An actuator-valve assembly includes a housing, which has an inlet operable to allow material to enter the housing and an outlet operable to allow the material to exit the housing. The actuator-valve assembly also includes a valve operable to control a flow of the material into the outlet. In addition, the actuator-valve assembly includes an actuator operable to move the valve, where the actuator includes a resilient member. At least one of the valve and the resilient member has one or more dimensions such that forces applied against the valve and the resilient member by the material are approximately balanced. For example, the one or more dimensions could be selected such that a net force applied against the valve and the resilient member by the material is within a specified threshold. The specified threshold could represent a percentage of a force provided by a control signal received by the actuator-valve assembly.