diff --git a/pkg/ilist/BUILD b/pkg/ilist/BUILD
index b26a39132..1bd71b800 100644
--- a/pkg/ilist/BUILD
+++ b/pkg/ilist/BUILD
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ go_template_instance(
     prefix = "direct",
     template = ":generic_list",
     types = {
+        "Element": "*direct",
         "Linker": "*direct",
     },
 )
@@ -47,6 +48,10 @@ go_template(
     srcs = [
         "list.go",
     ],
-    opt_types = ["Linker"],
+    opt_types = [
+        "Element",
+        "ElementMapper",
+        "Linker",
+    ],
     visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
 )
diff --git a/pkg/ilist/list.go b/pkg/ilist/list.go
index a88b82196..4ae02eee9 100644
--- a/pkg/ilist/list.go
+++ b/pkg/ilist/list.go
@@ -21,12 +21,34 @@ package ilist
 // N.B. When substituted in a template instantiation, Linker doesn't need to
 // be an interface, and in most cases won't be.
 type Linker interface {
-	Next() Linker
-	Prev() Linker
-	SetNext(Linker)
-	SetPrev(Linker)
+	Next() Element
+	Prev() Element
+	SetNext(Element)
+	SetPrev(Element)
 }
 
+// Element the item that is used at the API level.
+//
+// N.B. Like Linker, this is unlikely to be an interface in most cases.
+type Element interface {
+	Linker
+}
+
+// ElementMapper provides an identity mapping by default.
+//
+// This can be replaced to provide a struct that maps elements to linker
+// objects, if they are not the same. An ElementMapper is not typically
+// required if: Linker is left as is, Element is left as is, or Linker and
+// Element are the same type.
+type ElementMapper struct{}
+
+// linkerFor maps an Element to a Linker.
+//
+// This default implementation should be inlined.
+//
+//go:nosplit
+func (ElementMapper) linkerFor(elem Element) Linker { return elem }
+
 // List is an intrusive list. Entries can be added to or removed from the list
 // in O(1) time and with no additional memory allocations.
 //
@@ -39,8 +61,8 @@ type Linker interface {
 //
 // +stateify savable
 type List struct {
-	head Linker
-	tail Linker
+	head Element
+	tail Element
 }
 
 // Reset resets list l to the empty state.
@@ -55,22 +77,22 @@ func (l *List) Empty() bool {
 }
 
 // Front returns the first element of list l or nil.
-func (l *List) Front() Linker {
+func (l *List) Front() Element {
 	return l.head
 }
 
 // Back returns the last element of list l or nil.
-func (l *List) Back() Linker {
+func (l *List) Back() Element {
 	return l.tail
 }
 
 // PushFront inserts the element e at the front of list l.
-func (l *List) PushFront(e Linker) {
-	e.SetNext(l.head)
-	e.SetPrev(nil)
+func (l *List) PushFront(e Element) {
+	ElementMapper{}.linkerFor(e).SetNext(l.head)
+	ElementMapper{}.linkerFor(e).SetPrev(nil)
 
 	if l.head != nil {
-		l.head.SetPrev(e)
+		ElementMapper{}.linkerFor(l.head).SetPrev(e)
 	} else {
 		l.tail = e
 	}
@@ -79,12 +101,12 @@ func (l *List) PushFront(e Linker) {
 }
 
 // PushBack inserts the element e at the back of list l.
-func (l *List) PushBack(e Linker) {
-	e.SetNext(nil)
-	e.SetPrev(l.tail)
+func (l *List) PushBack(e Element) {
+	ElementMapper{}.linkerFor(e).SetNext(nil)
+	ElementMapper{}.linkerFor(e).SetPrev(l.tail)
 
 	if l.tail != nil {
-		l.tail.SetNext(e)
+		ElementMapper{}.linkerFor(l.tail).SetNext(e)
 	} else {
 		l.head = e
 	}
@@ -98,8 +120,8 @@ func (l *List) PushBackList(m *List) {
 		l.head = m.head
 		l.tail = m.tail
 	} else if m.head != nil {
-		l.tail.SetNext(m.head)
-		m.head.SetPrev(l.tail)
+		ElementMapper{}.linkerFor(l.tail).SetNext(m.head)
+		ElementMapper{}.linkerFor(m.head).SetPrev(l.tail)
 
 		l.tail = m.tail
 	}
@@ -109,46 +131,46 @@ func (l *List) PushBackList(m *List) {
 }
 
 // InsertAfter inserts e after b.
-func (l *List) InsertAfter(b, e Linker) {
-	a := b.Next()
-	e.SetNext(a)
-	e.SetPrev(b)
-	b.SetNext(e)
+func (l *List) InsertAfter(b, e Element) {
+	a := ElementMapper{}.linkerFor(b).Next()
+	ElementMapper{}.linkerFor(e).SetNext(a)
+	ElementMapper{}.linkerFor(e).SetPrev(b)
+	ElementMapper{}.linkerFor(b).SetNext(e)
 
 	if a != nil {
-		a.SetPrev(e)
+		ElementMapper{}.linkerFor(a).SetPrev(e)
 	} else {
 		l.tail = e
 	}
 }
 
 // InsertBefore inserts e before a.
-func (l *List) InsertBefore(a, e Linker) {
-	b := a.Prev()
-	e.SetNext(a)
-	e.SetPrev(b)
-	a.SetPrev(e)
+func (l *List) InsertBefore(a, e Element) {
+	b := ElementMapper{}.linkerFor(a).Prev()
+	ElementMapper{}.linkerFor(e).SetNext(a)
+	ElementMapper{}.linkerFor(e).SetPrev(b)
+	ElementMapper{}.linkerFor(a).SetPrev(e)
 
 	if b != nil {
-		b.SetNext(e)
+		ElementMapper{}.linkerFor(b).SetNext(e)
 	} else {
 		l.head = e
 	}
 }
 
 // Remove removes e from l.
-func (l *List) Remove(e Linker) {
-	prev := e.Prev()
-	next := e.Next()
+func (l *List) Remove(e Element) {
+	prev := ElementMapper{}.linkerFor(e).Prev()
+	next := ElementMapper{}.linkerFor(e).Next()
 
 	if prev != nil {
-		prev.SetNext(next)
+		ElementMapper{}.linkerFor(prev).SetNext(next)
 	} else {
 		l.head = next
 	}
 
 	if next != nil {
-		next.SetPrev(prev)
+		ElementMapper{}.linkerFor(next).SetPrev(prev)
 	} else {
 		l.tail = prev
 	}
@@ -160,26 +182,26 @@ func (l *List) Remove(e Linker) {
 //
 // +stateify savable
 type Entry struct {
-	next Linker
-	prev Linker
+	next Element
+	prev Element
 }
 
 // Next returns the entry that follows e in the list.
-func (e *Entry) Next() Linker {
+func (e *Entry) Next() Element {
 	return e.next
 }
 
 // Prev returns the entry that precedes e in the list.
-func (e *Entry) Prev() Linker {
+func (e *Entry) Prev() Element {
 	return e.prev
 }
 
 // SetNext assigns 'entry' as the entry that follows e in the list.
-func (e *Entry) SetNext(entry Linker) {
-	e.next = entry
+func (e *Entry) SetNext(elem Element) {
+	e.next = elem
 }
 
 // SetPrev assigns 'entry' as the entry that precedes e in the list.
-func (e *Entry) SetPrev(entry Linker) {
-	e.prev = entry
+func (e *Entry) SetPrev(elem Element) {
+	e.prev = elem
 }
diff --git a/pkg/refs/BUILD b/pkg/refs/BUILD
index 3ea877ccf..98150ba8f 100644
--- a/pkg/refs/BUILD
+++ b/pkg/refs/BUILD
@@ -1,16 +1,29 @@
 package(licenses = ["notice"])  # Apache 2.0
 
+load("//tools/go_generics:defs.bzl", "go_template_instance")
 load("//tools/go_stateify:defs.bzl", "go_library", "go_test")
 
+go_template_instance(
+    name = "weak_ref_list",
+    out = "weak_ref_list.go",
+    package = "refs",
+    prefix = "weakRef",
+    template = "//pkg/ilist:generic_list",
+    types = {
+        "Element": "*WeakRef",
+        "Linker": "*WeakRef",
+    },
+)
+
 go_library(
     name = "refs",
     srcs = [
         "refcounter.go",
         "refcounter_state.go",
+        "weak_ref_list.go",
     ],
     importpath = "gvisor.googlesource.com/gvisor/pkg/refs",
     visibility = ["//:sandbox"],
-    deps = ["//pkg/ilist"],
 )
 
 go_test(
diff --git a/pkg/refs/refcounter.go b/pkg/refs/refcounter.go
index 0d44c2499..638a93bab 100644
--- a/pkg/refs/refcounter.go
+++ b/pkg/refs/refcounter.go
@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@ import (
 	"reflect"
 	"sync"
 	"sync/atomic"
-
-	"gvisor.googlesource.com/gvisor/pkg/ilist"
 )
 
 // RefCounter is the interface to be implemented by objects that are reference
@@ -61,7 +59,7 @@ type WeakRefUser interface {
 //
 // +stateify savable
 type WeakRef struct {
-	ilist.Entry `state:"nosave"`
+	weakRefEntry `state:"nosave"`
 
 	// obj is an atomic value that points to the refCounter.
 	obj atomic.Value `state:".(savedReference)"`
@@ -195,7 +193,7 @@ type AtomicRefCount struct {
 	mu sync.Mutex `state:"nosave"`
 
 	// weakRefs is our collection of weak references.
-	weakRefs ilist.List `state:"nosave"`
+	weakRefs weakRefList `state:"nosave"`
 }
 
 // ReadRefs returns the current number of references. The returned count is
@@ -276,7 +274,7 @@ func (r *AtomicRefCount) DecRefWithDestructor(destroy func()) {
 		// return false due to the reference count check.
 		r.mu.Lock()
 		for !r.weakRefs.Empty() {
-			w := r.weakRefs.Front().(*WeakRef)
+			w := r.weakRefs.Front()
 			// Capture the callback because w cannot be touched
 			// after it's zapped -- the owner is free it reuse it
 			// after that.
diff --git a/pkg/sentry/fs/BUILD b/pkg/sentry/fs/BUILD
index 18cd5ae8e..a949fffbf 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/fs/BUILD
+++ b/pkg/sentry/fs/BUILD
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ go_template_instance(
     template = "//pkg/ilist:generic_list",
     types = {
         "Linker": "*Dirent",
+        "Element": "*Dirent",
     },
 )
 
diff --git a/pkg/sentry/kernel/BUILD b/pkg/sentry/kernel/BUILD
index 0bc735550..7eb2bffeb 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/kernel/BUILD
+++ b/pkg/sentry/kernel/BUILD
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ go_template_instance(
     prefix = "pendingSignal",
     template = "//pkg/ilist:generic_list",
     types = {
+        "Element": "*pendingSignal",
         "Linker": "*pendingSignal",
     },
 )
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ go_template_instance(
     prefix = "processGroup",
     template = "//pkg/ilist:generic_list",
     types = {
+        "Element": "*ProcessGroup",
         "Linker": "*ProcessGroup",
     },
 )
@@ -43,6 +45,7 @@ go_template_instance(
     prefix = "session",
     template = "//pkg/ilist:generic_list",
     types = {
+        "Element": "*Session",
         "Linker": "*Session",
     },
 )
@@ -54,6 +57,7 @@ go_template_instance(
     prefix = "task",
     template = "//pkg/ilist:generic_list",
     types = {
+        "Element": "*Task",
         "Linker": "*Task",
     },
 )
diff --git a/pkg/sentry/kernel/futex/BUILD b/pkg/sentry/kernel/futex/BUILD
index b44a26974..0ff5b0a95 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/kernel/futex/BUILD
+++ b/pkg/sentry/kernel/futex/BUILD
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ go_template_instance(
     prefix = "waiter",
     template = "//pkg/ilist:generic_list",
     types = {
+        "Element": "*Waiter",
         "Linker": "*Waiter",
     },
 )
diff --git a/pkg/sentry/kernel/semaphore/BUILD b/pkg/sentry/kernel/semaphore/BUILD
index e7fa44e2c..bdcf4ce5c 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/kernel/semaphore/BUILD
+++ b/pkg/sentry/kernel/semaphore/BUILD
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ go_template_instance(
     prefix = "waiter",
     template = "//pkg/ilist:generic_list",
     types = {
+        "Element": "*waiter",
         "Linker": "*waiter",
     },
 )
diff --git a/pkg/sentry/mm/BUILD b/pkg/sentry/mm/BUILD
index bbdfae247..ad9231774 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/mm/BUILD
+++ b/pkg/sentry/mm/BUILD
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ go_template_instance(
     prefix = "io",
     template = "//pkg/ilist:generic_list",
     types = {
+        "Element": "*ioResult",
         "Linker": "*ioResult",
     },
 )
diff --git a/pkg/tcpip/network/fragmentation/BUILD b/pkg/tcpip/network/fragmentation/BUILD
index 83b4d253f..aaabfcb9a 100644
--- a/pkg/tcpip/network/fragmentation/BUILD
+++ b/pkg/tcpip/network/fragmentation/BUILD
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ go_template_instance(
     prefix = "reassembler",
     template = "//pkg/ilist:generic_list",
     types = {
+        "Element": "*reassembler",
         "Linker": "*reassembler",
     },
 )
diff --git a/pkg/tcpip/transport/ping/BUILD b/pkg/tcpip/transport/ping/BUILD
index 117532fea..982b6795c 100644
--- a/pkg/tcpip/transport/ping/BUILD
+++ b/pkg/tcpip/transport/ping/BUILD
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ go_template_instance(
     prefix = "pingPacket",
     template = "//pkg/ilist:generic_list",
     types = {
+        "Element": "*pingPacket",
         "Linker": "*pingPacket",
     },
 )
diff --git a/pkg/tcpip/transport/tcp/BUILD b/pkg/tcpip/transport/tcp/BUILD
index 8b911c295..c7943f08e 100644
--- a/pkg/tcpip/transport/tcp/BUILD
+++ b/pkg/tcpip/transport/tcp/BUILD
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ go_template_instance(
     prefix = "segment",
     template = "//pkg/ilist:generic_list",
     types = {
+        "Element": "*segment",
         "Linker": "*segment",
     },
 )
diff --git a/pkg/tcpip/transport/udp/BUILD b/pkg/tcpip/transport/udp/BUILD
index 1a3a62d3d..4225e28dc 100644
--- a/pkg/tcpip/transport/udp/BUILD
+++ b/pkg/tcpip/transport/udp/BUILD
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ go_template_instance(
     prefix = "udpPacket",
     template = "//pkg/ilist:generic_list",
     types = {
+        "Element": "*udpPacket",
         "Linker": "*udpPacket",
     },
 )