diff --git a/crates/typst/src/layout/flow.rs b/crates/typst/src/layout/flow.rs
index f3b105dea..f99f8bea7 100644
--- a/crates/typst/src/layout/flow.rs
+++ b/crates/typst/src/layout/flow.rs
@@ -22,8 +22,10 @@ use crate::layout::{
     OuterVAlignment, Page, PageElem, PagebreakElem, Paper, Parity, PlaceElem, Point,
     Ratio, Region, Regions, Rel, Sides, Size, Spacing, VAlignment, VElem,
 };
-use crate::model::{Document, FootnoteElem, FootnoteEntry, Numbering, ParElem};
-use crate::realize::{first_span, realize_root, realizer_container, Arenas, Pair};
+use crate::model::{
+    Document, DocumentInfo, FootnoteElem, FootnoteEntry, Numbering, ParElem,
+};
+use crate::realize::{first_span, realize, Arenas, Pair};
 use crate::syntax::Span;
 use crate::text::TextElem;
 use crate::utils::{NonZeroExt, Numeric};
@@ -110,8 +112,9 @@ fn layout_document_impl(
     let styles = StyleChain::new(&styles);
 
     let arenas = Arenas::default();
-    let (mut children, info) =
-        realize_root(&mut engine, &mut locator, &arenas, content, styles)?;
+    let mut info = DocumentInfo::default();
+    let mut children =
+        realize(&mut engine, &mut locator, &arenas, Some(&mut info), content, styles)?;
 
     let pages = layout_pages(&mut engine, &mut children, locator, styles)?;
 
@@ -726,10 +729,8 @@ fn layout_fragment_impl(
 
     engine.route.check_layout_depth().at(content.span())?;
 
-    // If we are in a `PageElem`, this might already be a realized flow.
     let arenas = Arenas::default();
-    let children =
-        realizer_container(&mut engine, &mut locator, &arenas, content, styles)?;
+    let children = realize(&mut engine, &mut locator, &arenas, None, content, styles)?;
 
     FlowLayouter::new(
         &mut engine,
diff --git a/crates/typst/src/realize/mod.rs b/crates/typst/src/realize/mod.rs
index a154fce15..29dd1e409 100644
--- a/crates/typst/src/realize/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/typst/src/realize/mod.rs
@@ -38,31 +38,17 @@ use crate::utils::SliceExt;
 /// A pair of content and a style chain that applies to it.
 pub type Pair<'a> = (&'a Content, StyleChain<'a>);
 
-/// Realize at the root level.
+/// Realize content into a flat list of well-known, styled items.
 #[typst_macros::time(name = "realize")]
-pub fn realize_root<'a>(
-    engine: &mut Engine<'a>,
-    locator: &mut SplitLocator<'a>,
-    arenas: &'a Arenas<'a>,
-    content: &'a Content,
-    styles: StyleChain<'a>,
-) -> SourceResult<(Vec<Pair<'a>>, DocumentInfo)> {
-    let mut builder = Builder::new(engine, locator, arenas, true);
-    builder.accept(content, styles)?;
-    builder.interrupt_par()?;
-    Ok((builder.sink.finish(), builder.doc_info.unwrap()))
-}
-
-/// Realize at the container level.
-#[typst_macros::time(name = "realize")]
-pub fn realizer_container<'a>(
+pub fn realize<'a>(
     engine: &mut Engine<'a>,
     locator: &mut SplitLocator<'a>,
     arenas: &'a Arenas<'a>,
+    doc_info: Option<&mut DocumentInfo>,
     content: &'a Content,
     styles: StyleChain<'a>,
 ) -> SourceResult<Vec<Pair<'a>>> {
-    let mut builder = Builder::new(engine, locator, arenas, false);
+    let mut builder = Builder::new(engine, locator, arenas, doc_info);
     builder.accept(content, styles)?;
     builder.interrupt_par()?;
     Ok(builder.sink.finish())
@@ -77,11 +63,11 @@ struct Builder<'a, 'v> {
     /// Scratch arenas for building.
     arenas: &'a Arenas<'a>,
 
-    /// The output elements of well-known types collected by the builder.
-    sink: BehavedBuilder<'a>,
     /// Document metadata we have collected from `set document` rules. If this
     /// is `None`, we are in a container.
-    doc_info: Option<DocumentInfo>,
+    doc_info: Option<&'v mut DocumentInfo>,
+    /// The output elements of well-known types collected by the builder.
+    sink: BehavedBuilder<'a>,
 
     /// A builder for a paragraph that might be under construction.
     par: ParBuilder<'a>,
@@ -104,18 +90,19 @@ impl<'a, 'v> Builder<'a, 'v> {
         engine: &'v mut Engine<'a>,
         locator: &'v mut SplitLocator<'a>,
         arenas: &'a Arenas<'a>,
-        root: bool,
+        doc_info: Option<&'v mut DocumentInfo>,
     ) -> Self {
+        let outside = doc_info.is_some();
         Self {
             engine,
             locator,
             arenas,
+            doc_info,
             sink: BehavedBuilder::default(),
-            doc_info: root.then(DocumentInfo::default),
             par: ParBuilder::default(),
             list: ListBuilder::default(),
             cites: CiteGroupBuilder::default(),
-            outside: root,
+            outside,
             last_was_par: false,
         }
     }