diff --git a/include/mimalloc-types.h b/include/mimalloc-types.h
index 1455da6f..6c7c201a 100644
--- a/include/mimalloc-types.h
+++ b/include/mimalloc-types.h
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ terms of the MIT license. A copy of the license can be found in the file
 
 // Encoded free lists allow detection of corrupted free lists
 // and can detect buffer overflows, modify after free, and double `free`s.
-#if (MI_SECURE>=3 || MI_DEBUG>=1 || MI_PADDING > 0) && !MI_VALGRIND
+#if (MI_SECURE>=3 || MI_DEBUG>=1)
 #define MI_ENCODE_FREELIST  1 
 #endif
 
diff --git a/src/alloc.c b/src/alloc.c
index c9265b0a..a341e0e7 100644
--- a/src/alloc.c
+++ b/src/alloc.c
@@ -39,10 +39,11 @@ extern inline void* _mi_page_malloc(mi_heap_t* heap, mi_page_t* page, size_t siz
   mi_assert_internal(page->free == NULL || _mi_ptr_page(page->free) == page);
 
   // allow use of the block internally 
-  // todo: can we optimize this call away for non-zero'd release mode?
+  // note: when tracking we need to avoid ever touching the MI_PADDING since
+  // that is tracked by valgrind etc. as non-accessible (through the red-zone, see `mimalloc-track.h`)
   #if MI_TRACK_ENABLED
   const size_t track_bsize = mi_page_block_size(page);
-  mi_assert_internal(track_bsize >= size);
+  mi_assert_internal(track_bsize >= size && track_bsize >= MI_PADDING_SIZE);
   mi_track_mem_undefined(block,track_bsize - MI_PADDING_SIZE);
   #endif
 
diff --git a/src/page.c b/src/page.c
index 357e05e1..bb74c600 100644
--- a/src/page.c
+++ b/src/page.c
@@ -616,7 +616,9 @@ static void mi_page_init(mi_heap_t* heap, mi_page_t* page, size_t block_size, mi
   // set fields
   mi_page_set_heap(page, heap);
   size_t page_size;
-  _mi_segment_page_start(segment, page, block_size, &page_size, NULL);
+  const void*  page_start = _mi_segment_page_start(segment, page, block_size, &page_size, NULL);
+  MI_UNUSED(page_start);
+  mi_track_mem_noaccess(page_start,page_size);
   page->xblock_size = (block_size < MI_HUGE_BLOCK_SIZE ? (uint32_t)block_size : MI_HUGE_BLOCK_SIZE);
   mi_assert_internal(page_size / block_size < (1L<<16));
   page->reserved = (uint16_t)(page_size / block_size);