diff --git a/random/random.go b/random/random.go
index 81e729a..a677a83 100644
--- a/random/random.go
+++ b/random/random.go
@@ -86,8 +86,7 @@ func BlocksOfSize(n int, size int) []blocks.Block {
 // Bytes returns a byte array of the given size with random values.
 func Bytes(n int) []byte {
 	data := make([]byte, n)
-	rng := NewRand()
-	rng.Read(data)
+	NewRand().Read(data)
 	return data
 }
 
@@ -114,8 +113,7 @@ func Cids(n int) []cid.Cid {
 
 // Identity returns a random unique peer ID, private key, and public key.
 func Identity() (peer.ID, crypto.PrivKey, crypto.PubKey) {
-	rng := NewRand()
-	privKey, pubKey, err := crypto.GenerateKeyPairWithReader(crypto.Ed25519, 256, rng)
+	privKey, pubKey, err := crypto.GenerateKeyPairWithReader(crypto.Ed25519, 256, NewRand())
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
diff --git a/random/random_test.go b/random/random_test.go
index 3540229..b98f855 100644
--- a/random/random_test.go
+++ b/random/random_test.go
@@ -167,3 +167,12 @@ func TestNewRand(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	require.False(t, allEqual)
 }
+
+func TestRead(t *testing.T) {
+	buf1 := make([]byte, 16)
+	buf2 := make([]byte, 16)
+
+	random.NewRand().Read(buf1)
+	random.NewRand().Read(buf2)
+	require.NotEqual(t, buf1, buf2)
+}
diff --git a/version.json b/version.json
index 4f0adde..edc249c 100644
--- a/version.json
+++ b/version.json
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 {
-  "version": "v0.0.3"
+  "version": "v0.0.4"
 }