diff --git a/src/backend/v4l2/decoder/stateless.rs b/src/backend/v4l2/decoder/stateless.rs
index 036fd4b6..6319a3cd 100644
--- a/src/backend/v4l2/decoder/stateless.rs
+++ b/src/backend/v4l2/decoder/stateless.rs
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ impl V4l2Picture {
         self.ref_pictures = None;
         self
     }
-    pub fn request(&self) -> &V4l2Request {
-        &self.request
+    pub fn request(&mut self) -> &mut V4l2Request {
+        &mut self.request
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/decoder/stateless/h264/v4l2.rs b/src/decoder/stateless/h264/v4l2.rs
index 7321b63d..8ac8d7c4 100644
--- a/src/decoder/stateless/h264/v4l2.rs
+++ b/src/decoder/stateless/h264/v4l2.rs
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ impl StatelessH264DecoderBackend for V4l2StatelessDecoderBackend {
         _: &[&DpbEntry<Self::Handle>],
         _: &[&DpbEntry<Self::Handle>],
     ) -> StatelessBackendResult<()> {
-        picture.borrow().request().write(slice.nalu.as_ref());
+        picture.borrow_mut().request().write(slice.nalu.as_ref());
         Ok(())
     }
 
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ impl StatelessH264DecoderBackend for V4l2StatelessDecoderBackend {
         let handle = Rc::new(RefCell::new(BackendHandle {
             picture: picture.clone(),
         }));
-        picture.borrow().request().submit();
+        picture.borrow_mut().request().submit();
         Ok(V4l2StatelessDecoderHandle { handle })
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/device/v4l2/stateless/request.rs b/src/device/v4l2/stateless/request.rs
index 31c244a6..c831eff6 100644
--- a/src/device/v4l2/stateless/request.rs
+++ b/src/device/v4l2/stateless/request.rs
@@ -128,16 +128,19 @@ impl RequestHandle {
         };
         self
     }
-    fn submit(self) -> Self {
-        match self {
-            Self::Init(handle) => Self::Pending(handle.submit()),
+
+    // This method can modify in-place instead of returning a new value. This removes the need for
+    // a RefCell in V4l2Request.
+    fn submit(&mut self) {
+        match std::mem::take(self) {
+            Self::Init(handle) => *self = Self::Pending(handle.submit()),
             _ => panic!("ERROR"),
         }
     }
-    fn sync(self) -> Self {
-        match self {
-            Self::Pending(handle) => Self::Done(handle.sync()),
-            Self::Done(_) => self,
+    fn sync(&mut self) {
+        match std::mem::take(self) {
+            Self::Pending(handle) => *self = Self::Done(handle.sync()),
+            s @ Self::Done(_) => *self = s,
             _ => panic!("ERROR"),
         }
     }
@@ -149,9 +152,7 @@ impl RequestHandle {
     }
 }
 
-pub struct V4l2Request {
-    handle: RefCell<RequestHandle>,
-}
+pub struct V4l2Request(RequestHandle);
 
 impl V4l2Request {
     pub fn new(
@@ -160,35 +161,31 @@ impl V4l2Request {
         handle: ioctl::Request,
         buffer: V4l2OutputBuffer,
     ) -> Self {
-        Self {
-            handle: RefCell::new(RequestHandle::new(device, timestamp, handle, buffer)),
-        }
+        Self(RequestHandle::new(device, timestamp, handle, buffer))
     }
     pub fn timestamp(&self) -> u64 {
-        self.handle.borrow().timestamp()
+        self.0.timestamp()
     }
-    pub fn ioctl<C, T>(&self, ctrl: C) -> &Self
+    pub fn ioctl<C, T>(&mut self, ctrl: C) -> &mut Self
     where
         C: Into<SafeExtControl<T>>,
         T: ExtControlTrait,
     {
-        self.handle.borrow_mut().ioctl(ctrl);
+        self.0.ioctl(ctrl);
         self
     }
-    pub fn write(&self, data: &[u8]) -> &Self {
-        self.handle.borrow_mut().write(data);
+    pub fn write(&mut self, data: &[u8]) -> &mut Self {
+        self.0.write(data);
         self
     }
-    pub fn submit(&self) -> &Self {
-        self.handle.replace(self.handle.take().submit());
-        self
+    pub fn submit(&mut self) {
+        self.0.submit();
     }
-    pub fn sync(&self) -> &Self {
-        self.handle.replace(self.handle.take().sync());
-        self
+    pub fn sync(&mut self) {
+        self.0.sync();
     }
     pub fn result(&self) -> V4l2Result {
-        self.handle.borrow().result()
+        self.0.result()
     }
 }