diff --git a/docs/rbtree.txt b/docs/rbtree.txt
index 02173a2..7955323 100644
--- a/docs/rbtree.txt
+++ b/docs/rbtree.txt
@@ -29,9 +29,6 @@ The binary tree node.
 `key`::
     The key of this node
 
-`data`::
-    pointer to the data associated with the key
-
 `child`::
     pointers to the left and right child to this node
 
@@ -51,16 +48,16 @@ Structure that holds a tree of nodes
     Pointer to the node that is the root of the tree.
 
 `delete_fn`::
-    Pointer to the function that should handle the delete routines for the `rbnode->data` pointer.
+    Pointer to the function that should handle the delete routines for the `rbnode->key` pointer.
 
 `update_fn`::
-    Pointer to the function that is called when the implementation performs an update of an `rbnode->data` pointer. +
+    Pointer to the function that is called when the implementation performs an update of an `rbnode->key` pointer. +
     The function gets the following information passed in order: old pointer, new pointer.
 
 NOTE: You may only need this if you store the data in another structure and has to keep it synchronized with the RB-tree.
 
 `cmp_fn`::
-    Pointer to the function that is used to compare `rbnode->data` pointers. +
+    Pointer to the function that is used to compare two `rbnode->key` pointers. +
     Shall return a value greater than zero if 'ptr1' > 'ptr2', a value less than zero if 'ptr1' < 'ptr2' and zero if 'ptr1' == 'ptr2'.
 --
 
@@ -73,7 +70,7 @@ Functions
     If provided, calls `rbtree->update_fn` and `rbtree->delete_fn` if a node should be updated. +
     Returns a nonzero value if a new node was inserted, zero if 'key' already existed and that node was updated.
 
-NOTE: The memory pointed to by the 'data' pointer is *not* copied so you must ensure that it has a infinite lifetime.
+NOTE: The memory pointed to by the 'key' pointer is *not* copied so you must ensure that it has a infinite lifetime.
 
 `rbtree_delete()`::
 
@@ -92,11 +89,8 @@ NOTE: The memory pointed to by the 'data' pointer is *not* copied so you must en
 
     Searches the tree for 'key'. +
     Returns a pointer to the node if found else `NULL`.
-    
-`rbtree_cmp_search()`::
 
-    Searches the tree by compareing 'cmpdata' and `rbnode->data` to find a match. +
-    Returns the node if found, `NULL` otherwise.
+NOTE: the function uses the `rbtree->cmp_fn` function to compare 'key' with a `rbnode->key`.
 
 `rbtree_is_empty()`::
 
diff --git a/src/rbtree.c b/src/rbtree.c
index 6e9f63b..08439cb 100644
--- a/src/rbtree.c
+++ b/src/rbtree.c
@@ -18,12 +18,11 @@
 #define is_red(n) ((n) != NULL && (n)->color == RB_RED)
 #define swap(n,d,q) ((n)->child[(n)->child[d] == (q)])
 
-static rbnode* node_alloc(unsigned key, void *data) {
+static rbnode* node_alloc(const void *key) {
 	
 	rbnode *n = xmalloc(sizeof(rbnode));
 	
 	n->key      = key;
-	n->data     = data;
 	n->color    = RB_RED;
 	n->child[0] = NULL;
 	n->child[1] = NULL;
@@ -40,11 +39,11 @@ static void node_dealloc(rbnode *n, void (*dealloc)(void *)) {
 		return;
 
     if (dealloc)
-        dealloc(n->data);
-	
+        dealloc((void *)n->key);
+
 	node_dealloc(n->child[0], dealloc);
 	node_dealloc(n->child[1], dealloc);
-	
+
 	free(n);
 }
 
@@ -61,22 +60,6 @@ static void rbwalk(rbnode *n, void (*action)(rbnode *)) {
 	rbwalk(n->child[1], action);
 }
 
-static rbnode* rbcmp(rbnode *n, int (*cmp_fn)(const char *, const char *), const void *cmpdata) {
-
-    if (!n)
-        return NULL;
-
-    if (cmp_fn(n->data, cmpdata) == 0)
-        return n;
-
-    rbnode *r = rbcmp(n->child[0], cmp_fn, cmpdata);
-	
-	if (!r)
-		r = rbcmp(n->child[1], cmp_fn, cmpdata);
-	
-	return r;
-}
-
 static inline rbnode* rotate_single(rbnode *root, unsigned char dir) {
 	
 	rbnode *save = root->child[!dir];
@@ -103,34 +86,27 @@ inline int rbtree_is_empty(rbtree *tree) {
 /*
  * Searches a tree by key.
  */
-rbnode* rbtree_search(rbtree *tree, unsigned key) {
+rbnode* rbtree_search(rbtree *tree, const void *key) {
 	
 	rbnode *n;
 	
-	if (tree == NULL || tree->root == NULL)
+	if (tree == NULL || tree->root == NULL || tree->cmp_fn == NULL)
 		return NULL;
 	
 	n = tree->root;
 	
 	while(n) {
-		
-		if (n->key == key)
+        int cmp = tree->cmp_fn(n->key, key);
+        
+		if (cmp == 0)
 			break;
-		
-		n = n->child[n->key < key];
+
+        n = n->child[cmp < 0];
 	}
 	
 	return n;
 }
 
-rbnode* rbtree_cmp_search(rbtree *tree, const void *cmpdata) {
-	
-	if (tree == NULL || tree->cmp_fn == NULL)
-		return NULL;
-				
-	return rbcmp(tree->root, tree->cmp_fn, cmpdata);
-}
-
 void rbtree_walk(rbtree *tree, void (*action)(rbnode *)) {
 	
 	if (tree == NULL || action == NULL)
@@ -148,7 +124,7 @@ void rbtree_free(rbtree *tree) {
 	tree->root = NULL;
 }
 
-int rbtree_insert(rbtree *tree, unsigned key, void *data) {
+int rbtree_insert(rbtree *tree, const void *key) {
 	
 	rbnode head = {0};
 	
@@ -159,9 +135,12 @@ int rbtree_insert(rbtree *tree, unsigned key, void *data) {
 	rbnode *p, *q;
 	
 	unsigned char dir = 0, dir2, last, inserted = 0;
-	
+
+    if (!tree || !tree->cmp_fn)
+        return 0;
+
 	if (tree->root == NULL) {
-		tree->root = node_alloc(key, data);
+		tree->root = node_alloc(key);
         inserted = 1;
         goto done;
 	}
@@ -173,8 +152,10 @@ int rbtree_insert(rbtree *tree, unsigned key, void *data) {
     /* somewhere in here, there should be dragons */
 		
 	for(;;) {
+        int cmp;
+        
 		if (q == NULL) {
-			p->child[dir] = q = node_alloc(key, data);
+			p->child[dir] = q = node_alloc(key);
             inserted = 1;
 		} else if (is_red(q->child[0]) && is_red(q->child[1])) {
 			/* color flip case */
@@ -191,12 +172,14 @@ int rbtree_insert(rbtree *tree, unsigned key, void *data) {
 			else
 				t->child[dir2] = rotate_double(g, !last);
 		}
+
+        cmp = tree->cmp_fn(q->key, key);
 			
-		if (q->key == key)
+		if (cmp == 0)
 			break;
 			
 		last = dir;
-		dir = q->key < key;
+        dir = cmp < 0;
 			
 		if (g)
 			t = g;
@@ -205,11 +188,9 @@ int rbtree_insert(rbtree *tree, unsigned key, void *data) {
 	}
 
     if (!inserted) {
-        if (tree->update_fn)
-            tree->update_fn(q->data, data);
         if (tree->delete_fn)
-            tree->delete_fn(q->data);
-        q->data = data;
+            tree->delete_fn((void*)q->key);
+        q->key = key;
     }
 
 	tree->root = head.child[1];
@@ -221,7 +202,7 @@ done:
     return inserted;
 }
 
-int rbtree_delete(rbtree *tree, unsigned key) {
+int rbtree_delete(rbtree *tree, const void *key) {
 	
 	rbnode head = {0};
 	
@@ -233,7 +214,7 @@ int rbtree_delete(rbtree *tree, unsigned key) {
 	
 	unsigned char dir = 1, dir2, last;
 	
-	if (rbtree_is_empty(tree))
+	if (rbtree_is_empty(tree) || !tree->cmp_fn)
 		return 0;
 	
 	q = &head;
@@ -243,13 +224,15 @@ int rbtree_delete(rbtree *tree, unsigned key) {
 	/* more dragons (killed some of them though) */
 	
 	while(q->child[dir]) {
-		last = dir;
+        int cmp;
 		
 		g = p, p = q;
-		q = q->child[dir];
-		dir = q->key < key;
-		
-		if (q->key == key)
+        q = q->child[dir];
+        last = dir;
+        
+        cmp = tree->cmp_fn(q->key, key);
+		dir = cmp < 0;
+		if (cmp == 0)
 			f = q;
 		
 		if (is_red(q) || is_red(q->child[dir]))
@@ -288,12 +271,10 @@ int rbtree_delete(rbtree *tree, unsigned key) {
 	/* remove if found */
 	if (f) {
         if (tree->delete_fn)
-            tree->delete_fn(f->data);
+            tree->delete_fn((void*)f->key);
 
-        if (f != q) {
-            f->key  = q->key;
-            f->data = q->data;
-        }
+        if (f != q)
+            f->key = q->key;
         swap(p, 1, q) = swap(q, 0, NULL);
         xfree(q);
         return 1;
diff --git a/src/rbtree.h b/src/rbtree.h
index 14fddd0..96688b1 100644
--- a/src/rbtree.h
+++ b/src/rbtree.h
@@ -18,8 +18,7 @@
 
 /* node definition */
 typedef struct _rbn {
-	unsigned      key;
-    void         *data;
+    const void   *key;
 	struct _rbn  *child[2];
 	unsigned char color;
 } rbnode;
@@ -29,24 +28,21 @@ typedef struct {
     /* user defined operations */
     void (*delete_fn)(void *);
     void (*update_fn)(void *, void *);
-    /* note: char* is used here to make dereference easier inside the function */
-    int  (*cmp_fn)(const char *, const char *);
+    int  (*cmp_fn)(const void *, const void *);
 } rbtree;
 
 #define RBTREE_INIT(delete, update, cmp) { NULL, delete, update, cmp}
 
 int rbtree_is_empty(rbtree *tree);
 
-rbnode* rbtree_search(rbtree *tree, unsigned key);
-
-rbnode* rbtree_cmp_search(rbtree *tree, const void *data);
+rbnode* rbtree_search(rbtree *tree, const void *key);
 
 void rbtree_walk(rbtree *tree, void (*action)(rbnode *));
 
 void rbtree_free(rbtree *tree);
 
-int rbtree_insert(rbtree *tree, unsigned key, void *data);
+int rbtree_insert(rbtree *tree, const void *key);
 
-int rbtree_delete(rbtree *tree, unsigned key);
+int rbtree_delete(rbtree *tree, const void *key);
 
 #endif /* __RBTREE_H */
diff --git a/test/t_rbtree.c b/test/t_rbtree.c
index 90eb3ec..d79c837 100644
--- a/test/t_rbtree.c
+++ b/test/t_rbtree.c
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@
 
 #define is_red(n) ((n) != NULL && (n)->color == RB_RED)
 
+static int vcmp(const void *a, const void *b);
+static void vdelete(void *ptr);
+
 static int rb_assert(rbnode *node) {
 	
 	int rh, lh;
@@ -38,9 +41,9 @@ static int rb_assert(rbnode *node) {
 		
 	lh = rb_assert(ln);
 	rh = rb_assert(rn);
-    
-	if ( (ln != NULL && ln->key >= node->key) &&
-		 (rn != NULL && rn->key <= node->key) ) {
+
+    if ( (ln != NULL && vcmp(ln->key, node->key) >= 0) &&
+         (rn != NULL && vcmp(rn->key, node->key) <= 0) ) {
 		die("BST violation");
 		return 0;
 	}
@@ -58,61 +61,33 @@ static int rb_assert(rbnode *node) {
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int vcmp(const char *a, const char *b);
-static void vfree(void *ptr);
-static void vupdate(void *old, void *new);
-
 /* data */
-static rbtree tree = RBTREE_INIT(vfree, vupdate, vcmp);
+static rbtree tree = RBTREE_INIT(vdelete, NULL, vcmp);
 static int   keyref[NODES];
-static char *dataref[NODES];
 
-static int vcmp(const char *a, const char *b) {
+static int vcmp(const void *a, const void *b) {
 
-    printf("cmp: %s -> %s\n", a, b); 
-    
-    return strcmp(a, b);
+    return *((int*)a) - *((int*)b);
 }
 
-static void vupdate(void *old, void *new) {
+static void vdelete(void *ptr) {
 
     int i;
 
-    printf("update: %s -> %s\n", (char*)old, (char*)new);
-
+    printf("delete: %i\n", *((int*)ptr));
+ 
     for(i=0; i < NODES; i++) {
 
         if (keyref[i] == -1)
             continue;
-        
-        if (old == dataref[i]) {
-            dataref[i] = new;
+
+        if (ptr == &keyref[i]) {
+            keyref[i] = -1;
             break;
         }
     }
 }
 
-static void vfree(void *ptr) {
-
-    int i;
-
-    printf("free: %s\n", (char*)ptr);
-
-    for(i=0; i < NODES; i++) {
-
-        if (keyref[i] == -1)
-            continue;
-        
-        if (ptr == dataref[i]) {
-            keyref[i]  = -1;
-            dataref[i] = NULL;
-            break;
-        }
-    }
-
-    free(ptr);
-}
-
 static void vwalk(rbnode *node) {
 
     int i, found = 0;
@@ -120,46 +95,36 @@ static void vwalk(rbnode *node) {
     /* check if this node exist in the reference list */
     for(i=0; i < NODES; i++) {
         
-        if (node->key == keyref[i] && node->data == dataref[i]) {
+        if (node->key == &keyref[i]) {
             found = 1;
             break;
         }
     }
-
     assert(found);
 }
 
 void test_insert() {
 
-    int i = 0, ret;
-    uint ckey;
-    char *data;
-
-    utest_init_RNG();
-
+    int i = 0;
+    
     /* insert values */
 	while(i < NODES) {
-		
-		ckey = (uint) (rand() % MAX_VAL);
-        data = utest_ran_string(16);
+
+        rbnode *node;
+        
+		keyref[i] = (uint) (rand() % MAX_VAL);
 		
         /* insert into rbtree and assert it */
-		ret = rbtree_insert(&tree, ckey, data);
+		node = rbtree_insert(&tree, &keyref[i]);
         rb_assert(tree.root);
 
-        if (!ret)
-            continue;
-        
-        printf("insert: %i %s\n", ckey, data);
-        
-		keyref[i] = ckey;
-        dataref[i] = data;
+        assert(node);
+
+        printf("insert: %i\n", *((int*)node->key));
         
         i++;
 	}
 
-    /* insert duplicate key */
-    rbtree_insert(&tree, keyref[rand() % NODES], strdup("---- update ----"));
     rb_assert(tree.root);
 }
 
@@ -174,8 +139,10 @@ void test_delete() {
             key = keyref[rand() % NODES];
         while(key < 0);
 
-	    rbtree_delete(&tree, key);
+	    rbtree_delete(&tree, &key);
         rb_assert(tree.root);
+
+        keyref[key] = -1;
 	}
 }
 
@@ -192,40 +159,23 @@ void test_search() {
     printf("search: expecting to find key %i\n", keyref[index]);
 
     /* search for a key we know exists */
-    n = rbtree_search(&tree, keyref[index]);
+    n = rbtree_search(&tree, &keyref[index]);
     rb_assert(tree.root);
 
     assert(n != NULL);
-    assert(n->key == keyref[index]);
-    assert_string(n->data, dataref[index]);
+    assert(n->key == &keyref[index]);
 
-    printf("search: expecting to not find key: %i\n", MAX_VAL+512);
+    index = MAX_VAL + 512;
+    
+    printf("search: expecting to not find key: %i\n", index);
 
     /* search for a key we now don't exist */
-    n = rbtree_search(&tree, MAX_VAL+512);
+    n = rbtree_search(&tree, &index);
     rb_assert(tree.root);
 
     assert(n == NULL);
 }
 
-void test_cmp_search() {
-
-    char *search;
-    rbnode *n;
-
-    do
-        search = dataref[rand()%NODES];
-    while(search == NULL);
-
-    printf("cmp_search: searching for %s\n", search);
-    
-    n = rbtree_cmp_search(&tree, search);
-    
-    rb_assert(tree.root);
-    assert(n != NULL);
-    assert_string(n->data, search);
-}
-
 void test_walk() {
 
     rbtree_walk(&tree, vwalk);
@@ -235,6 +185,8 @@ void test_walk() {
 int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 	
 	tree.root = NULL;
+
+    utest_init_RNG();
 	
     /* a new tree is empty */
 	assert(rbtree_is_empty(&tree));
@@ -242,13 +194,11 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
     test_insert();
     
     test_search();
-    test_cmp_search();
     test_walk();
     
     test_delete();
     
     test_search();
-    test_cmp_search();
     test_walk();
 
     /* free the tree */