diff --git a/genesis/src/main.rs b/genesis/src/main.rs
index 1c4945cc5..6d260fe87 100644
--- a/genesis/src/main.rs
+++ b/genesis/src/main.rs
@@ -84,12 +84,14 @@ pub fn load_genesis_accounts(file: &str, genesis_config: &mut GenesisConfig) ->
 
         let mut account = AccountSharedData::new(account_details.balance, 0, &owner_program_id);
         if account_details.data != "~" {
-            account.data = base64::decode(account_details.data.as_str()).map_err(|err| {
-                io::Error::new(
-                    io::ErrorKind::Other,
-                    format!("Invalid account data: {}: {:?}", account_details.data, err),
-                )
-            })?;
+            account.set_data(
+                base64::decode(account_details.data.as_str()).map_err(|err| {
+                    io::Error::new(
+                        io::ErrorKind::Other,
+                        format!("Invalid account data: {}: {:?}", account_details.data, err),
+                    )
+                })?,
+            );
         }
         account.executable = account_details.executable;
         lamports += account.lamports;
diff --git a/program-test/src/lib.rs b/program-test/src/lib.rs
index 59cfd35ba..60ef5a19b 100644
--- a/program-test/src/lib.rs
+++ b/program-test/src/lib.rs
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ pub fn builtin_process_instruction(
             let key = keyed_account.unsigned_key();
             let (lamports, data, _owner) = &account_refs[key];
             account.lamports = **lamports.borrow();
-            account.data = data.borrow().to_vec();
+            account.set_data(data.borrow().to_vec());
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/programs/bpf_loader/src/lib.rs b/programs/bpf_loader/src/lib.rs
index 54a28af63..5a68ad72f 100644
--- a/programs/bpf_loader/src/lib.rs
+++ b/programs/bpf_loader/src/lib.rs
@@ -941,7 +941,7 @@ mod tests {
         // Case: Write bytes to an offset
         #[allow(unused_mut)]
         let mut keyed_accounts = vec![KeyedAccount::new(&program_key, true, &program_account)];
-        keyed_accounts[0].account.borrow_mut().data = vec![0; 6];
+        keyed_accounts[0].account.borrow_mut().set_data(vec![0; 6]);
         assert_eq!(
             Ok(()),
             process_instruction(
@@ -959,7 +959,7 @@ mod tests {
         // Case: Overflow
         #[allow(unused_mut)]
         let mut keyed_accounts = vec![KeyedAccount::new(&program_key, true, &program_account)];
-        keyed_accounts[0].account.borrow_mut().data = vec![0; 5];
+        keyed_accounts[0].account.borrow_mut().set_data(vec![0; 5]);
         assert_eq!(
             Err(InstructionError::AccountDataTooSmall),
             process_instruction(
@@ -981,7 +981,7 @@ mod tests {
         file.read_to_end(&mut elf).unwrap();
         let program_account =
             AccountSharedData::new_ref(rent.minimum_balance(elf.len()), 0, &program_id);
-        program_account.borrow_mut().data = elf;
+        program_account.borrow_mut().set_data(elf);
         let keyed_accounts = vec![KeyedAccount::new(&program_key, false, &program_account)];
         let instruction_data = bincode::serialize(&LoaderInstruction::Finalize).unwrap();
 
@@ -1046,7 +1046,7 @@ mod tests {
         let mut elf = Vec::new();
         file.read_to_end(&mut elf).unwrap();
         let program_account = AccountSharedData::new_ref(1, 0, &program_id);
-        program_account.borrow_mut().data = elf;
+        program_account.borrow_mut().set_data(elf);
         program_account.borrow_mut().executable = true;
 
         let mut keyed_accounts = vec![KeyedAccount::new(&program_key, false, &program_account)];
@@ -1141,7 +1141,7 @@ mod tests {
         let mut elf = Vec::new();
         file.read_to_end(&mut elf).unwrap();
         let program_account = AccountSharedData::new_ref(1, 0, &program_id);
-        program_account.borrow_mut().data = elf;
+        program_account.borrow_mut().set_data(elf);
         program_account.borrow_mut().executable = true;
         let mut keyed_accounts = vec![KeyedAccount::new(&program_key, false, &program_account)];
 
@@ -1185,7 +1185,7 @@ mod tests {
         let mut elf = Vec::new();
         file.read_to_end(&mut elf).unwrap();
         let program_account = AccountSharedData::new_ref(1, 0, &program_id);
-        program_account.borrow_mut().data = elf;
+        program_account.borrow_mut().set_data(elf);
         program_account.borrow_mut().executable = true;
         let mut keyed_accounts = vec![KeyedAccount::new(&program_key, false, &program_account)];
 
@@ -3247,7 +3247,7 @@ mod tests {
             0..255,
             |bytes: &mut [u8]| {
                 let program_account = AccountSharedData::new_ref(1, 0, &program_id);
-                program_account.borrow_mut().data = bytes.to_vec();
+                program_account.borrow_mut().set_data(bytes.to_vec());
                 program_account.borrow_mut().executable = true;
 
                 let parameter_account = AccountSharedData::new_ref(1, 0, &program_id);
diff --git a/runtime/src/accounts_db.rs b/runtime/src/accounts_db.rs
index 49989658c..86e60c22d 100644
--- a/runtime/src/accounts_db.rs
+++ b/runtime/src/accounts_db.rs
@@ -6084,10 +6084,10 @@ pub mod tests {
 
         let mut normal_account = AccountSharedData::new(1, 0, &AccountSharedData::default().owner);
         normal_account.owner = inline_spl_token_v2_0::id();
-        normal_account.data = account_data_with_mint.clone();
+        normal_account.set_data(account_data_with_mint.clone());
         let mut zero_account = AccountSharedData::new(0, 0, &AccountSharedData::default().owner);
         zero_account.owner = inline_spl_token_v2_0::id();
-        zero_account.data = account_data_with_mint;
+        zero_account.set_data(account_data_with_mint);
 
         //store an account
         accounts.store_uncached(0, &[(&pubkey1, &normal_account)]);
diff --git a/runtime/src/append_vec.rs b/runtime/src/append_vec.rs
index f14874b90..51753fa87 100644
--- a/runtime/src/append_vec.rs
+++ b/runtime/src/append_vec.rs
@@ -541,7 +541,7 @@ pub mod test_utils {
     pub fn create_test_account(sample: usize) -> (StoredMeta, AccountSharedData) {
         let data_len = sample % 256;
         let mut account = AccountSharedData::new(sample as u64, 0, &Pubkey::default());
-        account.data = (0..data_len).map(|_| data_len as u8).collect();
+        account.set_data((0..data_len).map(|_| data_len as u8).collect());
         let stored_meta = StoredMeta {
             write_version: 0,
             pubkey: Pubkey::default(),
diff --git a/runtime/src/message_processor.rs b/runtime/src/message_processor.rs
index e05d5fa4a..c67be927b 100644
--- a/runtime/src/message_processor.rs
+++ b/runtime/src/message_processor.rs
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ impl PreAccount {
         pre.executable = account.executable;
         if pre.data().len() != account.data().len() {
             // Only system account can change data size, copy with alloc
-            pre.data = account.data.clone();
+            pre.set_data(account.data().clone());
         } else {
             // Copy without allocate
             pre.data_as_mut_slice().clone_from_slice(&account.data());
@@ -806,7 +806,9 @@ impl MessageProcessor {
                         );
                         return Err(InstructionError::InvalidRealloc);
                     }
-                    account_ref.try_account_ref_mut()?.data = account.data.clone();
+                    account_ref
+                        .try_account_ref_mut()?
+                        .set_data(account.data().clone());
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -1319,8 +1321,8 @@ mod tests {
             self
         }
         pub fn data(mut self, pre: Vec<u8>, post: Vec<u8>) -> Self {
-            self.pre.account.borrow_mut().data = pre;
-            self.post.data = post;
+            self.pre.account.borrow_mut().set_data(pre);
+            self.post.set_data(post);
             self
         }
         pub fn rent_epoch(mut self, pre: u64, post: u64) -> Self {
@@ -1682,7 +1684,7 @@ mod tests {
                     }
                     // Change data in a read-only account
                     MockSystemInstruction::AttemptDataChange { data } => {
-                        keyed_accounts[1].account.borrow_mut().data = vec![data];
+                        keyed_accounts[1].account.borrow_mut().set_data(vec![data]);
                         Ok(())
                     }
                 }
@@ -1849,7 +1851,7 @@ mod tests {
                             let mut dup_account = keyed_accounts[2].try_account_ref_mut()?;
                             dup_account.lamports -= lamports;
                             to_account.lamports += lamports;
-                            dup_account.data = vec![data];
+                            dup_account.set_data(vec![data]);
                         }
                         keyed_accounts[0].try_account_ref_mut()?.lamports -= lamports;
                         keyed_accounts[1].try_account_ref_mut()?.lamports += lamports;
diff --git a/runtime/src/stakes.rs b/runtime/src/stakes.rs
index 5ff4d2277..fcb39a5b0 100644
--- a/runtime/src/stakes.rs
+++ b/runtime/src/stakes.rs
@@ -432,7 +432,7 @@ pub mod tests {
             assert!(vote_accounts.get(&vote_pubkey).is_none());
         }
 
-        vote_account.data = cache_data;
+        vote_account.set_data(cache_data);
         stakes.store(&vote_pubkey, &vote_account, true, true);
 
         {
diff --git a/runtime/src/system_instruction_processor.rs b/runtime/src/system_instruction_processor.rs
index fc219a433..7865ef2b3 100644
--- a/runtime/src/system_instruction_processor.rs
+++ b/runtime/src/system_instruction_processor.rs
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ fn allocate(
         return Err(SystemError::InvalidAccountDataLength.into());
     }
 
-    account.data = vec![0; space as usize];
+    account.set_data(vec![0; space as usize]);
 
     Ok(())
 }
diff --git a/sdk/src/account.rs b/sdk/src/account.rs
index 23cbc213a..4c45c9a58 100644
--- a/sdk/src/account.rs
+++ b/sdk/src/account.rs
@@ -394,6 +394,9 @@ impl Account {
 }
 
 impl AccountSharedData {
+    pub fn set_data(&mut self, data: Vec<u8>) {
+        self.data = data;
+    }
     pub fn new(lamports: u64, space: usize, owner: &Pubkey) -> Self {
         shared_new(lamports, space, owner)
     }
@@ -530,6 +533,17 @@ pub mod tests {
         (account1, account2)
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn test_account_data_set_data() {
+        let key = Pubkey::new_unique();
+        let (_, mut account) = make_two_accounts(&key);
+        assert_eq!(account.data(), &vec![0, 0]);
+        account.set_data(vec![1, 2]);
+        assert_eq!(account.data(), &vec![1, 2]);
+        account.set_data(vec![]);
+        assert_eq!(account.data().len(), 0);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     #[should_panic(
         expected = "called `Result::unwrap()` on an `Err` value: Io(Kind(UnexpectedEof))"