diff --git a/rusk-abi/src/abi.rs b/rusk-abi/src/abi.rs
index 91bfa0f3e4..1d60a35095 100644
--- a/rusk-abi/src/abi.rs
+++ b/rusk-abi/src/abi.rs
@@ -8,8 +8,6 @@
 use dusk_bytes::Serializable;
 #[cfg(feature = "abi")]
 use phoenix_core::PublicKey;
-#[cfg(feature = "abi")]
-use rkyv::{archived_root, Deserialize, Infallible};
 
 pub use piecrust_uplink::*;
 
@@ -79,20 +77,21 @@ pub fn payment_info(
 }
 
 /// Query owner of a given contract.
+/// Returns none if contract is not found.
+/// Panics if owner is not a valid public key (should never happen).
 #[cfg(feature = "abi")]
 pub fn owner(contract: ContractId) -> Option<PublicKey> {
     owner_raw(contract).map(|buf| {
-        let ret = unsafe { archived_root::<PublicKey>(buf.as_slice()) };
-        ret.deserialize(&mut Infallible).expect("Infallible")
+        PublicKey::from_bytes(&buf).expect("Owner should deserialize correctly")
     })
 }
 
-/// Query owner of a given contract.
+/// Query self owner of a given contract.
+/// Panics if owner is not a valid public key (should never happen).
 #[cfg(feature = "abi")]
 pub fn self_owner() -> PublicKey {
     let buf = self_owner_raw();
-    let ret = unsafe { archived_root::<PublicKey>(buf.as_slice()) };
-    ret.deserialize(&mut Infallible).expect("Infallible")
+    PublicKey::from_bytes(&buf).expect("Owner should deserialize correctly")
 }
 
 /// Query raw owner of a given contract.
diff --git a/rusk-abi/tests/contracts/host_fn/src/lib.rs b/rusk-abi/tests/contracts/host_fn/src/lib.rs
index f6447c0a78..f4e1254f59 100644
--- a/rusk-abi/tests/contracts/host_fn/src/lib.rs
+++ b/rusk-abi/tests/contracts/host_fn/src/lib.rs
@@ -68,7 +68,11 @@ impl HostFnTest {
         rusk_abi::block_height()
     }
 
-    pub fn owner(&self) -> [u8; PublicKey::SIZE] {
+    pub fn owner(&self) -> PublicKey {
+        rusk_abi::self_owner()
+    }
+
+    pub fn owner_raw(&self) -> [u8; PublicKey::SIZE] {
         rusk_abi::self_owner_raw()
     }
 }
@@ -114,6 +118,11 @@ unsafe fn contract_owner(arg_len: u32) -> u32 {
     rusk_abi::wrap_call(arg_len, |_: ()| STATE.owner())
 }
 
+#[no_mangle]
+unsafe fn contract_owner_raw(arg_len: u32) -> u32 {
+    rusk_abi::wrap_call(arg_len, |_: ()| STATE.owner_raw())
+}
+
 const PAYMENT_INFO: PaymentInfo = PaymentInfo::Transparent(None);
 
 #[no_mangle]
diff --git a/rusk-abi/tests/lib.rs b/rusk-abi/tests/lib.rs
index f47b3bf377..0c37b7a8cc 100644
--- a/rusk-abi/tests/lib.rs
+++ b/rusk-abi/tests/lib.rs
@@ -357,15 +357,29 @@ fn get_owner() -> &'static PublicKey {
 }
 
 #[test]
-fn owner() {
+fn owner_raw() {
     let vm =
         rusk_abi::new_ephemeral_vm().expect("Instantiating VM should succeed");
     let (mut session, contract_id) = instantiate(&vm, 0);
 
     let owner: [u8; 64] = session
-        .call(contract_id, "contract_owner", get_owner(), POINT_LIMIT)
+        .call(contract_id, "contract_owner_raw", get_owner(), POINT_LIMIT)
         .expect("Query should succeed")
         .data;
 
     assert_eq!(owner, get_owner().to_bytes());
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn owner() {
+    let vm =
+        rusk_abi::new_ephemeral_vm().expect("Instantiating VM should succeed");
+    let (mut session, contract_id) = instantiate(&vm, 0);
+
+    let owner: PublicKey = session
+        .call(contract_id, "contract_owner", get_owner(), POINT_LIMIT)
+        .expect("Query should succeed")
+        .data;
+
+    assert_eq!(owner, get_owner().to_owned());
+}