@@ -100,10 +100,11 @@
 	return &enc
 }
 
 type encoder struct {
 	target    io.Writer
+	buffer    [2]byte
 	remaining byte
 	length    byte
 }
 
 // Implements io.Writer
@@ -143,11 +144,11 @@
 		}
 
 		// Clearing e.length is not necessary as it will be overwritten later
 
 		// Stage the complete byte for writing
-		buffer := make([]byte, 1, 2)
+		buffer := e.buffer[:1]
 		buffer[0] = byte(e.remaining)
 
 		// Stage every full byte from the encoded value for writing
 		//
 		// The bitlength of the largest encoded byte value, 255, is 13.