diff --git a/src/tree/vieter_tree.c b/src/tree/vieter_tree.c
index b066af1..792ad30 100644
--- a/src/tree/vieter_tree.c
+++ b/src/tree/vieter_tree.c
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ vieter_tree_error vieter_tree_insert(vieter_tree *tree, uint64_t key,
     tree->root = vieter_tree_node_init();
     tree->root->key = key;
     tree->root->data = data;
-    vieter_tree_node_set(tree->root, vieter_tree_node_black, true);
+    vieter_tree_node_set(tree->root, vieter_node_black);
     tree->size = 1;
 
     return vieter_tree_ok;
@@ -80,13 +80,13 @@ void vieter_tree_free(vieter_tree *tree) {
       stack = realloc(stack, capacity * sizeof(vieter_tree_node *));
     }
 
-    if (node->children[0] != NULL) {
-      stack[size] = node->children[0];
+    if (node->left != NULL) {
+      stack[size] = node->left;
       size++;
     }
 
-    if (node->children[1] != NULL) {
-      stack[size] = node->children[1];
+    if (node->right != NULL) {
+      stack[size] = node->right;
       size++;
     }
 
@@ -99,9 +99,9 @@ end:
   free(tree);
 }
 
-bool vieter_tree_validate(vieter_tree *tree) {
+int vieter_tree_validate(vieter_tree *tree) {
   if (tree->size == 0) {
-    return true;
+    return 0;
   }
 
   // DFS to get expected black nodes
@@ -109,13 +109,12 @@ bool vieter_tree_validate(vieter_tree *tree) {
   vieter_tree_node *node = tree->root;
 
   while (node != NULL) {
-    if (vieter_tree_node_get(node, vieter_tree_node_black)) {
+    if (vieter_tree_node_get(node, vieter_node_black)) {
       expected_black_nodes++;
     }
 
-    node = node->children[0];
+    node = node->left;
   }
 
-  return vieter_tree_node_get(tree->root, vieter_tree_node_black) &&
-         vieter_tree_node_validate(tree->root, 0, expected_black_nodes);
+  return vieter_tree_node_validate(tree->root, 0, expected_black_nodes);
 }
diff --git a/src/tree/vieter_tree_balancing.c b/src/tree/vieter_tree_balancing.c
index b160563..70c52e0 100644
--- a/src/tree/vieter_tree_balancing.c
+++ b/src/tree/vieter_tree_balancing.c
@@ -1,127 +1,150 @@
 #include "vieter_tree_balancing.h"
-#include <string.h>
 
-bool vieter_tree_node_validate(vieter_tree_node *node,
-                               uint64_t passed_black_nodes,
-                               uint64_t expected_black_nodes) {
-  // Path to NULL children should contain the same amount of black nodes
-  if (node == NULL) {
-    return passed_black_nodes == expected_black_nodes;
-  }
-
-  if (vieter_tree_node_get(node, vieter_tree_node_black)) {
+int vieter_tree_node_validate(vieter_tree_node *node,
+                              uint64_t passed_black_nodes,
+                              uint64_t expected_black_nodes) {
+  if (vieter_tree_node_get(node, vieter_node_black)) {
     passed_black_nodes++;
+  } else {
+    // A red node should have black child nodes
+    if ((node->left != NULL &&
+         !vieter_tree_node_get(node->left, vieter_node_black)) ||
+        (node->right != NULL &&
+         !vieter_tree_node_get(node->right, vieter_node_black))) {
+      return 1;
+    }
   }
 
-  // Either the node itself is black, or its children are both either NULL or
-  // black.
-  bool correctly_colored_children =
-      vieter_tree_node_get(node, vieter_tree_node_black) ||
-      ((node->children[0] == NULL ||
-        vieter_tree_node_get(node->children[0], vieter_tree_node_black)) &&
-       (node->children[1] == NULL ||
-        vieter_tree_node_get(node->children[1], vieter_tree_node_black)));
+  // All paths to a NULL child should have the same amount of black nodes
+  if ((node->left == NULL || node->right == NULL) &&
+      passed_black_nodes != expected_black_nodes) {
+    return 1;
+  }
 
-  return correctly_colored_children &&
-         vieter_tree_node_validate(node->children[0], passed_black_nodes,
-                                   expected_black_nodes) &&
-         vieter_tree_node_validate(node->children[1], passed_black_nodes,
-                                   expected_black_nodes);
+  if (node->left != NULL) {
+    if (vieter_tree_node_validate(node->left, passed_black_nodes,
+                                  expected_black_nodes) != 0) {
+      return 1;
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (node->right != NULL) {
+    if (vieter_tree_node_validate(node->right, passed_black_nodes,
+                                  expected_black_nodes) != 0) {
+      return 1;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return 0;
 }
 
 vieter_tree_node *vieter_tree_node_balance(vieter_tree_node *node) {
   vieter_tree_node *parent = node->parent;
   vieter_tree_node *grand_parent = parent->parent;
   vieter_tree_node *root = grand_parent;
-  vieter_tree_node *children[2];
-  vieter_tree_node *grand_children[4];
+  vieter_tree_node *left, *right;
+  vieter_tree_node *children[4];
 
   uint64_t key_root = root->key;
   void *data_root = root->data;
 
-  if (vieter_tree_node_get(node, vieter_tree_node_right)) {
-    children[0] = parent;
-    children[1] = node;
+  if (node->key < parent->key && parent->key < grand_parent->key) {
+    root->key = parent->key;
+    root->data = parent->data;
 
-    if (vieter_tree_node_get(parent, vieter_tree_node_right)) {
-      root->key = parent->key;
-      root->data = parent->data;
+    parent->key = key_root;
+    parent->data = data_root;
 
-      parent->key = key_root;
-      parent->data = data_root;
+    left = node;
+    right = parent;
 
-      grand_children[0] = grand_parent->children[0];
-      grand_children[1] = parent->children[0];
-      grand_children[2] = node->children[0];
-      grand_children[3] = node->children[1];
-    } else {
-      root->key = node->key;
-      root->data = node->data;
+    children[0] = node->left;
+    children[1] = node->right;
+    children[2] = parent->right;
+    children[3] = grand_parent->right;
+  } else if (node->key < parent->key && parent->key > grand_parent->key) {
+    root->key = node->key;
+    root->data = node->data;
 
-      node->key = key_root;
-      node->data = data_root;
+    node->key = key_root;
+    node->data = data_root;
 
-      grand_children[0] = parent->children[0];
-      grand_children[1] = node->children[0];
-      grand_children[2] = node->children[1];
-      grand_children[3] = grand_parent->children[1];
-    }
+    left = node;
+    right = parent;
+
+    children[0] = grand_parent->left;
+    children[1] = node->left;
+    children[2] = node->right;
+    children[3] = parent->right;
+  } else if (node->key > parent->key && parent->key < grand_parent->key) {
+    root->key = node->key;
+    root->data = node->data;
+
+    node->key = key_root;
+    node->data = data_root;
+
+    left = parent;
+    right = node;
+
+    children[0] = parent->left;
+    children[1] = node->left;
+    children[2] = node->right;
+    children[3] = grand_parent->right;
   } else {
-    children[0] = node;
-    children[1] = parent;
+    root->key = parent->key;
+    root->data = parent->data;
 
-    if (vieter_tree_node_get(parent, vieter_tree_node_right)) {
-      root->key = node->key;
-      root->data = node->data;
+    parent->key = key_root;
+    parent->data = data_root;
 
-      node->key = key_root;
-      node->data = data_root;
+    left = parent;
+    right = node;
 
-      grand_children[0] = grand_parent->children[0];
-      grand_children[1] = node->children[0];
-      grand_children[2] = node->children[1];
-      grand_children[3] = parent->children[1];
-    } else {
-      root->key = parent->key;
-      root->data = parent->data;
-
-      parent->key = key_root;
-      parent->data = data_root;
-
-      grand_children[0] = node->children[0];
-      grand_children[1] = node->children[1];
-      grand_children[2] = parent->children[1];
-      grand_children[3] = grand_parent->children[1];
-    }
+    children[0] = grand_parent->left;
+    children[1] = parent->left;
+    children[2] = node->left;
+    children[3] = node->right;
   }
 
-  vieter_tree_node_set(
-      root, vieter_tree_node_right,
-      vieter_tree_node_get(grand_parent, vieter_tree_node_right));
+  vieter_tree_node_set(left, vieter_node_black);
+  vieter_tree_node_set(right, vieter_node_black);
+  vieter_tree_node_unset(root, vieter_node_black);
 
-  vieter_tree_node_set(children[0], vieter_tree_node_black, true);
-  vieter_tree_node_set(children[1], vieter_tree_node_black, true);
+  left->left = children[0];
+  left->right = children[1];
 
-  vieter_tree_node_set(root, vieter_tree_node_black, false);
+  if (children[0] != NULL)
+    children[0]->parent = left;
 
-  vieter_tree_node_set_children(children[0], grand_children);
-  vieter_tree_node_set_children(children[1], grand_children + 2);
-  vieter_tree_node_set_children(root, children);
+  if (children[1] != NULL)
+    children[1]->parent = left;
+
+  right->left = children[2];
+  right->right = children[3];
+
+  if (children[2] != NULL)
+    children[2]->parent = right;
+
+  if (children[3] != NULL)
+    children[3]->parent = right;
+
+  root->left = left;
+  root->right = right;
+  left->parent = root;
+  right->parent = root;
 
   return root;
 }
 
 void vieter_tree_node_balance_after_insert(vieter_tree_node *node) {
-  while (!vieter_tree_node_get(node, vieter_tree_node_black) &&
+  while (!vieter_tree_node_get(node, vieter_node_black) &&
          node->parent != NULL &&
-         !vieter_tree_node_get(node->parent, vieter_tree_node_black)) {
+         !vieter_tree_node_get(node->parent, vieter_node_black)) {
     node = vieter_tree_node_balance(node);
   }
 
   // The root must always be black
   if (node->parent == NULL) {
-    vieter_tree_node_set(node, vieter_tree_node_black, true);
+    vieter_tree_node_set(node, vieter_node_black);
   }
 }
-
-void vieter_tree_node_remove_balanced(vieter_tree_node *node) {}
diff --git a/src/tree/vieter_tree_balancing.h b/src/tree/vieter_tree_balancing.h
index 007af34..4492588 100644
--- a/src/tree/vieter_tree_balancing.h
+++ b/src/tree/vieter_tree_balancing.h
@@ -3,17 +3,6 @@
 
 #include "vieter_tree_node.h"
 
-/*
- * Ensure the tree remains a valid red-black tree after having inserting the
- * node.
- */
 void vieter_tree_node_balance_after_insert(vieter_tree_node *node);
 
-/*
- * Remove the given node, ensuring the tree remains a valid red-black tree.
- *
- * @param node node to remove. This node should have at least one NULL child.
- */
-void vieter_tree_node_remove_balanced(vieter_tree_node *node);
-
 #endif
diff --git a/src/tree/vieter_tree_internal.h b/src/tree/vieter_tree_internal.h
index 670d45b..dc4ee81 100644
--- a/src/tree/vieter_tree_internal.h
+++ b/src/tree/vieter_tree_internal.h
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
 #include "vieter_tree.h"
 
-#include <stdbool.h>
-
 /*
  * Inspect whether the tree is still a valid red-black-tree.
  *
- * @return true if valid, false otherwise.
+ * @return 0 if correct, 1 if not.
  */
-bool vieter_tree_validate(vieter_tree *tree);
+int vieter_tree_validate(vieter_tree *tree);
diff --git a/src/tree/vieter_tree_node.c b/src/tree/vieter_tree_node.c
index 2f45b82..40407a3 100644
--- a/src/tree/vieter_tree_node.c
+++ b/src/tree/vieter_tree_node.c
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 #include "vieter_tree_node.h"
 #include "vieter_tree_balancing.h"
 
-#include <string.h>
-
 vieter_tree_node *vieter_tree_node_init() {
   return calloc(1, sizeof(vieter_tree_node));
 }
@@ -15,24 +13,14 @@ void vieter_tree_node_add_child(vieter_tree_node *parent, uint64_t key,
     return;
   }
 
-  bool side = key > parent->key;
-  parent->children[side] = child;
+  if (key < parent->key) {
+    parent->left = child;
+  } else {
+    parent->right = child;
+  }
 
   if (child != NULL) {
     child->parent = parent;
-    vieter_tree_node_set(child, vieter_tree_node_right, side);
-  }
-}
-
-void vieter_tree_node_set_children(vieter_tree_node *parent,
-                                   vieter_tree_node **children) {
-  memcpy(parent->children, children, 2 * sizeof(vieter_tree_node *));
-
-  for (uint8_t i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
-    if (parent->children[i] != NULL) {
-      parent->children[i]->parent = parent;
-      vieter_tree_node_set(parent->children[i], vieter_tree_node_right, i);
-    }
   }
 }
 
@@ -40,7 +28,14 @@ void vieter_tree_node_replace_with_child(vieter_tree_node *to_replace,
                                          vieter_tree_node *replacement) {
   to_replace->key = replacement->key;
   to_replace->data = replacement->data;
-  vieter_tree_node_set_children(to_replace, replacement->children);
+  to_replace->left = replacement->left;
+  to_replace->right = replacement->right;
+
+  if (to_replace->left != NULL)
+    to_replace->left->parent = to_replace;
+
+  if (to_replace->right != NULL)
+    to_replace->right->parent = to_replace;
 }
 
 vieter_tree_error vieter_tree_node_insert(vieter_tree_node *root, uint64_t key,
@@ -54,7 +49,12 @@ vieter_tree_error vieter_tree_node_insert(vieter_tree_node *root, uint64_t key,
     }
 
     parent = node;
-    node = node->children[key > parent->key];
+
+    if (key < parent->key) {
+      node = parent->left;
+    } else {
+      node = parent->right;
+    }
   }
 
   vieter_tree_node *new_node = vieter_tree_node_init();
@@ -79,7 +79,11 @@ vieter_tree_error vieter_tree_node_search_node(vieter_tree_node **out,
       return vieter_tree_ok;
     }
 
-    node = node->children[key > node->key];
+    if (key < node->key) {
+      node = node->left;
+    } else {
+      node = node->right;
+    }
   }
 
   return vieter_tree_not_present;
@@ -110,13 +114,13 @@ vieter_tree_error vieter_tree_node_remove(void **out, vieter_tree_node *root,
 
   *out = target->data;
 
-  if (target->children[0] == NULL && target->children[1] == NULL) {
+  if (target->left == NULL && target->right == NULL) {
     vieter_tree_node_add_child(target->parent, target->key, NULL);
 
     vieter_tree_node_free(target);
-  } else if ((target->children[0] == NULL) ^ (target->children[1] == NULL)) {
+  } else if ((target->left == NULL) ^ (target->right == NULL)) {
     vieter_tree_node *child =
-        target->children[0] != NULL ? target->children[0] : target->children[1];
+        target->left != NULL ? target->left : target->right;
 
     if (target->parent != NULL) {
       vieter_tree_node_add_child(target->parent, child->key, child);
@@ -127,10 +131,10 @@ vieter_tree_error vieter_tree_node_remove(void **out, vieter_tree_node *root,
     }
 
   } else {
-    vieter_tree_node *replacement = target->children[1];
+    vieter_tree_node *replacement = target->right;
 
-    while (replacement->children[0] != NULL) {
-      replacement = replacement->children[0];
+    while (replacement->left != NULL) {
+      replacement = replacement->left;
     }
 
     // We use replacement->key here because the right child can be NULL, so
@@ -138,7 +142,7 @@ vieter_tree_error vieter_tree_node_remove(void **out, vieter_tree_node *root,
     // will still get placed into the right location because of how binary
     // trees work.
     vieter_tree_node_add_child(replacement->parent, replacement->key,
-                               replacement->children[1]);
+                               replacement->right);
 
     target->key = replacement->key;
     target->data = replacement->data;
@@ -149,15 +153,14 @@ vieter_tree_error vieter_tree_node_remove(void **out, vieter_tree_node *root,
   return vieter_tree_ok;
 }
 
-void vieter_tree_node_set(vieter_tree_node *node, vieter_tree_node_flag flag,
-                          bool set) {
-  if (set) {
-    node->flags |= flag;
-  } else {
-    node->flags &= ~flag;
-  }
+void vieter_tree_node_set(vieter_tree_node *node, vieter_node_flag flag) {
+  node->flags |= flag;
 }
 
-bool vieter_tree_node_get(vieter_tree_node *node, vieter_tree_node_flag flag) {
+void vieter_tree_node_unset(vieter_tree_node *node, vieter_node_flag flag) {
+  node->flags &= ~flag;
+}
+
+bool vieter_tree_node_get(vieter_tree_node *node, vieter_node_flag flag) {
   return (node->flags & flag) != 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/tree/vieter_tree_node.h b/src/tree/vieter_tree_node.h
index 1ebb15a..1c88159 100644
--- a/src/tree/vieter_tree_node.h
+++ b/src/tree/vieter_tree_node.h
@@ -5,18 +5,18 @@
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
 
-typedef enum vieter_tree_node_flag {
-  vieter_tree_node_black = ((uint8_t)1) << 0,
-  // This flag is used to index the children array. If this flag isn't set,
-  // it'll evaluate to false, or index 0 in the children array.
-  vieter_tree_node_right = ((uint8_t)1) << 1
-} vieter_tree_node_flag;
+#define VIETER_NODE_BLACK ((uint8_t)1)
+
+typedef enum vieter_node_flag {
+    vieter_node_black = ((uint8_t)1) << 0
+} vieter_node_flag;
 
 typedef struct vieter_tree_node {
     uint64_t key;
     void *data;
     struct vieter_tree_node *parent;
-    struct vieter_tree_node *children[2];
+    struct vieter_tree_node *left;
+    struct vieter_tree_node *right;
     uint8_t flags;
 } vieter_tree_node;
 
@@ -26,24 +26,20 @@ void vieter_tree_node_free(vieter_tree_node *node);
 
 vieter_tree_error vieter_tree_node_insert(vieter_tree_node *root, uint64_t key, void *data);
 
-/*
- * Return the node representing the requested value.
- */
 vieter_tree_error vieter_tree_node_search_node(vieter_tree_node **out, vieter_tree_node *root, uint64_t key);
-
 vieter_tree_error vieter_tree_node_search(void **out, vieter_tree_node *root, uint64_t key);
 
 vieter_tree_error vieter_tree_node_remove(void **out, vieter_tree_node *root, uint64_t key);
 
-void vieter_tree_node_replace_with_child(vieter_tree_node *to_replace, vieter_tree_node *replacement);
+void vieter_tree_node_replace(vieter_tree_node *to_replace, vieter_tree_node *replacement);
 
-void vieter_tree_node_set(vieter_tree_node *node, vieter_tree_node_flag flag, bool value);
-bool vieter_tree_node_get(vieter_tree_node *node, vieter_tree_node_flag flag);
+void vieter_tree_node_set(vieter_tree_node *node, vieter_node_flag flag);
+void vieter_tree_node_unset(vieter_tree_node *node, vieter_node_flag flag);
+bool vieter_tree_node_get(vieter_tree_node *node, vieter_node_flag flag);
 
 void vieter_tree_node_add_child(vieter_tree_node *parent, uint64_t key,
                                 vieter_tree_node *child);
-void vieter_tree_node_set_children(vieter_tree_node *parent, vieter_tree_node **children);
 
-bool vieter_tree_node_validate(vieter_tree_node *node, uint64_t passed_black_nodes, uint64_t expected_black_nodes);
+int vieter_tree_node_validate(vieter_tree_node *node, uint64_t passed_black_nodes, uint64_t expected_black_nodes);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/test/tree/test_tree.c b/test/tree/test_tree.c
index 257ec66..c875137 100644
--- a/test/tree/test_tree.c
+++ b/test/tree/test_tree.c
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ void test_insert() {
     for (uint64_t i = 0; i < 250; i++) {
         TEST_CHECK(vieter_tree_insert(tree, i, NULL) == vieter_tree_ok);
         TEST_SIZE(tree, i + 1);
-        TEST_CHECK(vieter_tree_validate(tree));
+        TEST_CHECK(vieter_tree_validate(tree) == 0);
     }
 
     void *out;
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ void test_remove() {
 
     for (uint64_t i = 0; i < 250; i++) {
         TEST_CHECK(vieter_tree_insert(tree, i, NULL) == vieter_tree_ok);
-        TEST_CHECK(vieter_tree_validate(tree));
+        TEST_CHECK(vieter_tree_validate(tree) == 0);
     }
 
     void *out;
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ void test_remove() {
     for (uint64_t i = 0; i < 25; i++) {
         TEST_CHECK(vieter_tree_search(&out, tree, i) == vieter_tree_ok);
         TEST_CHECK(vieter_tree_remove(&out, tree, i) == vieter_tree_ok);
-        TEST_CHECK(vieter_tree_validate(tree));
+        TEST_CHECK(vieter_tree_validate(tree) == 0);
         TEST_CHECK(vieter_tree_search(&out, tree, i) == vieter_tree_not_present);
         TEST_SIZE(tree, 250 - i - 1);
     }