diff --git a/ext/ioleast.h b/ext/ioleast.h
index 55ce27c7..b60c9c8d 100644
--- a/ext/ioleast.h
+++ b/ext/ioleast.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /*******************************************************************************
 
-    Copyright(C) Jonas 'Sortie' Termansen 2012, 2013.
+    Copyright(C) Jonas 'Sortie' Termansen 2012, 2013, 2015.
 
     This file is part of the Sortix C Library.
 
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 
 #include <sys/types.h>
 
+#include <assert.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <stddef.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
@@ -46,77 +47,83 @@
 #endif
 
 __attribute__((unused)) static inline
-size_t readleast(int fd, void* buf, size_t least, size_t max)
+size_t readleast(int fd, void* buf_ptr, size_t least, size_t max)
 {
-	ssize_t amount = read(fd, buf, max);
-	if ( amount < 0 )
-		return 0;
-	if ( least && !amount )
-		return errno = EEOF, 0;
-	if ( (size_t) amount < least )
+	assert(least <= max);
+	unsigned char* buf = (unsigned char*) buf_ptr;
+	size_t done = 0;
+	do
 	{
-		void* nextbuf = (uint8_t*) buf + amount;
-		size_t nextleast = least - amount;
-		size_t nextmax = max - amount;
-		amount += readleast(fd, nextbuf, nextleast, nextmax);
-	}
-	return amount;
+		ssize_t amount = read(fd, buf + done, max - done);
+		if ( amount < 0 )
+			return done;
+		if ( !amount && done < least )
+			return errno = EEOF, done;
+		if ( !amount )
+			break;
+		done += amount;
+	} while ( done < least );
+	return done;
 }
 
 __attribute__((unused)) static inline
-size_t writeleast(int fd, const void* buf, size_t least, size_t max)
+size_t writeleast(int fd, const void* buf_ptr, size_t least, size_t max)
 {
-	ssize_t amount = write(fd, buf, max);
-	if ( amount < 0 )
-		return 0;
-	if ( least && !amount )
-		return errno = EEOF, 0;
-	if ( (size_t) amount < least )
+	assert(least <= max);
+	const unsigned char* buf = (const unsigned char*) buf_ptr;
+	size_t done = 0;
+	do
 	{
-		const void* nextbuf = (const uint8_t*) buf + amount;
-		size_t nextleast = least - amount;
-		size_t nextmax = max - amount;
-		amount += writeleast(fd, nextbuf, nextleast, nextmax);
-	}
-	return amount;
+		ssize_t amount = write(fd, buf + done, max - done);
+		if ( amount < 0 )
+			return done;
+		if ( !amount && done < least )
+			return errno = EEOF, done;
+		if ( !amount )
+			break;
+		done += amount;
+	} while ( done < least );
+	return done;
 }
 
 __attribute__((unused)) static inline
-size_t preadleast(int fd, void* buf, size_t least, size_t max, off_t off)
+size_t preadleast(int fd, void* buf_ptr, size_t least, size_t max, off_t off)
 {
-	ssize_t amount = pread(fd, buf, max, off);
-	if ( amount < 0 )
-		return 0;
-	if ( least && !amount )
-		return errno = EEOF, 0;
-	if ( (size_t) amount < least )
+	assert(least <= max);
+	unsigned char* buf = (unsigned char*) buf_ptr;
+	size_t done = 0;
+	do
 	{
-		void* nextbuf = (uint8_t*) buf + amount;
-		size_t nextleast = least - amount;
-		size_t nextmax = max - amount;
-		off_t nextoff = off + amount;
-		amount += preadleast(fd, nextbuf, nextleast, nextmax, nextoff);
-	}
-	return amount;
+		ssize_t amount = pread(fd, buf + done, max - done, off + done);
+		if ( amount < 0 )
+			return done;
+		if ( !amount && done < least )
+			return errno = EEOF, done;
+		if ( !amount )
+			break;
+		done += amount;
+	} while ( done < least );
+	return done;
 }
 
 __attribute__((unused)) static inline
-size_t pwriteleast(int fd, const void* buf, size_t least, size_t max, off_t off)
+size_t pwriteleast(int fd, const void* buf_ptr, size_t least, size_t max, off_t off)
 {
-	ssize_t amount = pwrite(fd, buf, max, off);
-	if ( amount < 0 )
-		return 0;
-	if ( least && !amount )
-		return errno = EEOF, 0;
-	if ( (size_t) amount < least )
+	assert(least <= max);
+	const unsigned char* buf = (const unsigned char*) buf_ptr;
+	size_t done = 0;
+	do
 	{
-		const void* nextbuf = (const uint8_t*) buf + amount;
-		size_t nextleast = least - amount;
-		size_t nextmax = max - amount;
-		off_t nextoff = off + amount;
-		amount += pwriteleast(fd, nextbuf, nextleast, nextmax, nextoff);
-	}
-	return amount;
+		ssize_t amount = pwrite(fd, buf + done, max - done, off + done);
+		if ( amount < 0 )
+			return done;
+		if ( !amount && done < least )
+			return errno = EEOF, done;
+		if ( !amount )
+			break;
+		done += amount;
+	} while ( done < least );
+	return done;
 }
 
 __attribute__((unused)) static inline
diff --git a/libc/ioleast/preadleast.cpp b/libc/ioleast/preadleast.cpp
index b28d072c..b86a3232 100644
--- a/libc/ioleast/preadleast.cpp
+++ b/libc/ioleast/preadleast.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /*******************************************************************************
 
-    Copyright(C) Jonas 'Sortie' Termansen 2012, 2013.
+    Copyright(C) Jonas 'Sortie' Termansen 2012, 2013, 2015.
 
     This file is part of the Sortix C Library.
 
@@ -22,26 +22,28 @@
 
 *******************************************************************************/
 
+#include <assert.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <ioleast.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 
 extern "C"
-size_t preadleast(int fd, void* buf, size_t least, size_t max, off_t off)
+size_t preadleast(int fd, void* buf_ptr, size_t least, size_t max, off_t off)
 {
-	ssize_t amount = pread(fd, buf, max, off);
-	if ( amount < 0 )
-		return 0;
-	if ( least && !amount )
-		return errno = EEOF, 0;
-	if ( (size_t) amount < least )
+	assert(least <= max);
+	unsigned char* buf = (unsigned char*) buf_ptr;
+	size_t done = 0;
+	do
 	{
-		void* nextbuf = (uint8_t*) buf + amount;
-		size_t nextleast = least - amount;
-		size_t nextmax = max - amount;
-		off_t nextoff = off + amount;
-		amount += preadleast(fd, nextbuf, nextleast, nextmax, nextoff);
-	}
-	return amount;
+		ssize_t amount = pread(fd, buf + done, max - done, off + done);
+		if ( amount < 0 )
+			return done;
+		if ( !amount && done < least )
+			return errno = EEOF, done;
+		if ( !amount )
+			break;
+		done += amount;
+	} while ( done < least );
+	return done;
 }
diff --git a/libc/ioleast/pwriteleast.cpp b/libc/ioleast/pwriteleast.cpp
index 04b13ea7..b33ad737 100644
--- a/libc/ioleast/pwriteleast.cpp
+++ b/libc/ioleast/pwriteleast.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /*******************************************************************************
 
-    Copyright(C) Jonas 'Sortie' Termansen 2012, 2013.
+    Copyright(C) Jonas 'Sortie' Termansen 2012, 2013, 2015.
 
     This file is part of the Sortix C Library.
 
@@ -22,26 +22,28 @@
 
 *******************************************************************************/
 
+#include <assert.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <ioleast.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 
 extern "C"
-size_t pwriteleast(int fd, const void* buf, size_t least, size_t max, off_t off)
+size_t pwriteleast(int fd, const void* buf_ptr, size_t least, size_t max, off_t off)
 {
-	ssize_t amount = pwrite(fd, buf, max, off);
-	if ( amount < 0 )
-		return 0;
-	if ( least && !amount )
-		return errno = EEOF, 0;
-	if ( (size_t) amount < least )
+	assert(least <= max);
+	const unsigned char* buf = (const unsigned char*) buf_ptr;
+	size_t done = 0;
+	do
 	{
-		const void* nextbuf = (const uint8_t*) buf + amount;
-		size_t nextleast = least - amount;
-		size_t nextmax = max - amount;
-		off_t nextoff = off + amount;
-		amount += pwriteleast(fd, nextbuf, nextleast, nextmax, nextoff);
-	}
-	return amount;
+		ssize_t amount = pwrite(fd, buf + done, max - done, off + done);
+		if ( amount < 0 )
+			return done;
+		if ( !amount && done < least )
+			return errno = EEOF, done;
+		if ( !amount )
+			break;
+		done += amount;
+	} while ( done < least );
+	return done;
 }
diff --git a/libc/ioleast/readleast.cpp b/libc/ioleast/readleast.cpp
index cf5dfd9b..0b0cd52f 100644
--- a/libc/ioleast/readleast.cpp
+++ b/libc/ioleast/readleast.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /*******************************************************************************
 
-    Copyright(C) Jonas 'Sortie' Termansen 2012, 2013.
+    Copyright(C) Jonas 'Sortie' Termansen 2012, 2013, 2015.
 
     This file is part of the Sortix C Library.
 
@@ -22,24 +22,28 @@
 
 *******************************************************************************/
 
+#include <assert.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <ioleast.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 
-extern "C" size_t readleast(int fd, void* buf, size_t least, size_t max)
+extern "C"
+size_t readleast(int fd, void* buf_ptr, size_t least, size_t max)
 {
-	ssize_t amount = read(fd, buf, max);
-	if ( amount < 0 )
-		return 0;
-	if ( least && !amount )
-		return errno = EEOF, 0;
-	if ( (size_t) amount < least )
+	assert(least <= max);
+	unsigned char* buf = (unsigned char*) buf_ptr;
+	size_t done = 0;
+	do
 	{
-		void* nextbuf = (uint8_t*) buf + amount;
-		size_t nextleast = least - amount;
-		size_t nextmax = max - amount;
-		amount += readleast(fd, nextbuf, nextleast, nextmax);
-	}
-	return amount;
+		ssize_t amount = read(fd, buf + done, max - done);
+		if ( amount < 0 )
+			return done;
+		if ( !amount && done < least )
+			return errno = EEOF, done;
+		if ( !amount )
+			break;
+		done += amount;
+	} while ( done < least );
+	return done;
 }
diff --git a/libc/ioleast/writeleast.cpp b/libc/ioleast/writeleast.cpp
index a27870bf..2db3435b 100644
--- a/libc/ioleast/writeleast.cpp
+++ b/libc/ioleast/writeleast.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /*******************************************************************************
 
-    Copyright(C) Jonas 'Sortie' Termansen 2012, 2013.
+    Copyright(C) Jonas 'Sortie' Termansen 2012, 2013, 2015.
 
     This file is part of the Sortix C Library.
 
@@ -22,24 +22,28 @@
 
 *******************************************************************************/
 
+#include <assert.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <ioleast.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 
-extern "C" size_t writeleast(int fd, const void* buf, size_t least, size_t max)
+extern "C"
+size_t writeleast(int fd, const void* buf_ptr, size_t least, size_t max)
 {
-	ssize_t amount = write(fd, buf, max);
-	if ( amount < 0 )
-		return 0;
-	if ( least && !amount )
-		return errno = EEOF, 0;
-	if ( (size_t) amount < least )
+	assert(least <= max);
+	const unsigned char* buf = (const unsigned char*) buf_ptr;
+	size_t done = 0;
+	do
 	{
-		const void* nextbuf = (const uint8_t*) buf + amount;
-		size_t nextleast = least - amount;
-		size_t nextmax = max - amount;
-		amount += writeleast(fd, nextbuf, nextleast, nextmax);
-	}
-	return amount;
+		ssize_t amount = write(fd, buf + done, max - done);
+		if ( amount < 0 )
+			return done;
+		if ( !amount && done < least )
+			return errno = EEOF, done;
+		if ( !amount )
+			break;
+		done += amount;
+	} while ( done < least );
+	return done;
 }
diff --git a/mkinitrd/ioleast.h b/mkinitrd/ioleast.h
index 55ce27c7..b60c9c8d 100644
--- a/mkinitrd/ioleast.h
+++ b/mkinitrd/ioleast.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /*******************************************************************************
 
-    Copyright(C) Jonas 'Sortie' Termansen 2012, 2013.
+    Copyright(C) Jonas 'Sortie' Termansen 2012, 2013, 2015.
 
     This file is part of the Sortix C Library.
 
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 
 #include <sys/types.h>
 
+#include <assert.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <stddef.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
@@ -46,77 +47,83 @@
 #endif
 
 __attribute__((unused)) static inline
-size_t readleast(int fd, void* buf, size_t least, size_t max)
+size_t readleast(int fd, void* buf_ptr, size_t least, size_t max)
 {
-	ssize_t amount = read(fd, buf, max);
-	if ( amount < 0 )
-		return 0;
-	if ( least && !amount )
-		return errno = EEOF, 0;
-	if ( (size_t) amount < least )
+	assert(least <= max);
+	unsigned char* buf = (unsigned char*) buf_ptr;
+	size_t done = 0;
+	do
 	{
-		void* nextbuf = (uint8_t*) buf + amount;
-		size_t nextleast = least - amount;
-		size_t nextmax = max - amount;
-		amount += readleast(fd, nextbuf, nextleast, nextmax);
-	}
-	return amount;
+		ssize_t amount = read(fd, buf + done, max - done);
+		if ( amount < 0 )
+			return done;
+		if ( !amount && done < least )
+			return errno = EEOF, done;
+		if ( !amount )
+			break;
+		done += amount;
+	} while ( done < least );
+	return done;
 }
 
 __attribute__((unused)) static inline
-size_t writeleast(int fd, const void* buf, size_t least, size_t max)
+size_t writeleast(int fd, const void* buf_ptr, size_t least, size_t max)
 {
-	ssize_t amount = write(fd, buf, max);
-	if ( amount < 0 )
-		return 0;
-	if ( least && !amount )
-		return errno = EEOF, 0;
-	if ( (size_t) amount < least )
+	assert(least <= max);
+	const unsigned char* buf = (const unsigned char*) buf_ptr;
+	size_t done = 0;
+	do
 	{
-		const void* nextbuf = (const uint8_t*) buf + amount;
-		size_t nextleast = least - amount;
-		size_t nextmax = max - amount;
-		amount += writeleast(fd, nextbuf, nextleast, nextmax);
-	}
-	return amount;
+		ssize_t amount = write(fd, buf + done, max - done);
+		if ( amount < 0 )
+			return done;
+		if ( !amount && done < least )
+			return errno = EEOF, done;
+		if ( !amount )
+			break;
+		done += amount;
+	} while ( done < least );
+	return done;
 }
 
 __attribute__((unused)) static inline
-size_t preadleast(int fd, void* buf, size_t least, size_t max, off_t off)
+size_t preadleast(int fd, void* buf_ptr, size_t least, size_t max, off_t off)
 {
-	ssize_t amount = pread(fd, buf, max, off);
-	if ( amount < 0 )
-		return 0;
-	if ( least && !amount )
-		return errno = EEOF, 0;
-	if ( (size_t) amount < least )
+	assert(least <= max);
+	unsigned char* buf = (unsigned char*) buf_ptr;
+	size_t done = 0;
+	do
 	{
-		void* nextbuf = (uint8_t*) buf + amount;
-		size_t nextleast = least - amount;
-		size_t nextmax = max - amount;
-		off_t nextoff = off + amount;
-		amount += preadleast(fd, nextbuf, nextleast, nextmax, nextoff);
-	}
-	return amount;
+		ssize_t amount = pread(fd, buf + done, max - done, off + done);
+		if ( amount < 0 )
+			return done;
+		if ( !amount && done < least )
+			return errno = EEOF, done;
+		if ( !amount )
+			break;
+		done += amount;
+	} while ( done < least );
+	return done;
 }
 
 __attribute__((unused)) static inline
-size_t pwriteleast(int fd, const void* buf, size_t least, size_t max, off_t off)
+size_t pwriteleast(int fd, const void* buf_ptr, size_t least, size_t max, off_t off)
 {
-	ssize_t amount = pwrite(fd, buf, max, off);
-	if ( amount < 0 )
-		return 0;
-	if ( least && !amount )
-		return errno = EEOF, 0;
-	if ( (size_t) amount < least )
+	assert(least <= max);
+	const unsigned char* buf = (const unsigned char*) buf_ptr;
+	size_t done = 0;
+	do
 	{
-		const void* nextbuf = (const uint8_t*) buf + amount;
-		size_t nextleast = least - amount;
-		size_t nextmax = max - amount;
-		off_t nextoff = off + amount;
-		amount += pwriteleast(fd, nextbuf, nextleast, nextmax, nextoff);
-	}
-	return amount;
+		ssize_t amount = pwrite(fd, buf + done, max - done, off + done);
+		if ( amount < 0 )
+			return done;
+		if ( !amount && done < least )
+			return errno = EEOF, done;
+		if ( !amount )
+			break;
+		done += amount;
+	} while ( done < least );
+	return done;
 }
 
 __attribute__((unused)) static inline