diff --git a/api.go b/api.go
index cae91b20f..a9bd02f2d 100644
--- a/api.go
+++ b/api.go
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ type API struct {
 	holder  *Holder
 	cluster *cluster
 	server  *Server
+
+	Serializer Serializer
 }
 
 // APIOption is a functional option type for pilosa.API
@@ -48,6 +50,7 @@ func OptAPIServer(s *Server) APIOption {
 		a.server = s
 		a.holder = s.holder
 		a.cluster = s.cluster
+		a.Serializer = s.serializer
 		return nil
 	}
 }
diff --git a/encoding/proto/proto.go b/encoding/proto/proto.go
index 10cc13dc4..0f2574f1b 100644
--- a/encoding/proto/proto.go
+++ b/encoding/proto/proto.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package proto
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"sort"
 
 	"github.com/gogo/protobuf/proto"
 	"github.com/pilosa/pilosa"
@@ -161,6 +162,23 @@ func (Serializer) Unmarshal(buf []byte, m pilosa.Message) error {
 		}
 		decodeNode(msg, mt)
 		return nil
+	case *pilosa.QueryRequest:
+		msg := &internal.QueryRequest{}
+		err := proto.Unmarshal(buf, msg)
+		if err != nil {
+			return errors.Wrap(err, "unmarshaling QueryRequest")
+		}
+		decodeQueryRequest(msg, mt)
+		return nil
+	case *pilosa.QueryResponse:
+		msg := &internal.QueryResponse{}
+		err := proto.Unmarshal(buf, msg)
+		if err != nil {
+			return errors.Wrap(err, "unmarshaling QueryResponse")
+		}
+		decodeQueryResponse(msg, mt)
+		return nil
+
 	default:
 		panic(fmt.Sprintf("unhandled pilosa.Message of type %T: %#v", mt, m))
 	}
@@ -202,10 +220,62 @@ func encodeToProto(m pilosa.Message) proto.Message {
 		return encodeNodeStatus(mt)
 	case *pilosa.Node:
 		return encodeNode(mt)
+	case *pilosa.QueryRequest:
+		return encodeQueryRequest(mt)
+	case *pilosa.QueryResponse:
+		return encodeQueryResponse(mt)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
 
+func encodeQueryRequest(m *pilosa.QueryRequest) *internal.QueryRequest {
+	return &internal.QueryRequest{
+		Query:           m.Query,
+		Shards:          m.Shards,
+		ColumnAttrs:     m.ColumnAttrs,
+		Remote:          m.Remote,
+		ExcludeRowAttrs: m.ExcludeRowAttrs,
+		ExcludeColumns:  m.ExcludeColumns,
+	}
+}
+
+func encodeQueryResponse(m *pilosa.QueryResponse) *internal.QueryResponse {
+	pb := &internal.QueryResponse{
+		Results:        make([]*internal.QueryResult, len(m.Results)),
+		ColumnAttrSets: EncodeColumnAttrSets(m.ColumnAttrSets),
+	}
+
+	for i := range m.Results {
+		pb.Results[i] = &internal.QueryResult{}
+
+		switch result := m.Results[i].(type) {
+		case *pilosa.Row:
+			pb.Results[i].Type = queryResultTypeRow
+			pb.Results[i].Row = EncodeRow(result)
+		case []pilosa.Pair:
+			pb.Results[i].Type = queryResultTypePairs
+			pb.Results[i].Pairs = EncodePairs(result)
+		case pilosa.ValCount:
+			pb.Results[i].Type = queryResultTypeValCount
+			pb.Results[i].ValCount = EncodeValCount(result)
+		case uint64:
+			pb.Results[i].Type = queryResultTypeUint64
+			pb.Results[i].N = result
+		case bool:
+			pb.Results[i].Type = queryResultTypeBool
+			pb.Results[i].Changed = result
+		case nil:
+			pb.Results[i].Type = queryResultTypeNil
+		}
+	}
+
+	if m.Err != nil {
+		pb.Err = m.Err.Error()
+	}
+
+	return pb
+}
+
 func encodeResizeInstruction(m *pilosa.ResizeInstruction) *internal.ResizeInstruction {
 	return &internal.ResizeInstruction{
 		JobID:         m.JobID,
@@ -602,3 +672,221 @@ func decodeNodeStatus(pb *internal.NodeStatus, m *pilosa.NodeStatus) {
 }
 
 func decodeRecalculateCaches(pb *internal.RecalculateCaches, m *pilosa.RecalculateCaches) {}
+
+func decodeQueryRequest(pb *internal.QueryRequest, m *pilosa.QueryRequest) {
+	m.Query = pb.Query
+	m.Shards = pb.Shards
+	m.ColumnAttrs = pb.ColumnAttrs
+	m.Remote = pb.Remote
+	m.ExcludeRowAttrs = pb.ExcludeRowAttrs
+	m.ExcludeColumns = pb.ExcludeColumns
+}
+
+func decodeQueryResponse(pb *internal.QueryResponse, m *pilosa.QueryResponse) {
+	m.ColumnAttrSets = make([]*pilosa.ColumnAttrSet, len(pb.ColumnAttrSets))
+	decodeColumnAttrSets(pb.ColumnAttrSets, m.ColumnAttrSets)
+	m.Err = errors.New(pb.Err)
+	m.Results = make([]interface{}, len(pb.Results))
+	decodeQueryResults(pb.Results, m.Results)
+
+}
+
+func decodeColumnAttrSets(pb []*internal.ColumnAttrSet, m []*pilosa.ColumnAttrSet) {
+	for i := range pb {
+		decodeColumnAttrSet(pb[i], m[i])
+	}
+}
+
+func decodeColumnAttrSet(pb *internal.ColumnAttrSet, m *pilosa.ColumnAttrSet) {
+	m.ID = pb.ID
+	m.Key = pb.Key
+	m.Attrs = decodeAttrs(pb.Attrs)
+}
+
+func decodeQueryResults(pb []*internal.QueryResult, m []interface{}) {
+	for i := range pb {
+		m[i] = decodeQueryResult(pb[i])
+	}
+}
+
+// QueryResult types.
+const (
+	queryResultTypeNil uint32 = iota
+	queryResultTypeRow
+	queryResultTypePairs
+	queryResultTypeValCount
+	queryResultTypeUint64
+	queryResultTypeBool
+)
+
+func decodeQueryResult(pb *internal.QueryResult) interface{} {
+	switch pb.Type {
+	case queryResultTypeRow:
+		return decodeRow(pb.Row)
+	case queryResultTypePairs:
+		return decodePairs(pb.Pairs)
+	case queryResultTypeValCount:
+		return decodeValCount(pb.ValCount)
+	case queryResultTypeUint64:
+		return pb.N
+	case queryResultTypeBool:
+		return pb.Changed
+	case queryResultTypeNil:
+		return nil
+	}
+	panic(fmt.Sprintf("unknown type: %d", pb.Type))
+}
+
+// DecodeRow converts r from its internal representation.
+func decodeRow(pr *internal.Row) *pilosa.Row {
+	if pr == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	r := pilosa.NewRow()
+	r.Attrs = decodeAttrs(pr.Attrs)
+	for _, v := range pr.Columns {
+		r.SetBit(v)
+	}
+	return r
+}
+
+func decodeAttrs(pb []*internal.Attr) map[string]interface{} {
+	m := make(map[string]interface{}, len(pb))
+	for i := range pb {
+		key, value := decodeAttr(pb[i])
+		m[key] = value
+	}
+	return m
+}
+
+const (
+	attrTypeString = 1
+	attrTypeInt    = 2
+	attrTypeBool   = 3
+	attrTypeFloat  = 4
+)
+
+func decodeAttr(attr *internal.Attr) (key string, value interface{}) {
+	switch attr.Type {
+	case attrTypeString:
+		return attr.Key, attr.StringValue
+	case attrTypeInt:
+		return attr.Key, attr.IntValue
+	case attrTypeBool:
+		return attr.Key, attr.BoolValue
+	case attrTypeFloat:
+		return attr.Key, attr.FloatValue
+	default:
+		return attr.Key, nil
+	}
+}
+
+func decodePairs(a []*internal.Pair) []pilosa.Pair {
+	other := make([]pilosa.Pair, len(a))
+	for i := range a {
+		other[i] = decodePair(a[i])
+	}
+	return other
+}
+
+func decodePair(pb *internal.Pair) pilosa.Pair {
+	return pilosa.Pair{
+		ID:    pb.ID,
+		Key:   pb.Key,
+		Count: pb.Count,
+	}
+}
+
+func decodeValCount(pb *internal.ValCount) pilosa.ValCount {
+	return pilosa.ValCount{
+		Val:   pb.Val,
+		Count: pb.Count,
+	}
+}
+
+func EncodeColumnAttrSets(a []*pilosa.ColumnAttrSet) []*internal.ColumnAttrSet {
+	other := make([]*internal.ColumnAttrSet, len(a))
+	for i := range a {
+		other[i] = EncodeColumnAttrSet(a[i])
+	}
+	return other
+}
+
+func EncodeColumnAttrSet(set *pilosa.ColumnAttrSet) *internal.ColumnAttrSet {
+	return &internal.ColumnAttrSet{
+		ID:    set.ID,
+		Attrs: encodeAttrs(set.Attrs),
+	}
+}
+
+func EncodeRow(r *pilosa.Row) *internal.Row {
+	if r == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	return &internal.Row{
+		Columns: r.Columns(),
+		Attrs:   encodeAttrs(r.Attrs),
+	}
+}
+
+func EncodePairs(a pilosa.Pairs) []*internal.Pair {
+	other := make([]*internal.Pair, len(a))
+	for i := range a {
+		other[i] = encodePair(a[i])
+	}
+	return other
+}
+
+func encodePair(p pilosa.Pair) *internal.Pair {
+	return &internal.Pair{
+		ID:    p.ID,
+		Key:   p.Key,
+		Count: p.Count,
+	}
+}
+
+func EncodeValCount(vc pilosa.ValCount) *internal.ValCount {
+	return &internal.ValCount{
+		Val:   vc.Val,
+		Count: vc.Count,
+	}
+}
+
+func encodeAttrs(m map[string]interface{}) []*internal.Attr {
+	keys := make([]string, 0, len(m))
+	for k := range m {
+		keys = append(keys, k)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(keys)
+
+	a := make([]*internal.Attr, len(keys))
+	for i := range keys {
+		a[i] = encodeAttr(keys[i], m[keys[i]])
+	}
+	return a
+}
+
+// encodeAttr converts a key/value pair into an Attr internal representation.
+func encodeAttr(key string, value interface{}) *internal.Attr {
+	pb := &internal.Attr{Key: key}
+	switch value := value.(type) {
+	case string:
+		pb.Type = attrTypeString
+		pb.StringValue = value
+	case float64:
+		pb.Type = attrTypeFloat
+		pb.FloatValue = value
+	case uint64:
+		pb.Type = attrTypeInt
+		pb.IntValue = int64(value)
+	case int64:
+		pb.Type = attrTypeInt
+		pb.IntValue = value
+	case bool:
+		pb.Type = attrTypeBool
+		pb.BoolValue = value
+	}
+	return pb
+}
diff --git a/gossip/gossip.go b/gossip/gossip.go
index 251851077..28b3ac690 100644
--- a/gossip/gossip.go
+++ b/gossip/gossip.go
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/hashicorp/memberlist"
 	"github.com/pilosa/pilosa"
-	"github.com/pilosa/pilosa/encoding/proto"
 	"github.com/pilosa/pilosa/toml"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 )
@@ -43,9 +42,8 @@ type GossipMemberSet struct {
 
 	broadcasts *memberlist.TransmitLimitedQueue
 
-	papi       *pilosa.API
-	serializer pilosa.Serializer
-	config     *gossipConfig
+	papi   *pilosa.API
+	config *gossipConfig
 
 	Logger pilosa.Logger
 
@@ -150,9 +148,8 @@ func WithLogger(logger *log.Logger) GossipMemberSetOption {
 func NewGossipMemberSet(cfg Config, api *pilosa.API, options ...GossipMemberSetOption) (*GossipMemberSet, error) {
 	host := api.Node().URI.GetHost()
 	g := &GossipMemberSet{
-		papi:       api,
-		serializer: proto.Serializer{},
-		Logger:     pilosa.NopLogger,
+		papi:   api,
+		Logger: pilosa.NopLogger,
 	}
 
 	// options
@@ -223,7 +220,7 @@ func NewGossipMemberSet(cfg Config, api *pilosa.API, options ...GossipMemberSetO
 
 // NodeMeta implementation of the memberlist.Delegate interface.
 func (g *GossipMemberSet) NodeMeta(limit int) []byte {
-	buf, err := g.serializer.Marshal(g.papi.Node())
+	buf, err := g.papi.Serializer.Marshal(g.papi.Node())
 	if err != nil {
 		g.Logger.Printf("marshal message error: %s", err)
 		return []byte{}
@@ -256,7 +253,7 @@ func (g *GossipMemberSet) LocalState(join bool) []byte {
 	}
 
 	// Marshal nodestate data to bytes.
-	buf, err := pilosa.MarshalInternalMessage(m, g.serializer)
+	buf, err := pilosa.MarshalInternalMessage(m, g.papi.Serializer)
 	if err != nil {
 		g.Logger.Printf("error marshalling nodestate data, err=%s", err)
 		return []byte{}
@@ -279,9 +276,8 @@ func (g *GossipMemberSet) MergeRemoteState(buf []byte, join bool) {
 // Care must be taken that events are processed in a timely manner from
 // the channel, since this delegate will block until an event can be sent.
 type gossipEventReceiver struct {
-	ch         chan memberlist.NodeEvent
-	papi       *pilosa.API
-	serializer pilosa.Serializer
+	ch   chan memberlist.NodeEvent
+	papi *pilosa.API
 
 	logger *log.Logger
 }
@@ -289,10 +285,9 @@ type gossipEventReceiver struct {
 // newGossipEventReceiver returns a new instance of GossipEventReceiver.
 func newGossipEventReceiver(logger *log.Logger, papi *pilosa.API) *gossipEventReceiver {
 	ger := &gossipEventReceiver{
-		ch:         make(chan memberlist.NodeEvent, 1),
-		logger:     logger,
-		papi:       papi,
-		serializer: proto.Serializer{},
+		ch:     make(chan memberlist.NodeEvent, 1),
+		logger: logger,
+		papi:   papi,
 	}
 	go ger.listen()
 	return ger
@@ -327,7 +322,7 @@ func (g *gossipEventReceiver) listen() {
 
 		// Get the node from the event.Node meta data.
 		var n pilosa.Node
-		if err := g.serializer.Unmarshal(e.Node.Meta, &n); err != nil {
+		if err := g.papi.Serializer.Unmarshal(e.Node.Meta, &n); err != nil {
 			panic("failed to unmarshal event node meta into node")
 		}
 
@@ -335,7 +330,7 @@ func (g *gossipEventReceiver) listen() {
 			Event: nodeEventType,
 			Node:  &n,
 		}
-		buf, err := pilosa.MarshalInternalMessage(ne, g.serializer)
+		buf, err := pilosa.MarshalInternalMessage(ne, g.papi.Serializer)
 		if err != nil {
 			panic(err)
 		}
diff --git a/http/handler.go b/http/handler.go
index 9195f05e9..84832b1d4 100644
--- a/http/handler.go
+++ b/http/handler.go
@@ -815,13 +815,12 @@ func (h *Handler) readProtobufQueryRequest(r *http.Request) (*pilosa.QueryReques
 		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "reading")
 	}
 
-	// Unmarshal into object.
-	var req internal.QueryRequest
-	if err := proto.Unmarshal(body, &req); err != nil {
-		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "unmarshalling")
+	qreq := &pilosa.QueryRequest{}
+	err = h.API.Serializer.Unmarshal(body, qreq)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "unmarshalling query request")
 	}
-
-	return decodeQueryRequest(&req), nil
+	return qreq, nil
 }
 
 // readURLQueryRequest parses query parameters from URL parameters from r.
@@ -860,7 +859,7 @@ func (h *Handler) writeQueryResponse(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, res
 
 // writeProtobufQueryResponse writes the response from the executor to w as protobuf.
 func (h *Handler) writeProtobufQueryResponse(w http.ResponseWriter, resp *pilosa.QueryResponse) error {
-	if buf, err := proto.Marshal(encodeQueryResponse(resp)); err != nil {
+	if buf, err := h.API.Serializer.Marshal(resp); err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "marshalling")
 	} else if _, err := w.Write(buf); err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "writing")