diff --git a/perl/lib/Nix/Store.xs b/perl/lib/Nix/Store.xs
index 945ed49c7..2a2a0d429 100644
--- a/perl/lib/Nix/Store.xs
+++ b/perl/lib/Nix/Store.xs
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ SV * queryReferences(char * path)
 SV * queryPathHash(char * path)
     PPCODE:
         try {
-            auto s = store()->queryPathInfo(store()->parseStorePath(path))->narHash.to_string(Base32, true);
+            auto s = store()->queryPathInfo(store()->parseStorePath(path))->narHash->to_string(Base32, true);
             XPUSHs(sv_2mortal(newSVpv(s.c_str(), 0)));
         } catch (Error & e) {
             croak("%s", e.what());
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ SV * queryPathInfo(char * path, int base32)
                 XPUSHs(&PL_sv_undef);
             else
                 XPUSHs(sv_2mortal(newSVpv(store()->printStorePath(*info->deriver).c_str(), 0)));
-            auto s = info->narHash.to_string(base32 ? Base32 : Base16, true);
+            auto s = info->narHash->to_string(base32 ? Base32 : Base16, true);
             XPUSHs(sv_2mortal(newSVpv(s.c_str(), 0)));
             mXPUSHi(info->registrationTime);
             mXPUSHi(info->narSize);
diff --git a/src/libexpr/primops.cc b/src/libexpr/primops.cc
index f5fbd3fa6..0dd5624b2 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/primops.cc
+++ b/src/libexpr/primops.cc
@@ -1122,7 +1122,7 @@ static void prim_toFile(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Valu
 
 
 static void addPath(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, const string & name, const Path & path_,
-    Value * filterFun, FileIngestionMethod method, const Hash & expectedHash, Value & v)
+    Value * filterFun, FileIngestionMethod method, const std::optional<Hash> expectedHash, Value & v)
 {
     const auto path = evalSettings.pureEval && expectedHash ?
         path_ :
@@ -1153,7 +1153,7 @@ static void addPath(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, const string & name, con
 
     std::optional<StorePath> expectedStorePath;
     if (expectedHash)
-        expectedStorePath = state.store->makeFixedOutputPath(method, expectedHash, name);
+        expectedStorePath = state.store->makeFixedOutputPath(method, *expectedHash, name);
     Path dstPath;
     if (!expectedHash || !state.store->isValidPath(*expectedStorePath)) {
         dstPath = state.store->printStorePath(settings.readOnlyMode
@@ -1187,7 +1187,7 @@ static void prim_filterSource(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args
             .nixCode = NixCode { .errPos = pos }
         });
 
-    addPath(state, pos, std::string(baseNameOf(path)), path, args[0], FileIngestionMethod::Recursive, Hash(), v);
+    addPath(state, pos, std::string(baseNameOf(path)), path, args[0], FileIngestionMethod::Recursive, std::nullopt, v);
 }
 
 static void prim_path(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value & v)
@@ -1197,7 +1197,7 @@ static void prim_path(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value
     string name;
     Value * filterFun = nullptr;
     auto method = FileIngestionMethod::Recursive;
-    Hash expectedHash;
+    Hash expectedHash(htSHA256);
 
     for (auto & attr : *args[0]->attrs) {
         const string & n(attr.name);
diff --git a/src/libexpr/primops/fetchTree.cc b/src/libexpr/primops/fetchTree.cc
index 9be93710a..d23d47592 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/primops/fetchTree.cc
+++ b/src/libexpr/primops/fetchTree.cc
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ void emitTreeAttrs(
 
     assert(tree.info.narHash);
     mkString(*state.allocAttr(v, state.symbols.create("narHash")),
-        tree.info.narHash.to_string(SRI, true));
+        tree.info.narHash->to_string(SRI, true));
 
     if (input->getRev()) {
         mkString(*state.allocAttr(v, state.symbols.create("rev")), input->getRev()->gitRev());
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ static void fetch(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value & v,
             : hashFile(htSHA256, path);
         if (hash != *expectedHash)
             throw Error((unsigned int) 102, "hash mismatch in file downloaded from '%s':\n  wanted: %s\n  got:    %s",
-                *url, expectedHash->to_string(Base32, true), hash.to_string(Base32, true));
+                *url, expectedHash->to_string(Base32, true), hash->to_string(Base32, true));
     }
 
     if (state.allowedPaths)
diff --git a/src/libfetchers/tree-info.cc b/src/libfetchers/tree-info.cc
index b2d8cfc8d..432aa6182 100644
--- a/src/libfetchers/tree-info.cc
+++ b/src/libfetchers/tree-info.cc
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ namespace nix::fetchers {
 StorePath TreeInfo::computeStorePath(Store & store) const
 {
     assert(narHash);
-    return store.makeFixedOutputPath(FileIngestionMethod::Recursive, narHash, "source");
+    return store.makeFixedOutputPath(FileIngestionMethod::Recursive, *narHash, "source");
 }
 
 }
diff --git a/src/libfetchers/tree-info.hh b/src/libfetchers/tree-info.hh
index 2c7347281..9d1872097 100644
--- a/src/libfetchers/tree-info.hh
+++ b/src/libfetchers/tree-info.hh
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ namespace nix::fetchers {
 
 struct TreeInfo
 {
-    Hash narHash;
+    std::optional<Hash> narHash;
     std::optional<uint64_t> revCount;
     std::optional<time_t> lastModified;
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/binary-cache-store.cc b/src/libstore/binary-cache-store.cc
index 9f52ddafa..98a3eaebb 100644
--- a/src/libstore/binary-cache-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/binary-cache-store.cc
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ void BinaryCacheStore::addToStore(const ValidPathInfo & info, Source & narSource
         ((1.0 - (double) narCompressed->size() / nar->size()) * 100.0),
         duration);
 
-    narInfo->url = "nar/" + narInfo->fileHash.to_string(Base32, false) + ".nar"
+    narInfo->url = "nar/" + narInfo->fileHash->to_string(Base32, false) + ".nar"
         + (compression == "xz" ? ".xz" :
            compression == "bzip2" ? ".bz2" :
            compression == "br" ? ".br" :
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ StorePath BinaryCacheStore::addToStore(const string & name, const Path & srcPath
        method for very large paths, but `copyPath' is mainly used for
        small files. */
     StringSink sink;
-    Hash h;
+    std::optional<Hash> h;
     if (method == FileIngestionMethod::Recursive) {
         dumpPath(srcPath, sink, filter);
         h = hashString(hashAlgo, *sink.s);
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ StorePath BinaryCacheStore::addToStore(const string & name, const Path & srcPath
         h = hashString(hashAlgo, s);
     }
 
-    ValidPathInfo info(makeFixedOutputPath(method, h, name));
+    ValidPathInfo info(makeFixedOutputPath(method, *h, name));
 
     auto source = StringSource { *sink.s };
     addToStore(info, source, repair, CheckSigs, nullptr);
diff --git a/src/libstore/build.cc b/src/libstore/build.cc
index 82a2ab831..80351a675 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/build.cc
@@ -3730,8 +3730,8 @@ void DerivationGoal::registerOutputs()
             /* Check the hash. In hash mode, move the path produced by
                the derivation to its content-addressed location. */
             Hash h2 = i.second.hash->method == FileIngestionMethod::Recursive
-                ? hashPath(*i.second.hash->hash.type, actualPath).first
-                : hashFile(*i.second.hash->hash.type, actualPath);
+                ? hashPath(i.second.hash->hash.type, actualPath).first
+                : hashFile(i.second.hash->hash.type, actualPath);
 
             auto dest = worker.store.makeFixedOutputPath(i.second.hash->method, h2, i.second.path.name());
 
@@ -3777,8 +3777,10 @@ void DerivationGoal::registerOutputs()
            time.  The hash is stored in the database so that we can
            verify later on whether nobody has messed with the store. */
         debug("scanning for references inside '%1%'", path);
-        HashResult hash;
-        auto references = worker.store.parseStorePathSet(scanForReferences(actualPath, worker.store.printStorePathSet(referenceablePaths), hash));
+        // HashResult hash;
+        auto pathSetAndHash = scanForReferences(actualPath, worker.store.printStorePathSet(referenceablePaths));
+        auto references = worker.store.parseStorePathSet(pathSetAndHash.first);
+        HashResult hash = pathSetAndHash.second;
 
         if (buildMode == bmCheck) {
             if (!worker.store.isValidPath(worker.store.parseStorePath(path))) continue;
@@ -4997,7 +4999,7 @@ bool Worker::pathContentsGood(const StorePath & path)
     if (!pathExists(store.printStorePath(path)))
         res = false;
     else {
-        HashResult current = hashPath(*info->narHash.type, store.printStorePath(path));
+        HashResult current = hashPath(info->narHash->type, store.printStorePath(path));
         Hash nullHash(htSHA256);
         res = info->narHash == nullHash || info->narHash == current.first;
     }
diff --git a/src/libstore/builtins/fetchurl.cc b/src/libstore/builtins/fetchurl.cc
index 1cfe4a46a..f3827684b 100644
--- a/src/libstore/builtins/fetchurl.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/builtins/fetchurl.cc
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ void builtinFetchurl(const BasicDerivation & drv, const std::string & netrcData)
                 if (!hasSuffix(hashedMirror, "/")) hashedMirror += '/';
                 auto ht = parseHashTypeOpt(getAttr("outputHashAlgo"));
                 auto h = Hash(getAttr("outputHash"), ht);
-                fetch(hashedMirror + printHashType(*h.type) + "/" + h.to_string(Base16, false));
+                fetch(hashedMirror + printHashType(h.type) + "/" + h.to_string(Base16, false));
                 return;
             } catch (Error & e) {
                 debug(e.what());
diff --git a/src/libstore/daemon.cc b/src/libstore/daemon.cc
index e370e278c..296bfad5d 100644
--- a/src/libstore/daemon.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/daemon.cc
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ static void performOp(TunnelLogger * logger, ref<Store> store,
         logger->startWork();
         auto hash = store->queryPathInfo(path)->narHash;
         logger->stopWork();
-        to << hash.to_string(Base16, false);
+        to << hash->to_string(Base16, false);
         break;
     }
 
@@ -646,7 +646,7 @@ static void performOp(TunnelLogger * logger, ref<Store> store,
             if (GET_PROTOCOL_MINOR(clientVersion) >= 17)
                 to << 1;
             to << (info->deriver ? store->printStorePath(*info->deriver) : "")
-               << info->narHash.to_string(Base16, false);
+               << info->narHash->to_string(Base16, false);
             writeStorePaths(*store, to, info->references);
             to << info->registrationTime << info->narSize;
             if (GET_PROTOCOL_MINOR(clientVersion) >= 16) {
diff --git a/src/libstore/derivations.cc b/src/libstore/derivations.cc
index a79b78db6..53bd4da2a 100644
--- a/src/libstore/derivations.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/derivations.cc
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 namespace nix {
 
 std::string DerivationOutputHash::printMethodAlgo() const {
-    return makeFileIngestionPrefix(method) + printHashType(*hash.type);
+    return makeFileIngestionPrefix(method) + printHashType(hash.type);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/export-import.cc b/src/libstore/export-import.cc
index 57b7e9590..9b8cc5c3a 100644
--- a/src/libstore/export-import.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/export-import.cc
@@ -55,9 +55,9 @@ void Store::exportPath(const StorePath & path, Sink & sink)
        filesystem corruption from spreading to other machines.
        Don't complain if the stored hash is zero (unknown). */
     Hash hash = hashAndWriteSink.currentHash();
-    if (hash != info->narHash && info->narHash != Hash(*info->narHash.type))
+    if (hash != info->narHash && info->narHash != Hash(info->narHash->type))
         throw Error("hash of path '%s' has changed from '%s' to '%s'!",
-            printStorePath(path), info->narHash.to_string(Base32, true), hash.to_string(Base32, true));
+            printStorePath(path), info->narHash->to_string(Base32, true), hash.to_string(Base32, true));
 
     hashAndWriteSink
         << exportMagic
diff --git a/src/libstore/legacy-ssh-store.cc b/src/libstore/legacy-ssh-store.cc
index 45c70fad6..d3880459c 100644
--- a/src/libstore/legacy-ssh-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/legacy-ssh-store.cc
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ struct LegacySSHStore : public Store
 
             if (GET_PROTOCOL_MINOR(conn->remoteVersion) >= 4) {
                 auto s = readString(conn->from);
-                info->narHash = s.empty() ? Hash() : Hash(s);
+                info->narHash = s.empty() ? std::optional<Hash>{} : Hash(s);
                 conn->from >> info->ca;
                 info->sigs = readStrings<StringSet>(conn->from);
             }
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ struct LegacySSHStore : public Store
                 << cmdAddToStoreNar
                 << printStorePath(info.path)
                 << (info.deriver ? printStorePath(*info.deriver) : "")
-                << info.narHash.to_string(Base16, false);
+                << info.narHash->to_string(Base16, false);
             writeStorePaths(*this, conn->to, info.references);
             conn->to
                 << info.registrationTime
diff --git a/src/libstore/local-store.cc b/src/libstore/local-store.cc
index c6b55ff7c..aa2ee5b30 100644
--- a/src/libstore/local-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/local-store.cc
@@ -586,7 +586,7 @@ uint64_t LocalStore::addValidPath(State & state,
 
     state.stmtRegisterValidPath.use()
         (printStorePath(info.path))
-        (info.narHash.to_string(Base16, true))
+        (info.narHash->to_string(Base16, true))
         (info.registrationTime == 0 ? time(0) : info.registrationTime)
         (info.deriver ? printStorePath(*info.deriver) : "", (bool) info.deriver)
         (info.narSize, info.narSize != 0)
@@ -686,7 +686,7 @@ void LocalStore::updatePathInfo(State & state, const ValidPathInfo & info)
 {
     state.stmtUpdatePathInfo.use()
         (info.narSize, info.narSize != 0)
-        (info.narHash.to_string(Base16, true))
+        (info.narHash->to_string(Base16, true))
         (info.ultimate ? 1 : 0, info.ultimate)
         (concatStringsSep(" ", info.sigs), !info.sigs.empty())
         (info.ca, !info.ca.empty())
@@ -897,7 +897,7 @@ void LocalStore::registerValidPaths(const ValidPathInfos & infos)
         StorePathSet paths;
 
         for (auto & i : infos) {
-            assert(i.narHash.type == htSHA256);
+            assert(i.narHash && i.narHash->type == htSHA256);
             if (isValidPath_(*state, i.path))
                 updatePathInfo(*state, i);
             else
@@ -1010,7 +1010,7 @@ void LocalStore::addToStore(const ValidPathInfo & info, Source & source,
 
             if (hashResult.first != info.narHash)
                 throw Error("hash mismatch importing path '%s';\n  wanted: %s\n  got:    %s",
-                    printStorePath(info.path), info.narHash.to_string(Base32, true), hashResult.first.to_string(Base32, true));
+                    printStorePath(info.path), info.narHash->to_string(Base32, true), hashResult.first.to_string(Base32, true));
 
             if (hashResult.second != info.narSize)
                 throw Error("size mismatch importing path '%s';\n  wanted: %s\n  got:   %s",
@@ -1067,12 +1067,12 @@ StorePath LocalStore::addToStoreFromDump(const string & dump, const string & nam
                the path in the database.  We may just have computed it
                above (if called with recursive == true and hashAlgo ==
                sha256); otherwise, compute it here. */
-            HashResult hash;
-            if (method == FileIngestionMethod::Recursive) {
-                hash.first = hashAlgo == htSHA256 ? h : hashString(htSHA256, dump);
-                hash.second = dump.size();
-            } else
-                hash = hashPath(htSHA256, realPath);
+            HashResult hash = method == FileIngestionMethod::Recursive
+                ? HashResult {
+                    hashAlgo == htSHA256 ? h : hashString(htSHA256, dump),
+                    dump.size(),
+                  } 
+                : hashPath(htSHA256, realPath);
 
             optimisePath(realPath); // FIXME: combine with hashPath()
 
@@ -1255,9 +1255,9 @@ bool LocalStore::verifyStore(bool checkContents, RepairFlag repair)
 
                 std::unique_ptr<AbstractHashSink> hashSink;
                 if (info->ca == "" || !info->references.count(info->path))
-                    hashSink = std::make_unique<HashSink>(*info->narHash.type);
+                    hashSink = std::make_unique<HashSink>(info->narHash->type);
                 else
-                    hashSink = std::make_unique<HashModuloSink>(*info->narHash.type, std::string(info->path.hashPart()));
+                    hashSink = std::make_unique<HashModuloSink>(info->narHash->type, std::string(info->path.hashPart()));
 
                 dumpPath(Store::toRealPath(i), *hashSink);
                 auto current = hashSink->finish();
@@ -1266,7 +1266,7 @@ bool LocalStore::verifyStore(bool checkContents, RepairFlag repair)
                     logError({
                         .name = "Invalid hash - path modified",
                         .hint = hintfmt("path '%s' was modified! expected hash '%s', got '%s'",
-                        printStorePath(i), info->narHash.to_string(Base32, true), current.first.to_string(Base32, true))
+                        printStorePath(i), info->narHash->to_string(Base32, true), current.first.to_string(Base32, true))
                     });
                     if (repair) repairPath(i); else errors = true;
                 } else {
diff --git a/src/libstore/nar-info-disk-cache.cc b/src/libstore/nar-info-disk-cache.cc
index 552970248..6036b905e 100644
--- a/src/libstore/nar-info-disk-cache.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/nar-info-disk-cache.cc
@@ -230,9 +230,9 @@ public:
                     (std::string(info->path.name()))
                     (narInfo ? narInfo->url : "", narInfo != 0)
                     (narInfo ? narInfo->compression : "", narInfo != 0)
-                    (narInfo && narInfo->fileHash ? narInfo->fileHash.to_string(Base32, true) : "", narInfo && narInfo->fileHash)
+                    (narInfo && narInfo->fileHash ? narInfo->fileHash->to_string(Base32, true) : "", narInfo && narInfo->fileHash)
                     (narInfo ? narInfo->fileSize : 0, narInfo != 0 && narInfo->fileSize)
-                    (info->narHash.to_string(Base32, true))
+                    (info->narHash->to_string(Base32, true))
                     (info->narSize)
                     (concatStringsSep(" ", info->shortRefs()))
                     (info->deriver ? std::string(info->deriver->to_string()) : "", (bool) info->deriver)
diff --git a/src/libstore/nar-info.cc b/src/libstore/nar-info.cc
index bb4448c90..fb84b0410 100644
--- a/src/libstore/nar-info.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/nar-info.cc
@@ -7,15 +7,14 @@ NarInfo::NarInfo(const Store & store, const std::string & s, const std::string &
     : ValidPathInfo(StorePath(StorePath::dummy)) // FIXME: hack
 {
     auto corrupt = [&]() {
-        throw Error("NAR info file '%1%' is corrupt", whence);
+        return Error("NAR info file '%1%' is corrupt", whence);
     };
 
     auto parseHashField = [&](const string & s) {
         try {
             return Hash(s);
         } catch (BadHash &) {
-            corrupt();
-            return Hash(); // never reached
+            throw corrupt();
         }
     };
 
@@ -25,12 +24,12 @@ NarInfo::NarInfo(const Store & store, const std::string & s, const std::string &
     while (pos < s.size()) {
 
         size_t colon = s.find(':', pos);
-        if (colon == std::string::npos) corrupt();
+        if (colon == std::string::npos) throw corrupt();
 
         std::string name(s, pos, colon - pos);
 
         size_t eol = s.find('\n', colon + 2);
-        if (eol == std::string::npos) corrupt();
+        if (eol == std::string::npos) throw corrupt();
 
         std::string value(s, colon + 2, eol - colon - 2);
 
@@ -45,16 +44,16 @@ NarInfo::NarInfo(const Store & store, const std::string & s, const std::string &
         else if (name == "FileHash")
             fileHash = parseHashField(value);
         else if (name == "FileSize") {
-            if (!string2Int(value, fileSize)) corrupt();
+            if (!string2Int(value, fileSize)) throw corrupt();
         }
         else if (name == "NarHash")
             narHash = parseHashField(value);
         else if (name == "NarSize") {
-            if (!string2Int(value, narSize)) corrupt();
+            if (!string2Int(value, narSize)) throw corrupt();
         }
         else if (name == "References") {
             auto refs = tokenizeString<Strings>(value, " ");
-            if (!references.empty()) corrupt();
+            if (!references.empty()) throw corrupt();
             for (auto & r : refs)
                 references.insert(StorePath(r));
         }
@@ -67,7 +66,7 @@ NarInfo::NarInfo(const Store & store, const std::string & s, const std::string &
         else if (name == "Sig")
             sigs.insert(value);
         else if (name == "CA") {
-            if (!ca.empty()) corrupt();
+            if (!ca.empty()) throw corrupt();
             ca = value;
         }
 
@@ -76,7 +75,7 @@ NarInfo::NarInfo(const Store & store, const std::string & s, const std::string &
 
     if (compression == "") compression = "bzip2";
 
-    if (!havePath || url.empty() || narSize == 0 || !narHash) corrupt();
+    if (!havePath || url.empty() || narSize == 0 || !narHash) throw corrupt();
 }
 
 std::string NarInfo::to_string(const Store & store) const
@@ -86,11 +85,11 @@ std::string NarInfo::to_string(const Store & store) const
     res += "URL: " + url + "\n";
     assert(compression != "");
     res += "Compression: " + compression + "\n";
-    assert(fileHash.type == htSHA256);
-    res += "FileHash: " + fileHash.to_string(Base32, true) + "\n";
+    assert(fileHash && fileHash->type == htSHA256);
+    res += "FileHash: " + fileHash->to_string(Base32, true) + "\n";
     res += "FileSize: " + std::to_string(fileSize) + "\n";
-    assert(narHash.type == htSHA256);
-    res += "NarHash: " + narHash.to_string(Base32, true) + "\n";
+    assert(narHash && narHash->type == htSHA256);
+    res += "NarHash: " + narHash->to_string(Base32, true) + "\n";
     res += "NarSize: " + std::to_string(narSize) + "\n";
 
     res += "References: " + concatStringsSep(" ", shortRefs()) + "\n";
diff --git a/src/libstore/nar-info.hh b/src/libstore/nar-info.hh
index 373c33427..eff19f0ef 100644
--- a/src/libstore/nar-info.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/nar-info.hh
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ struct NarInfo : ValidPathInfo
 {
     std::string url;
     std::string compression;
-    Hash fileHash;
+    std::optional<Hash> fileHash;
     uint64_t fileSize = 0;
     std::string system;
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/references.cc b/src/libstore/references.cc
index a10d536a3..4733bc388 100644
--- a/src/libstore/references.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/references.cc
@@ -79,8 +79,8 @@ void RefScanSink::operator () (const unsigned char * data, size_t len)
 }
 
 
-PathSet scanForReferences(const string & path,
-    const PathSet & refs, HashResult & hash)
+std::pair<PathSet, HashResult> scanForReferences(const string & path,
+    const PathSet & refs)
 {
     RefScanSink sink;
     std::map<string, Path> backMap;
@@ -112,9 +112,9 @@ PathSet scanForReferences(const string & path,
         found.insert(j->second);
     }
 
-    hash = sink.hashSink.finish();
+    auto hash = sink.hashSink.finish();
 
-    return found;
+    return std::pair<PathSet, HashResult>(found, hash);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/references.hh b/src/libstore/references.hh
index c38bdd720..598a3203a 100644
--- a/src/libstore/references.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/references.hh
@@ -5,8 +5,7 @@
 
 namespace nix {
 
-PathSet scanForReferences(const Path & path, const PathSet & refs,
-    HashResult & hash);
+std::pair<PathSet, HashResult> scanForReferences(const Path & path, const PathSet & refs);
 
 struct RewritingSink : Sink
 {
diff --git a/src/libstore/remote-store.cc b/src/libstore/remote-store.cc
index f5f2ab7fd..c206a4538 100644
--- a/src/libstore/remote-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/remote-store.cc
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ void RemoteStore::addToStore(const ValidPathInfo & info, Source & source,
         conn->to << wopAddToStoreNar
                  << printStorePath(info.path)
                  << (info.deriver ? printStorePath(*info.deriver) : "")
-                 << info.narHash.to_string(Base16, false);
+                 << info.narHash->to_string(Base16, false);
         writeStorePaths(*this, conn->to, info.references);
         conn->to << info.registrationTime << info.narSize
                  << info.ultimate << info.sigs << info.ca
diff --git a/src/libstore/store-api.cc b/src/libstore/store-api.cc
index 982fc22b6..c74aeec48 100644
--- a/src/libstore/store-api.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/store-api.cc
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ string Store::makeValidityRegistration(const StorePathSet & paths,
         auto info = queryPathInfo(i);
 
         if (showHash) {
-            s += info->narHash.to_string(Base16, false) + "\n";
+            s += info->narHash->to_string(Base16, false) + "\n";
             s += (format("%1%\n") % info->narSize).str();
         }
 
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ void Store::pathInfoToJSON(JSONPlaceholder & jsonOut, const StorePathSet & store
             auto info = queryPathInfo(storePath);
 
             jsonPath
-                .attr("narHash", info->narHash.to_string(hashBase, true))
+                .attr("narHash", info->narHash->to_string(hashBase, true))
                 .attr("narSize", info->narSize);
 
             {
@@ -505,7 +505,7 @@ void Store::pathInfoToJSON(JSONPlaceholder & jsonOut, const StorePathSet & store
                     if (!narInfo->url.empty())
                         jsonPath.attr("url", narInfo->url);
                     if (narInfo->fileHash)
-                        jsonPath.attr("downloadHash", narInfo->fileHash.to_string(Base32, true));
+                        jsonPath.attr("downloadHash", narInfo->fileHash->to_string(Base32, true));
                     if (narInfo->fileSize)
                         jsonPath.attr("downloadSize", narInfo->fileSize);
                     if (showClosureSize)
@@ -746,7 +746,7 @@ std::string ValidPathInfo::fingerprint(const Store & store) const
             store.printStorePath(path));
     return
         "1;" + store.printStorePath(path) + ";"
-        + narHash.to_string(Base32, true) + ";"
+        + narHash->to_string(Base32, true) + ";"
         + std::to_string(narSize) + ";"
         + concatStringsSep(",", store.printStorePathSet(references));
 }
diff --git a/src/libstore/store-api.hh b/src/libstore/store-api.hh
index a05048290..de9b6a791 100644
--- a/src/libstore/store-api.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/store-api.hh
@@ -116,7 +116,8 @@ struct ValidPathInfo
 {
     StorePath path;
     std::optional<StorePath> deriver;
-    Hash narHash;
+    // TODO document this
+    std::optional<Hash> narHash;
     StorePathSet references;
     time_t registrationTime = 0;
     uint64_t narSize = 0; // 0 = unknown
diff --git a/src/libutil/hash.cc b/src/libutil/hash.cc
index e49eb4569..35a449530 100644
--- a/src/libutil/hash.cc
+++ b/src/libutil/hash.cc
@@ -16,16 +16,19 @@
 
 namespace nix {
 
+static size_t regularHashSize(HashType type) {
+    switch (type) {
+    case htMD5: return md5HashSize;
+    case htSHA1: return sha1HashSize;
+    case htSHA256: return sha256HashSize;
+    case htSHA512: return sha512HashSize;
+    }
+    abort();
+}
 
 void Hash::init()
 {
-    if (!type) abort();
-    switch (*type) {
-    case htMD5: hashSize = md5HashSize; break;
-    case htSHA1: hashSize = sha1HashSize; break;
-    case htSHA256: hashSize = sha256HashSize; break;
-    case htSHA512: hashSize = sha512HashSize; break;
-    }
+    hashSize = regularHashSize(type);
     assert(hashSize <= maxHashSize);
     memset(hash, 0, maxHashSize);
 }
@@ -105,18 +108,11 @@ string printHash16or32(const Hash & hash)
 }
 
 
-HashType assertInitHashType(const Hash & h) {
-    if (h.type)
-        return *h.type;
-    else
-        abort();
-}
-
 std::string Hash::to_string(Base base, bool includeType) const
 {
     std::string s;
     if (base == SRI || includeType) {
-        s += printHashType(assertInitHashType(*this));
+        s += printHashType(type);
         s += base == SRI ? '-' : ':';
     }
     switch (base) {
@@ -137,31 +133,39 @@ std::string Hash::to_string(Base base, bool includeType) const
 Hash::Hash(std::string_view s, HashType type) : Hash(s, std::optional { type }) { }
 Hash::Hash(std::string_view s) : Hash(s, std::optional<HashType>{}) { }
 
-Hash::Hash(std::string_view s, std::optional<HashType> type)
-    : type(type)
+Hash::Hash(std::string_view s, std::optional<HashType> optType)
 {
     size_t pos = 0;
     bool isSRI = false;
 
+    // Find the : or - separater, and set `isSRI` to the correct value
     auto sep = s.find(':');
-    if (sep == string::npos) {
+    if (sep == std::string_view::npos) {
         sep = s.find('-');
-        if (sep != string::npos) {
+        if (sep != std::string_view::npos)
             isSRI = true;
-        } else if (! type)
-            throw BadHash("hash '%s' does not include a type", s);
     }
 
-    if (sep != string::npos) {
-        string hts = string(s, 0, sep);
-        this->type = parseHashType(hts);
-        if (!this->type)
+    // Parse the has type before the separater, if there was one.
+    std::optional<HashType> optParsedType;
+    if (sep != std::string_view::npos) {
+        auto hts = s.substr(0, sep);
+        auto optParsedType = parseHashTypeOpt(hts);
+        if (!optParsedType)
             throw BadHash("unknown hash type '%s'", hts);
-        if (type && type != this->type)
-            throw BadHash("hash '%s' should have type '%s'", s, printHashType(*type));
         pos = sep + 1;
     }
 
+    // Either the string or user must provide the type, if they both do they
+    // must agree.
+    if (!optParsedType && !optType) {
+        throw BadHash("hash '%s' does not include a type, nor is the type otherwise known from context.", s);
+    } else {
+        this->type = optParsedType ? *optParsedType : *optType;
+        if (optParsedType && optType && *optParsedType != *optType)
+            throw BadHash("hash '%s' should have type '%s'", s, printHashType(*optType));
+    }
+
     init();
 
     size_t size = s.size() - pos;
@@ -214,7 +218,7 @@ Hash::Hash(std::string_view s, std::optional<HashType> type)
     }
 
     else
-        throw BadHash("hash '%s' has wrong length for hash type '%s'", s, printHashType(*type));
+        throw BadHash("hash '%s' has wrong length for hash type '%s'", s, printHashType(type));
 }
 
 Hash newHashAllowEmpty(std::string hashStr, std::optional<HashType> ht)
@@ -267,7 +271,7 @@ static void finish(HashType ht, Ctx & ctx, unsigned char * hash)
 }
 
 
-Hash hashString(HashType ht, const string & s)
+Hash hashString(HashType ht, std::string_view s)
 {
     Ctx ctx;
     Hash hash(ht);
@@ -334,7 +338,7 @@ HashResult hashPath(
 
 Hash compressHash(const Hash & hash, unsigned int newSize)
 {
-    Hash h;
+    Hash h(hash.type);
     h.hashSize = newSize;
     for (unsigned int i = 0; i < hash.hashSize; ++i)
         h.hash[i % newSize] ^= hash.hash[i];
@@ -342,7 +346,7 @@ Hash compressHash(const Hash & hash, unsigned int newSize)
 }
 
 
-std::optional<HashType> parseHashTypeOpt(const string & s)
+std::optional<HashType> parseHashTypeOpt(std::string_view s)
 {
     if (s == "md5") return htMD5;
     else if (s == "sha1") return htSHA1;
@@ -351,7 +355,7 @@ std::optional<HashType> parseHashTypeOpt(const string & s)
     else return std::optional<HashType> {};
 }
 
-HashType parseHashType(const string & s)
+HashType parseHashType(std::string_view s)
 {
     auto opt_h = parseHashTypeOpt(s);
     if (opt_h)
diff --git a/src/libutil/hash.hh b/src/libutil/hash.hh
index 0d9916508..b51850ccf 100644
--- a/src/libutil/hash.hh
+++ b/src/libutil/hash.hh
@@ -25,14 +25,11 @@ enum Base : int { Base64, Base32, Base16, SRI };
 
 struct Hash
 {
-    static const unsigned int maxHashSize = 64;
-    unsigned int hashSize = 0;
-    unsigned char hash[maxHashSize] = {};
+    constexpr static size_t maxHashSize = 64;
+    size_t hashSize = 0;
+    uint8_t hash[maxHashSize] = {};
 
-    std::optional<HashType> type = {};
-
-    /* Create an unset hash object. */
-    Hash() { };
+    HashType type;
 
     /* Create a zero-filled hash object. */
     Hash(HashType type) : type(type) { init(); };
@@ -105,7 +102,7 @@ Hash newHashAllowEmpty(std::string hashStr, std::optional<HashType> ht);
 string printHash16or32(const Hash & hash);
 
 /* Compute the hash of the given string. */
-Hash hashString(HashType ht, const string & s);
+Hash hashString(HashType ht, std::string_view s);
 
 /* Compute the hash of the given file. */
 Hash hashFile(HashType ht, const Path & path);
@@ -121,9 +118,9 @@ HashResult hashPath(HashType ht, const Path & path,
 Hash compressHash(const Hash & hash, unsigned int newSize);
 
 /* Parse a string representing a hash type. */
-HashType parseHashType(const string & s);
+HashType parseHashType(std::string_view s);
 /* Will return nothing on parse error */
-std::optional<HashType> parseHashTypeOpt(const string & s);
+std::optional<HashType> parseHashTypeOpt(std::string_view s);
 
 /* And the reverse. */
 string printHashType(HashType ht);
diff --git a/src/nix-prefetch-url/nix-prefetch-url.cc b/src/nix-prefetch-url/nix-prefetch-url.cc
index 40b05a2f3..22410c44c 100644
--- a/src/nix-prefetch-url/nix-prefetch-url.cc
+++ b/src/nix-prefetch-url/nix-prefetch-url.cc
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ static int _main(int argc, char * * argv)
 
         /* If an expected hash is given, the file may already exist in
            the store. */
-        Hash hash, expectedHash(ht);
+        Hash hash(ht), expectedHash(ht);
         std::optional<StorePath> storePath;
         if (args.size() == 2) {
             expectedHash = Hash(args[1], ht);
diff --git a/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc b/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
index 4e02aa2bf..d061317ae 100644
--- a/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
+++ b/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
@@ -372,8 +372,8 @@ static void opQuery(Strings opFlags, Strings opArgs)
                 for (auto & j : maybeUseOutputs(store->followLinksToStorePath(i), useOutput, forceRealise)) {
                     auto info = store->queryPathInfo(j);
                     if (query == qHash) {
-                        assert(info->narHash.type == htSHA256);
-                        cout << fmt("%s\n", info->narHash.to_string(Base32, true));
+                        assert(info->narHash && info->narHash->type == htSHA256);
+                        cout << fmt("%s\n", info->narHash->to_string(Base32, true));
                     } else if (query == qSize)
                         cout << fmt("%d\n", info->narSize);
                 }
@@ -725,7 +725,7 @@ static void opVerifyPath(Strings opFlags, Strings opArgs)
         auto path = store->followLinksToStorePath(i);
         printMsg(lvlTalkative, "checking path '%s'...", store->printStorePath(path));
         auto info = store->queryPathInfo(path);
-        HashSink sink(*info->narHash.type);
+        HashSink sink(info->narHash->type);
         store->narFromPath(path, sink);
         auto current = sink.finish();
         if (current.first != info->narHash) {
@@ -734,7 +734,7 @@ static void opVerifyPath(Strings opFlags, Strings opArgs)
                 .hint = hintfmt(
                     "path '%s' was modified! expected hash '%s', got '%s'",
                     store->printStorePath(path),
-                    info->narHash.to_string(Base32, true),
+                    info->narHash->to_string(Base32, true),
                     current.first.to_string(Base32, true))
             });
             status = 1;
@@ -864,7 +864,7 @@ static void opServe(Strings opFlags, Strings opArgs)
                         out << info->narSize // downloadSize
                             << info->narSize;
                         if (GET_PROTOCOL_MINOR(clientVersion) >= 4)
-                            out << (info->narHash ? info->narHash.to_string(Base32, true) : "") << info->ca << info->sigs;
+                            out << (info->narHash ? info->narHash->to_string(Base32, true) : "") << info->ca << info->sigs;
                     } catch (InvalidPath &) {
                     }
                 }
diff --git a/src/nix/add-to-store.cc b/src/nix/add-to-store.cc
index f43f774c1..0dda2af38 100644
--- a/src/nix/add-to-store.cc
+++ b/src/nix/add-to-store.cc
@@ -46,9 +46,9 @@ struct CmdAddToStore : MixDryRun, StoreCommand
         auto narHash = hashString(htSHA256, *sink.s);
 
         ValidPathInfo info(store->makeFixedOutputPath(FileIngestionMethod::Recursive, narHash, *namePart));
-        info.narHash = narHash;
+        *info.narHash = narHash;
         info.narSize = sink.s->size();
-        info.ca = makeFixedOutputCA(FileIngestionMethod::Recursive, info.narHash);
+        info.ca = makeFixedOutputCA(FileIngestionMethod::Recursive, *info.narHash);
 
         if (!dryRun) {
             auto source = StringSource { *sink.s };
diff --git a/src/nix/develop.cc b/src/nix/develop.cc
index 8b85caf82..4aee9f202 100644
--- a/src/nix/develop.cc
+++ b/src/nix/develop.cc
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ StorePath getDerivationEnvironment(ref<Store> store, const StorePath & drvPath)
         .path = shellOutPath,
         .hash = DerivationOutputHash {
             .method = FileIngestionMethod::Flat,
-            .hash = Hash { },
+            .hash = Hash { htSHA256 },
         },
     });
     drv.env["out"] = store->printStorePath(shellOutPath);
diff --git a/src/nix/make-content-addressable.cc b/src/nix/make-content-addressable.cc
index 0ebb8f13b..a712dceef 100644
--- a/src/nix/make-content-addressable.cc
+++ b/src/nix/make-content-addressable.cc
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ struct CmdMakeContentAddressable : StorePathsCommand, MixJSON
             if (hasSelfReference) info.references.insert(info.path);
             info.narHash = narHash;
             info.narSize = sink.s->size();
-            info.ca = makeFixedOutputCA(FileIngestionMethod::Recursive, info.narHash);
+            info.ca = makeFixedOutputCA(FileIngestionMethod::Recursive, *info.narHash);
 
             if (!json)
                 printInfo("rewrote '%s' to '%s'", pathS, store->printStorePath(info.path));
diff --git a/src/nix/verify.cc b/src/nix/verify.cc
index d1aba08e3..c92f894f2 100644
--- a/src/nix/verify.cc
+++ b/src/nix/verify.cc
@@ -88,15 +88,15 @@ struct CmdVerify : StorePathsCommand
 
                     std::unique_ptr<AbstractHashSink> hashSink;
                     if (info->ca == "")
-                        hashSink = std::make_unique<HashSink>(*info->narHash.type);
+                        hashSink = std::make_unique<HashSink>(info->narHash->type);
                     else
-                        hashSink = std::make_unique<HashModuloSink>(*info->narHash.type, std::string(info->path.hashPart()));
+                        hashSink = std::make_unique<HashModuloSink>(info->narHash->type, std::string(info->path.hashPart()));
 
                     store->narFromPath(info->path, *hashSink);
 
                     auto hash = hashSink->finish();
 
-                    if (hash.first != info->narHash) {
+                    if (hash.first != *info->narHash) {
                         corrupted++;
                         act2.result(resCorruptedPath, store->printStorePath(info->path));
                         logError({
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ struct CmdVerify : StorePathsCommand
                             .hint = hintfmt(
                                 "path '%s' was modified! expected hash '%s', got '%s'",
                                 store->printStorePath(info->path),
-                                info->narHash.to_string(Base32, true),
+                                info->narHash->to_string(Base32, true),
                                 hash.first.to_string(Base32, true))
                         });
                     }