@@ -39,6 +39,19 @@ void rdxi_check_array_of_strings(VALUE array) {
     }
 }
 
+// Convert a Rust-owned C string to a Ruby string and release it with free_c_string.
+// Returns nil when the Rust side returned NULL.
+VALUE rdxi_owned_c_string_to_ruby(const char *string) {
+    if (string == NULL) {
+        return Qnil;
+    }
+
+    VALUE value = rb_utf8_str_new_cstr(string);
+    free_c_string(string);
+
+    return value;
+}
+
 // Yield body for iterating over declarations
 VALUE rdxi_declarations_yield(VALUE args) {
     VALUE self = rb_ary_entry(args, 0);
diff --git a/ext/rubydex/utils.h b/ext/rubydex/utils.h
index 627ce477..9a72646c 100644
--- a/ext/rubydex/utils.h
+++ b/ext/rubydex/utils.h
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ void rdxi_free_str_array(char **array, size_t length);
 // Verify that the Ruby object is an array of strings or raise `TypeError`
 void rdxi_check_array_of_strings(VALUE array);
 
+// Convert a Rust-owned C string to a Ruby string and release it with free_c_string.
+// Returns nil when the Rust side returned NULL.
+VALUE rdxi_owned_c_string_to_ruby(const char *string);
+
 // Yield body for iterating over declarations
 VALUE rdxi_declarations_yield(VALUE args);