diff --git a/src/binaryen-c.cpp b/src/binaryen-c.cpp
index 7c8dcab97be..d76d9ca7c8c 100644
--- a/src/binaryen-c.cpp
+++ b/src/binaryen-c.cpp
@@ -2077,6 +2077,20 @@ BinaryenExpressionRef BinaryenExpressionCopy(BinaryenExpressionRef expr,
                                              BinaryenModuleRef module) {
   return ExpressionManipulator::copy(expr, *(Module*)module);
 }
+char* BinaryenExpressionAllocateAndWriteText(BinaryenExpressionRef expr) {
+  std::ostringstream os;
+  bool colors = Colors::isEnabled();
+
+  Colors::setEnabled(false); // do not use colors for writing
+  os << *(Expression*)expr;
+  Colors::setEnabled(colors); // restore colors state
+
+  auto str = os.str();
+  const size_t len = str.length() + 1;
+  char* output = (char*)malloc(len);
+  std::copy_n(str.c_str(), len, output);
+  return output;
+}
 
 // Specific expression utility
 
diff --git a/src/binaryen-c.h b/src/binaryen-c.h
index f798496ad1c..cd2287b80dc 100644
--- a/src/binaryen-c.h
+++ b/src/binaryen-c.h
@@ -1220,6 +1220,11 @@ BINARYEN_API void BinaryenExpressionFinalize(BinaryenExpressionRef expr);
 // Makes a deep copy of the given expression.
 BINARYEN_API BinaryenExpressionRef
 BinaryenExpressionCopy(BinaryenExpressionRef expr, BinaryenModuleRef module);
+// Serialize an expression in s-expression form. Implicitly allocates the
+// returned char* with malloc(), and expects the user to free() them manually
+// once not needed anymore.
+BINARYEN_API char*
+BinaryenExpressionAllocateAndWriteText(BinaryenExpressionRef expr);
 
 // Block
 
diff --git a/src/js/binaryen.js-post.js b/src/js/binaryen.js-post.js
index a3494d31ca4..1d7f88122bf 100644
--- a/src/js/binaryen.js-post.js
+++ b/src/js/binaryen.js-post.js
@@ -2905,16 +2905,24 @@ function wrapModule(module, self = {}) {
     return Module['_BinaryenGetElementSegmentByIndex'](module, index);
   };
   self['emitText'] = function() {
-    let textPtr = Module['_BinaryenModuleAllocateAndWriteText'](module);
-    let text = UTF8ToString(textPtr);
-    if (textPtr) _free(textPtr);
-    return text;
+    const textPtr = Module['_BinaryenModuleAllocateAndWriteText'](module);
+    try {
+      return UTF8ToString(textPtr);
+    } finally {
+      if (textPtr) {
+        _free(textPtr);
+      }
+    }
   };
   self['emitStackIR'] = function() {
-    let textPtr = Module['_BinaryenModuleAllocateAndWriteStackIR'](module);
-    let text = UTF8ToString(textPtr);
-    if (textPtr) _free(textPtr);
-    return text;
+    const textPtr = Module['_BinaryenModuleAllocateAndWriteStackIR'](module);
+    try {
+      return UTF8ToString(textPtr);
+    } finally {
+      if (textPtr) {
+        _free(textPtr);
+      }
+    }
   };
   self['emitAsmjs'] = function() {
     const old = out;
@@ -3308,12 +3316,14 @@ Module['emitText'] = function(expr) {
   if (typeof expr === 'object') {
     return expr.emitText();
   }
-  const old = out;
-  let ret = '';
-  out = x => { ret += x + '\n' };
-  Module['_BinaryenExpressionPrint'](expr);
-  out = old;
-  return ret;
+  const textPtr = Module['_BinaryenExpressionAllocateAndWriteText'](expr);
+  try {
+    return UTF8ToString(textPtr);
+  } finally {
+    if (textPtr) {
+      _free(textPtr);
+    }
+  }
 };
 
 // Calls a function, wrapping it in error handling code so that if it hits a
diff --git a/test/example/c-api-kitchen-sink.c b/test/example/c-api-kitchen-sink.c
index a03f670034d..eeffd8fd35e 100644
--- a/test/example/c-api-kitchen-sink.c
+++ b/test/example/c-api-kitchen-sink.c
@@ -1280,6 +1280,14 @@ void test_core() {
 
   BinaryenExpressionPrint(
     valueList[3]); // test printing a standalone expression
+  // test stringifying an expression
+  {
+    char* textPtr = BinaryenExpressionAllocateAndWriteText(valueList[3]);
+    assert(textPtr);
+    assert(strstr(textPtr, "f32.neg"));
+    assert(!strstr(textPtr, "\x1b")); // ensure color escapes are not emitted
+    free(textPtr);
+  }
 
   // Add drops of concrete expressions
   for (int i = 0; i < sizeof(valueList) / sizeof(valueList[0]); ++i) {