diff --git a/src/arb/ArbTypes.jl b/src/arb/ArbTypes.jl
index 59338cefb..cbe3b2969 100644
--- a/src/arb/ArbTypes.jl
+++ b/src/arb/ArbTypes.jl
@@ -821,8 +821,7 @@ mutable struct RealMat <: MatElem{RealFieldElem}
     z = RealMat(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:arb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{RealFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{RealMat}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _arb_set(el, arr[i, j])
       end
     end
@@ -833,8 +832,7 @@ mutable struct RealMat <: MatElem{RealFieldElem}
     z = RealMat(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:arb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{RealFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{RealMat}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _arb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j])
       end
     end
@@ -845,8 +843,7 @@ mutable struct RealMat <: MatElem{RealFieldElem}
     z = RealMat(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:arb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{RealFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{RealMat}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _arb_set(el, arr[i, j], prec)
       end
     end
@@ -857,8 +854,7 @@ mutable struct RealMat <: MatElem{RealFieldElem}
     z = RealMat(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:arb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{RealFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{RealMat}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _arb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j], prec)
       end
     end
@@ -913,8 +909,7 @@ mutable struct ArbMatrix <: MatElem{ArbFieldElem}
     z = ArbMatrix(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:arb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ArbFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{ArbMatrix}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _arb_set(el, arr[i, j])
       end
     end
@@ -925,8 +920,7 @@ mutable struct ArbMatrix <: MatElem{ArbFieldElem}
     z = ArbMatrix(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:arb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ArbFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{ArbMatrix}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _arb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j])
       end
     end
@@ -937,8 +931,7 @@ mutable struct ArbMatrix <: MatElem{ArbFieldElem}
     z = ArbMatrix(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:arb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ArbFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{ArbMatrix}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _arb_set(el, arr[i, j], prec)
       end
     end
@@ -949,8 +942,7 @@ mutable struct ArbMatrix <: MatElem{ArbFieldElem}
     z = ArbMatrix(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:arb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ArbFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{ArbMatrix}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _arb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j], prec)
       end
     end
@@ -1023,8 +1015,7 @@ mutable struct ComplexMat <: MatElem{ComplexFieldElem}
     z = ComplexMat(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{AcbFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{ComplexMat}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _acb_set(el, arr[i, j])
       end
     end
@@ -1035,8 +1026,7 @@ mutable struct ComplexMat <: MatElem{ComplexFieldElem}
     z = ComplexMat(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{AcbFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{ComplexMat}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _acb_set(el, arr[i, j])
       end
     end
@@ -1047,8 +1037,7 @@ mutable struct ComplexMat <: MatElem{ComplexFieldElem}
     z = ComplexMat(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{AcbFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{ComplexMat}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _acb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j])
       end
     end
@@ -1059,8 +1048,7 @@ mutable struct ComplexMat <: MatElem{ComplexFieldElem}
     z = ComplexMat(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{AcbFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{ComplexMat}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _acb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j])
       end
     end
@@ -1071,8 +1059,7 @@ mutable struct ComplexMat <: MatElem{ComplexFieldElem}
     z = ComplexMat(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{AcbFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{ComplexMat}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _acb_set(el, arr[i, j], prec)
       end
     end
@@ -1083,8 +1070,7 @@ mutable struct ComplexMat <: MatElem{ComplexFieldElem}
     z = ComplexMat(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ComplexFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{ComplexMat}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _acb_set(el, arr[i, j], prec)
       end
     end
@@ -1095,8 +1081,7 @@ mutable struct ComplexMat <: MatElem{ComplexFieldElem}
     z = ComplexMat(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ComplexFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{ComplexMat}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _acb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j], prec)
       end
     end
@@ -1107,8 +1092,7 @@ mutable struct ComplexMat <: MatElem{ComplexFieldElem}
     z = ComplexMat(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ComplexFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{ComplexMat}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _acb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j], prec)
       end
     end
@@ -1119,8 +1103,7 @@ mutable struct ComplexMat <: MatElem{ComplexFieldElem}
     z = ComplexMat(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ComplexFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{ComplexMat}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _acb_set(el, arr[i, j][1], arr[i,j][2], prec)
       end
     end
@@ -1131,8 +1114,7 @@ mutable struct ComplexMat <: MatElem{ComplexFieldElem}
     z = ComplexMat(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ComplexFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{ComplexMat}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _acb_set(el, arr[i, j][1], arr[i,j][2], prec)
       end
     end
@@ -1143,8 +1125,7 @@ mutable struct ComplexMat <: MatElem{ComplexFieldElem}
     z = ComplexMat(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ComplexFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{ComplexMat}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _acb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j][1], arr[(i-1)*c+j][2], prec)
       end
     end
@@ -1155,8 +1136,7 @@ mutable struct ComplexMat <: MatElem{ComplexFieldElem}
     z = ComplexMat(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ComplexFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{ComplexMat}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _acb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j][1], arr[(i-1)*c+j][2], prec)
       end
     end
@@ -1225,8 +1205,7 @@ mutable struct AcbMatrix <: MatElem{AcbFieldElem}
     z = AcbMatrix(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{AcbFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{AcbMatrix}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _acb_set(el, arr[i, j])
       end
     end
@@ -1237,8 +1216,7 @@ mutable struct AcbMatrix <: MatElem{AcbFieldElem}
     z = AcbMatrix(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{AcbFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{AcbMatrix}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _acb_set(el, arr[i, j])
       end
     end
@@ -1249,8 +1227,7 @@ mutable struct AcbMatrix <: MatElem{AcbFieldElem}
     z = AcbMatrix(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{AcbFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{AcbMatrix}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _acb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j])
       end
     end
@@ -1261,8 +1238,7 @@ mutable struct AcbMatrix <: MatElem{AcbFieldElem}
     z = AcbMatrix(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{AcbFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{AcbMatrix}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _acb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j])
       end
     end
@@ -1273,8 +1249,7 @@ mutable struct AcbMatrix <: MatElem{AcbFieldElem}
     z = AcbMatrix(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{AcbFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{AcbMatrix}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _acb_set(el, arr[i, j], prec)
       end
     end
@@ -1285,8 +1260,7 @@ mutable struct AcbMatrix <: MatElem{AcbFieldElem}
     z = AcbMatrix(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{AcbFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{AcbMatrix}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _acb_set(el, arr[i, j], prec)
       end
     end
@@ -1297,8 +1271,7 @@ mutable struct AcbMatrix <: MatElem{AcbFieldElem}
     z = AcbMatrix(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{AcbFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{AcbMatrix}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _acb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j], prec)
       end
     end
@@ -1309,8 +1282,7 @@ mutable struct AcbMatrix <: MatElem{AcbFieldElem}
     z = AcbMatrix(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{AcbFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{AcbMatrix}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _acb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j], prec)
       end
     end
@@ -1321,8 +1293,7 @@ mutable struct AcbMatrix <: MatElem{AcbFieldElem}
     z = AcbMatrix(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{AcbFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{AcbMatrix}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _acb_set(el, arr[i, j][1], arr[i,j][2], prec)
       end
     end
@@ -1333,8 +1304,7 @@ mutable struct AcbMatrix <: MatElem{AcbFieldElem}
     z = AcbMatrix(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{AcbFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{AcbMatrix}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _acb_set(el, arr[i, j][1], arr[i,j][2], prec)
       end
     end
@@ -1345,8 +1315,7 @@ mutable struct AcbMatrix <: MatElem{AcbFieldElem}
     z = AcbMatrix(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{AcbFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{AcbMatrix}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _acb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j][1], arr[(i-1)*c+j][2], prec)
       end
     end
@@ -1357,8 +1326,7 @@ mutable struct AcbMatrix <: MatElem{AcbFieldElem}
     z = AcbMatrix(r, c)
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
-        el = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{AcbFieldElem},
-                   (Ref{AcbMatrix}, Int, Int), z, i - 1, j - 1)
+        el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
         _acb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j][1], arr[(i-1)*c+j][2], prec)
       end
     end
diff --git a/src/arb/ComplexMat.jl b/src/arb/ComplexMat.jl
index 14e11cc16..2070e5b7f 100644
--- a/src/arb/ComplexMat.jl
+++ b/src/arb/ComplexMat.jl
@@ -29,8 +29,7 @@ dense_matrix_type(::Type{ComplexFieldElem}) = ComplexMat
 
 function getindex!(z::ComplexFieldElem, x::ComplexMat, r::Int, c::Int)
   GC.@preserve x begin
-    v = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ComplexFieldElem},
-              (Ref{ComplexMat}, Int, Int), x, r - 1, c - 1)
+    v = mat_entry_ptr(x, r, c)
     ccall((:acb_set, libflint), Nothing, (Ref{ComplexFieldElem}, Ptr{ComplexFieldElem}), z, v)
   end
   return z
@@ -41,8 +40,7 @@ end
 
   z = base_ring(x)()
   GC.@preserve x begin
-    v = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ComplexFieldElem},
-              (Ref{ComplexMat}, Int, Int), x, r - 1, c - 1)
+    v = mat_entry_ptr(x, r, c)
     ccall((:acb_set, libflint), Nothing, (Ref{ComplexFieldElem}, Ptr{ComplexFieldElem}), z, v)
   end
   return z
@@ -54,8 +52,7 @@ for T in [Integer, Float64, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, RealFieldElem, BigFloat, Co
       @boundscheck _checkbounds(x, r, c)
 
       GC.@preserve x begin
-        z = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ComplexFieldElem},
-                  (Ref{ComplexMat}, Int, Int), x, r - 1, c - 1)
+        z = mat_entry_ptr(x, r, c)
         _acb_set(z, y, precision(Balls))
       end
     end
@@ -72,8 +69,7 @@ for T in [Integer, Float64, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, RealFieldElem, BigFloat, Ab
       @boundscheck _checkbounds(x, r, c)
 
       GC.@preserve x begin
-        z = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ComplexFieldElem},
-                  (Ref{ComplexMat}, Int, Int), x, r - 1, c - 1)
+        z = mat_entry_ptr(x, r, c)
         _acb_set(z, y[1], y[2], precision(Balls))
       end
     end
@@ -900,6 +896,18 @@ function identity_matrix(R::ComplexField, n::Int)
   return z
 end
 
+################################################################################
+#
+#  Entry pointers
+#
+################################################################################
+
+@inline mat_entry_ptr(A::ComplexMat, i::Int, j::Int) = 
+ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), 
+      Ptr{ComplexFieldElem}, (Ref{ComplexMat}, Int, Int), A, i-1, j-1)
+
+
+
 ###############################################################################
 #
 #   Promotions
diff --git a/src/arb/RealMat.jl b/src/arb/RealMat.jl
index eb0f09b0c..3424c3cc5 100644
--- a/src/arb/RealMat.jl
+++ b/src/arb/RealMat.jl
@@ -29,8 +29,7 @@ dense_matrix_type(::Type{RealFieldElem}) = RealMat
 
 function getindex!(z::ArbFieldElem, x::RealMat, r::Int, c::Int)
   GC.@preserve x begin
-    v = ccall((:arb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{RealFieldElem},
-              (Ref{RealMat}, Int, Int), x, r - 1, c - 1)
+    v = mat_entry_ptr(x, r, c)
     ccall((:arb_set, libflint), Nothing, (Ref{RealFieldElem}, Ptr{RealFieldElem}), z, v)
   end
   return z
@@ -41,8 +40,7 @@ end
 
   z = base_ring(x)()
   GC.@preserve x begin
-    v = ccall((:arb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{RealFieldElem},
-              (Ref{RealMat}, Int, Int), x, r - 1, c - 1)
+    v = mat_entry_ptr(x, r, c)
     ccall((:arb_set, libflint), Nothing, (Ref{RealFieldElem}, Ptr{RealFieldElem}), z, v)
   end
   return z
@@ -54,8 +52,7 @@ for T in [Int, UInt, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, Float64, BigFloat, RealFieldElem,
       @boundscheck _checkbounds(x, r, c)
 
       GC.@preserve x begin
-        z = ccall((:arb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{RealFieldElem},
-                  (Ref{RealMat}, Int, Int), x, r - 1, c - 1)
+        z = mat_entry_ptr(x, r, c)
         _arb_set(z, y, precision(Balls))
       end
     end
@@ -790,6 +787,16 @@ function identity_matrix(R::RealField, n::Int)
   return z
 end
 
+################################################################################
+#
+#  Entry pointers
+#
+################################################################################
+
+@inline mat_entry_ptr(A::RealMat, i::Int, j::Int) = 
+ccall((:arb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), 
+      Ptr{RealFieldElem}, (Ref{RealMat}, Int, Int), A, i-1, j-1)
+
 ###############################################################################
 #
 #   Promotions
diff --git a/src/arb/acb_mat.jl b/src/arb/acb_mat.jl
index 2654a3c89..53b95bdb1 100644
--- a/src/arb/acb_mat.jl
+++ b/src/arb/acb_mat.jl
@@ -32,8 +32,7 @@ precision(x::AcbMatSpace) = precision(base_ring(x))
 
 function getindex!(z::AcbFieldElem, x::AcbMatrix, r::Int, c::Int)
   GC.@preserve x begin
-    v = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{AcbFieldElem},
-              (Ref{AcbMatrix}, Int, Int), x, r - 1, c - 1)
+    v = mat_entry_ptr(x, r, c)
     ccall((:acb_set, libflint), Nothing, (Ref{AcbFieldElem}, Ptr{AcbFieldElem}), z, v)
   end
   return z
@@ -44,8 +43,7 @@ end
 
   z = base_ring(x)()
   GC.@preserve x begin
-    v = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{AcbFieldElem},
-              (Ref{AcbMatrix}, Int, Int), x, r - 1, c - 1)
+    v = mat_entry_ptr(x, r, c)
     ccall((:acb_set, libflint), Nothing, (Ref{AcbFieldElem}, Ptr{AcbFieldElem}), z, v)
   end
   return z
@@ -57,8 +55,7 @@ for T in [Integer, Float64, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, ArbFieldElem, BigFloat, Acb
       @boundscheck _checkbounds(x, r, c)
 
       GC.@preserve x begin
-        z = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{AcbFieldElem},
-                  (Ref{AcbMatrix}, Int, Int), x, r - 1, c - 1)
+        z = mat_entry_ptr(x, r, c)
         _acb_set(z, y, precision(base_ring(x)))
       end
     end
@@ -75,8 +72,7 @@ for T in [Integer, Float64, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, ArbFieldElem, BigFloat, Abs
       @boundscheck _checkbounds(x, r, c)
 
       GC.@preserve x begin
-        z = ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{AcbFieldElem},
-                  (Ref{AcbMatrix}, Int, Int), x, r - 1, c - 1)
+        z = mat_entry_ptr(x, r, c)
         _acb_set(z, y[1], y[2], precision(base_ring(x)))
       end
     end
@@ -914,6 +910,16 @@ function identity_matrix(R::AcbField, n::Int)
   return z
 end
 
+################################################################################
+#
+#  Entry pointers
+#
+################################################################################
+
+@inline mat_entry_ptr(A::AcbMatrix, i::Int, j::Int) = 
+ccall((:acb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), 
+      Ptr{AcbFieldElem}, (Ref{AcbMatrix}, Int, Int), A, i-1, j-1)
+
 ###############################################################################
 #
 #   Promotions
diff --git a/src/arb/arb_mat.jl b/src/arb/arb_mat.jl
index b84e1fd58..b0357da4f 100644
--- a/src/arb/arb_mat.jl
+++ b/src/arb/arb_mat.jl
@@ -32,8 +32,7 @@ precision(x::ArbMatSpace) = precision(x.base_ring)
 
 function getindex!(z::ArbFieldElem, x::ArbMatrix, r::Int, c::Int)
   GC.@preserve x begin
-    v = ccall((:arb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ArbFieldElem},
-              (Ref{ArbMatrix}, Int, Int), x, r - 1, c - 1)
+    v = mat_entry_ptr(x, r, c)
     ccall((:arb_set, libflint), Nothing, (Ref{ArbFieldElem}, Ptr{ArbFieldElem}), z, v)
   end
   return z
@@ -44,8 +43,7 @@ end
 
   z = base_ring(x)()
   GC.@preserve x begin
-    v = ccall((:arb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ArbFieldElem},
-              (Ref{ArbMatrix}, Int, Int), x, r - 1, c - 1)
+    v = mat_entry_ptr(x, r, c)
     ccall((:arb_set, libflint), Nothing, (Ref{ArbFieldElem}, Ptr{ArbFieldElem}), z, v)
   end
   return z
@@ -57,8 +55,7 @@ for T in [Int, UInt, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, Float64, BigFloat, ArbFieldElem, A
       @boundscheck _checkbounds(x, r, c)
 
       GC.@preserve x begin
-        z = ccall((:arb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ArbFieldElem},
-                  (Ref{ArbMatrix}, Int, Int), x, r - 1, c - 1)
+        z = mat_entry_ptr(x, r, c)
         _arb_set(z, y, precision(base_ring(x)))
       end
     end
@@ -810,6 +807,16 @@ function identity_matrix(R::ArbField, n::Int)
   return z
 end
 
+################################################################################
+#
+#  Entry pointers
+#
+################################################################################
+
+@inline mat_entry_ptr(A::ArbMatrix, i::Int, j::Int) = 
+ccall((:arb_mat_entry_ptr, libflint), 
+      Ptr{ArbFieldElem}, (Ref{ArbMatrix}, Int, Int), A, i-1, j-1)
+
 ###############################################################################
 #
 #   Promotions