diff --git a/bindings/dotnet/default.build b/bindings/dotnet/default.build
index f847355b..d8244870 100644
--- a/bindings/dotnet/default.build
+++ b/bindings/dotnet/default.build
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@
     <mkdir dir="${build.dir}"/>
 
     <csc target="library" debug="${debug}"
-         unsafe="true"
          output="${sigarsharp}">
       <sources>
         <include name="src/Sigar.cs"/>
diff --git a/bindings/dotnet/src/Sigar.cs b/bindings/dotnet/src/Sigar.cs
index c2aad542..8f852e21 100644
--- a/bindings/dotnet/src/Sigar.cs
+++ b/bindings/dotnet/src/Sigar.cs
@@ -34,16 +34,14 @@ namespace Hyperic.Sigar {
         internal HandleRef sigar;
 
         [DllImport(LIBSIGAR)]
-        unsafe private static extern int sigar_open(IntPtr *sigar);
+        private static extern int sigar_open(ref IntPtr sigar);
 
         [DllImport(LIBSIGAR)]
         private static extern int sigar_close(IntPtr sigar);
 
         public Sigar() {
-            IntPtr handle;
-            unsafe { //&pointers are considered "unsafe"
-                sigar_open(&handle);
-            }
+            IntPtr handle = IntPtr.Zero;
+            sigar_open(ref handle);
             this.sigar = new HandleRef(this, handle);
         }