diff --git a/cmd/wmiir.c b/cmd/wmiir.c
index 148910f1..11443fc8 100644
--- a/cmd/wmiir.c
+++ b/cmd/wmiir.c
@@ -150,21 +150,21 @@ static void
 xls(void *result, unsigned int msize, int details)
 {
 	unsigned int n = 0, i = 0;
-	void *p = result;
+	unsigned char *p = result;
 	Stat *dir;
 	static Stat stat;
 
 	do {
-		p = ixp_unpack_stat(p, &stat);
+		ixp_unpack_stat(&p, &stat);
 		n++;
 	}
-	while(p - result < msize);
+	while(p - (unsigned char*)result < msize);
 	dir = (Stat *)cext_emallocz(sizeof(Stat) * n);
 	p = result;
 	do {
-		p = ixp_unpack_stat(p, &dir[i++]);
+		ixp_unpack_stat(&p, &dir[i++]);
 	}
-	while(p - result < msize);
+	while(p - (unsigned char*)result < msize);
 	qsort(dir, n, sizeof(Stat), comp_stat);
 	for(i = 0; i < n; i++)
 		print_stat(&dir[i], details);
diff --git a/libixp/convert.c b/libixp/convert.c
index 7ab4fe88..31a8a496 100644
--- a/libixp/convert.c
+++ b/libixp/convert.c
@@ -16,11 +16,10 @@ ixp_pack_u8(unsigned char **msg, int *msize, unsigned char val)
 		*(*msg)++ = val;
 }
 
-void *
-ixp_unpack_u8(unsigned char *msg, unsigned char *val)
+void
+ixp_unpack_u8(unsigned char **msg, unsigned char *val)
 {
-	*val = msg[0];
-	return &msg[1];
+	*val = *(*msg)++;
 }
 
 void
@@ -32,11 +31,11 @@ ixp_pack_u16(unsigned char **msg, int *msize, unsigned short val)
 	}
 }
 
-void *
-ixp_unpack_u16(unsigned char *msg, unsigned short *val)
+void
+ixp_unpack_u16(unsigned char **msg, unsigned short *val)
 {
-	*val = msg[0] | (msg[1] << 8);
-	return &msg[2];
+	*val = *(*msg)++;
+	*val |= *(*msg)++ << 8;
 }
 
 void
@@ -50,11 +49,13 @@ ixp_pack_u32(unsigned char **msg, int *msize, unsigned int val)
 	}
 }
 
-void *
-ixp_unpack_u32(unsigned char *msg, unsigned int *val)
+void
+ixp_unpack_u32(unsigned char **msg, unsigned int *val)
 {
-	*val = msg[0] | (msg[1] << 8) | (msg[2] << 16) | (msg[3] << 24);
-	return &msg[4];
+	*val = *(*msg)++;
+	*val |= *(*msg)++ << 8;
+	*val |= *(*msg)++ << 16;
+	*val |= *(*msg)++ << 24;
 }
 
 void
@@ -72,18 +73,13 @@ ixp_pack_u64(unsigned char **msg, int *msize, unsigned long long val)
 	}
 }
 
-void *
-ixp_unpack_u64(unsigned char *msg, unsigned long long *val)
+void
+ixp_unpack_u64(unsigned char **msg, unsigned long long *val)
 {
-	*val =	(unsigned long long) msg[0] |
-		((unsigned long long) msg[1] << 8) |
-		((unsigned long long) msg[2] << 16) |
-		((unsigned long long) msg[3] << 24) |
-		((unsigned long long) msg[4] << 32) |
-		((unsigned long long) msg[5] << 40) |
-		((unsigned long long) msg[6] << 48) |
-		((unsigned long long) msg[7] << 56);
-	return &msg[8];
+	int i;
+	*val = 0;
+	for (i = 0; i < 8; ++i)
+		*val |= (unsigned long long) *(*msg)++ << (8 * i);
 }
 
 void
@@ -95,21 +91,21 @@ ixp_pack_string(unsigned char **msg, int *msize, const char *s)
 		ixp_pack_data(msg, msize, (void *)s, len);
 }
 
-void *
-ixp_unpack_string(unsigned char *msg, char *string, unsigned short stringlen,
+void
+ixp_unpack_string(unsigned char **msg, char *string, unsigned short stringlen,
 		unsigned short *len)
 {
-	msg = ixp_unpack_u16(msg, len);
-	if(!(*len))
-		return msg;
-	if(*len > stringlen - 1)
+	ixp_unpack_u16(msg, len);
+	if (!*len)
+		return;
+	if (*len > stringlen - 1) {
 		/* might never happen if stringlen == IXP_MAX_MSG */
 		string[0] = 0;
-	else {
-		memcpy(string, msg, *len);
+	} else {
+		memcpy(string, *msg, *len);
 		string[*len] = 0;
+		*msg += *len;
 	}
-	return &msg[*len];
 }
 
 void
@@ -121,31 +117,31 @@ ixp_pack_data(unsigned char **msg, int *msize, unsigned char *data, unsigned int
 	}
 }
 
-void *
-ixp_unpack_data(unsigned char *msg, unsigned char *data, unsigned int datalen)
+void
+ixp_unpack_data(unsigned char **msg, unsigned char *data, unsigned int datalen)
 {
-	memcpy(data, msg, datalen);
-	return &msg[datalen];
+	memcpy(data, *msg, datalen);
+	*msg += datalen;
 }
 
 void
 ixp_pack_prefix(unsigned char *msg, unsigned int size, unsigned char id,
 		unsigned short tag)
 {
-	unsigned int dummy = sizeof(unsigned char) +
+	int dummy = sizeof(unsigned char) +
 		sizeof(unsigned short) + sizeof(unsigned int);
 	ixp_pack_u32(&msg, &dummy, size);
 	ixp_pack_u8(&msg, &dummy, id);
 	ixp_pack_u16(&msg, &dummy, tag);
 }
 
-void *
-ixp_unpack_prefix(unsigned char *msg, unsigned int *size, unsigned char *id,
+void
+ixp_unpack_prefix(unsigned char **msg, unsigned int *size, unsigned char *id,
 		unsigned short *tag)
 {
-	msg = ixp_unpack_u32(msg, size);
-	msg = ixp_unpack_u8(msg, id);
-	return ixp_unpack_u16(msg, tag);
+	ixp_unpack_u32(msg, size);
+	ixp_unpack_u8(msg, id);
+	ixp_unpack_u16(msg, tag);
 }
 
 void
@@ -156,12 +152,12 @@ ixp_pack_qid(unsigned char **msg, int *msize, Qid * qid)
 	ixp_pack_u64(msg, msize, qid->path);
 }
 
-void *
-ixp_unpack_qid(unsigned char *msg, Qid * qid)
+void
+ixp_unpack_qid(unsigned char **msg, Qid * qid)
 {
-	msg = ixp_unpack_u8(msg, &qid->type);
-	msg = ixp_unpack_u32(msg, &qid->version);
-	return ixp_unpack_u64(msg, &qid->path);
+	ixp_unpack_u8(msg, &qid->type);
+	ixp_unpack_u32(msg, &qid->version);
+	ixp_unpack_u64(msg, &qid->path);
 }
 
 void
@@ -181,20 +177,20 @@ ixp_pack_stat(unsigned char **msg, int *msize, Stat * stat)
 	ixp_pack_string(msg, msize, stat->muid);
 }
 
-void *
-ixp_unpack_stat(unsigned char *msg, Stat * stat)
+void
+ixp_unpack_stat(unsigned char **msg, Stat * stat)
 {
 	unsigned short dummy;
-	msg += sizeof(unsigned short);
-	msg = ixp_unpack_u16(msg, &stat->type);
-	msg = ixp_unpack_u32(msg, &stat->dev);
-	msg = ixp_unpack_qid(msg, &stat->qid);
-	msg = ixp_unpack_u32(msg, &stat->mode);
-	msg = ixp_unpack_u32(msg, &stat->atime);
-	msg = ixp_unpack_u32(msg, &stat->mtime);
-	msg = ixp_unpack_u64(msg, &stat->length);
-	msg = ixp_unpack_string(msg, stat->name, sizeof(stat->name), &dummy);
-	msg = ixp_unpack_string(msg, stat->uid, sizeof(stat->uid), &dummy);
-	msg = ixp_unpack_string(msg, stat->gid, sizeof(stat->gid), &dummy);
-	return ixp_unpack_string(msg, stat->muid, sizeof(stat->muid), &dummy);
+	*msg += sizeof(unsigned short);
+	ixp_unpack_u16(msg, &stat->type);
+	ixp_unpack_u32(msg, &stat->dev);
+	ixp_unpack_qid(msg, &stat->qid);
+	ixp_unpack_u32(msg, &stat->mode);
+	ixp_unpack_u32(msg, &stat->atime);
+	ixp_unpack_u32(msg, &stat->mtime);
+	ixp_unpack_u64(msg, &stat->length);
+	ixp_unpack_string(msg, stat->name, sizeof(stat->name), &dummy);
+	ixp_unpack_string(msg, stat->uid, sizeof(stat->uid), &dummy);
+	ixp_unpack_string(msg, stat->gid, sizeof(stat->gid), &dummy);
+	ixp_unpack_string(msg, stat->muid, sizeof(stat->muid), &dummy);
 }
diff --git a/libixp/ixp.h b/libixp/ixp.h
index e194ae3d..23cb7eb1 100644
--- a/libixp/ixp.h
+++ b/libixp/ixp.h
@@ -202,28 +202,28 @@ int ixp_client_do_fcall(IXPClient * c);
 
 /* convert.c */
 void ixp_pack_u8(unsigned char **msg, int *msize, unsigned char val);
-void *ixp_unpack_u8(unsigned char *msg, unsigned char *val);
+void ixp_unpack_u8(unsigned char **msg, unsigned char *val);
 void ixp_pack_u16(unsigned char **msg, int *msize, unsigned short val);
-void *ixp_unpack_u16(unsigned char *msg, unsigned short *val);
+void ixp_unpack_u16(unsigned char **msg, unsigned short *val);
 void ixp_pack_u32(unsigned char **msg, int *msize, unsigned int val);
-void *ixp_unpack_u32(unsigned char *msg, unsigned int *val);
+void ixp_unpack_u32(unsigned char **msg, unsigned int *val);
 void ixp_pack_u64(unsigned char **msg, int *msize, unsigned long long val);
-void *ixp_unpack_u64(unsigned char *msg, unsigned long long *val);
+void ixp_unpack_u64(unsigned char **msg, unsigned long long *val);
 void ixp_pack_string(unsigned char **msg, int *msize, const char *s);
-void *ixp_unpack_string(unsigned char *msg, char *string,
+void ixp_unpack_string(unsigned char **msg, char *string,
 		unsigned short stringlen, unsigned short *len);
 void ixp_pack_data(unsigned char **msg, int *msize, unsigned char *data,
 		unsigned int datalen);
-void *ixp_unpack_data(unsigned char *msg, unsigned char *data,
+void ixp_unpack_data(unsigned char **msg, unsigned char *data,
 		unsigned int datalen);
 void ixp_pack_prefix(unsigned char *msg, unsigned int size,
 		unsigned char id, unsigned short tag);
-void *ixp_unpack_prefix(unsigned char *msg, unsigned int *size,
+void ixp_unpack_prefix(unsigned char **msg, unsigned int *size,
 		unsigned char *id, unsigned short *tag);
 void ixp_pack_qid(unsigned char **msg, int *msize, Qid *qid);
-void *ixp_unpack_qid(unsigned char *msg, Qid *qid);
+void ixp_unpack_qid(unsigned char **msg, Qid *qid);
 void ixp_pack_stat(unsigned char **msg, int *msize, Stat *stat);
-void *ixp_unpack_stat(unsigned char *msg, Stat *stat);
+void ixp_unpack_stat(unsigned char **msg, Stat *stat);
 
 /* message.c */
 unsigned short ixp_sizeof_stat(Stat *stat);
diff --git a/libixp/message.c b/libixp/message.c
index 419bd765..62cb2e49 100644
--- a/libixp/message.c
+++ b/libixp/message.c
@@ -141,97 +141,98 @@ ixp_msg2fcall(Fcall *fcall, void *msg, unsigned int msglen)
 {
 	unsigned int i, msize;
 	unsigned short len;
-	void *p = ixp_unpack_prefix(msg, &msize, &fcall->id, &fcall->tag);
+	unsigned char *p = msg;
+	ixp_unpack_prefix(&p, &msize, &fcall->id, &fcall->tag);
 
 	if(msize > msglen)          /* bad message */
 		return 0;
 	switch (fcall->id) {
 	case TVERSION:
 	case RVERSION:
-		p = ixp_unpack_u32(p, &fcall->maxmsg);
-		p = ixp_unpack_string(p, fcall->version, sizeof(fcall->version), &len);
+		ixp_unpack_u32(&p, &fcall->maxmsg);
+		ixp_unpack_string(&p, fcall->version, sizeof(fcall->version), &len);
 		break;
 	case TAUTH:
-		p = ixp_unpack_u32(p, &fcall->afid);
-		p = ixp_unpack_string(p, fcall->uname, sizeof(fcall->uname), &len);
-		p = ixp_unpack_string(p, fcall->aname, sizeof(fcall->aname), &len);
+		ixp_unpack_u32(&p, &fcall->afid);
+		ixp_unpack_string(&p, fcall->uname, sizeof(fcall->uname), &len);
+		ixp_unpack_string(&p, fcall->aname, sizeof(fcall->aname), &len);
 		break;
 	case RAUTH:
-		p = ixp_unpack_qid(p, &fcall->aqid);
+		ixp_unpack_qid(&p, &fcall->aqid);
 		break;
 	case RATTACH:
-		p = ixp_unpack_qid(p, &fcall->qid);
+		ixp_unpack_qid(&p, &fcall->qid);
 		break;
 	case TATTACH:
-		p = ixp_unpack_u32(p, &fcall->fid);
-		p = ixp_unpack_u32(p, &fcall->afid);
-		p = ixp_unpack_string(p, fcall->uname, sizeof(fcall->uname), &len);
-		p = ixp_unpack_string(p, fcall->aname, sizeof(fcall->aname), &len);
+		ixp_unpack_u32(&p, &fcall->fid);
+		ixp_unpack_u32(&p, &fcall->afid);
+		ixp_unpack_string(&p, fcall->uname, sizeof(fcall->uname), &len);
+		ixp_unpack_string(&p, fcall->aname, sizeof(fcall->aname), &len);
 		break;
 	case RERROR:
-		p = ixp_unpack_string(p, fcall->errstr, sizeof(fcall->errstr), &len);
+		ixp_unpack_string(&p, fcall->errstr, sizeof(fcall->errstr), &len);
 		break;
 	case TFLUSH:
-		p = ixp_unpack_u16(p, &fcall->oldtag);
+		ixp_unpack_u16(&p, &fcall->oldtag);
 		break;
 	case TWALK:
-		p = ixp_unpack_u32(p, &fcall->fid);
-		p = ixp_unpack_u32(p, &fcall->newfid);
-		p = ixp_unpack_u16(p, &fcall->nwname);
+		ixp_unpack_u32(&p, &fcall->fid);
+		ixp_unpack_u32(&p, &fcall->newfid);
+		ixp_unpack_u16(&p, &fcall->nwname);
 		for(i = 0; i < fcall->nwname; i++)
-			p = ixp_unpack_string(p, fcall->wname[i], IXP_MAX_FLEN, &len);
+			ixp_unpack_string(&p, fcall->wname[i], IXP_MAX_FLEN, &len);
 		break;
 	case RWALK:
-		p = ixp_unpack_u16(p, &fcall->nwqid);
+		ixp_unpack_u16(&p, &fcall->nwqid);
 		for(i = 0; i < fcall->nwqid; i++)
-			p = ixp_unpack_qid(p, &fcall->wqid[i]);
+			ixp_unpack_qid(&p, &fcall->wqid[i]);
 		break;
 	case TOPEN:
-		p = ixp_unpack_u32(p, &fcall->fid);
-		p = ixp_unpack_u8(p, &fcall->mode);
+		ixp_unpack_u32(&p, &fcall->fid);
+		ixp_unpack_u8(&p, &fcall->mode);
 		break;
 	case ROPEN:
 	case RCREATE:
-		p = ixp_unpack_qid(p, &fcall->qid);
-		p = ixp_unpack_u32(p, &fcall->iounit);
+		ixp_unpack_qid(&p, &fcall->qid);
+		ixp_unpack_u32(&p, &fcall->iounit);
 		break;
 	case TCREATE:
-		p = ixp_unpack_u32(p, &fcall->fid);
-		p = ixp_unpack_string(p, fcall->name, sizeof(fcall->name), &len);
-		p = ixp_unpack_u32(p, &fcall->perm);
-		p = ixp_unpack_u8(p, &fcall->mode);
+		ixp_unpack_u32(&p, &fcall->fid);
+		ixp_unpack_string(&p, fcall->name, sizeof(fcall->name), &len);
+		ixp_unpack_u32(&p, &fcall->perm);
+		ixp_unpack_u8(&p, &fcall->mode);
 		break;
 	case TREAD:
-		p = ixp_unpack_u32(p, &fcall->fid);
-		p = ixp_unpack_u64(p, &fcall->offset);
-		p = ixp_unpack_u32(p, &fcall->count);
+		ixp_unpack_u32(&p, &fcall->fid);
+		ixp_unpack_u64(&p, &fcall->offset);
+		ixp_unpack_u32(&p, &fcall->count);
 		break;
 	case RREAD:
-		p = ixp_unpack_u32(p, &fcall->count);
-		p = ixp_unpack_data(p, fcall->data, fcall->count);
+		ixp_unpack_u32(&p, &fcall->count);
+		ixp_unpack_data(&p, fcall->data, fcall->count);
 		break;
 	case TWRITE:
-		p = ixp_unpack_u32(p, &fcall->fid);
-		p = ixp_unpack_u64(p, &fcall->offset);
-		p = ixp_unpack_u32(p, &fcall->count);
-		p = ixp_unpack_data(p, fcall->data, fcall->count);
+		ixp_unpack_u32(&p, &fcall->fid);
+		ixp_unpack_u64(&p, &fcall->offset);
+		ixp_unpack_u32(&p, &fcall->count);
+		ixp_unpack_data(&p, fcall->data, fcall->count);
 		break;
 	case RWRITE:
-		p = ixp_unpack_u32(p, &fcall->count);
+		ixp_unpack_u32(&p, &fcall->count);
 		break;
 	case TCLUNK:
 	case TREMOVE:
 	case TSTAT:
-		p = ixp_unpack_u32(p, &fcall->fid);
+		ixp_unpack_u32(&p, &fcall->fid);
 		break;
 	case RSTAT:
-		p = ixp_unpack_u16(p, &len);
-		p = ixp_unpack_stat(p, &fcall->stat);
+		ixp_unpack_u16(&p, &len);
+		ixp_unpack_stat(&p, &fcall->stat);
 		break;
 	case TWSTAT:
-		p = ixp_unpack_u32(p, &fcall->fid);
-		p = ixp_unpack_u16(p, &len);
-		p = ixp_unpack_stat(p, &fcall->stat);
+		ixp_unpack_u32(&p, &fcall->fid);
+		ixp_unpack_u16(&p, &len);
+		ixp_unpack_stat(&p, &fcall->stat);
 		break;
 	}
 
diff --git a/libixp/transport.c b/libixp/transport.c
index 9f774be1..fc114a2f 100644
--- a/libixp/transport.c
+++ b/libixp/transport.c
@@ -64,15 +64,14 @@ ixp_recv_message(int fd, void *msg, unsigned int msglen, char **errstr)
 	if(ixp_recv_data(fd, msg, sizeof(unsigned int), errstr) !=
 			sizeof(unsigned int))
 		return 0;
-	ixp_unpack_u32(msg, &msize);
+	ixp_unpack_u32((unsigned char**)&msg, &msize);
 	if(msize > msglen) {
 		*errstr = "invalid message header";
 		return 0;
 	}
 	/* receive message */
-	if(ixp_recv_data(fd, msg + sizeof(unsigned int),
-				msize - sizeof(unsigned int), errstr)
-			!= msize - sizeof(unsigned int))
+	if(ixp_recv_data(fd, msg, msize - sizeof(unsigned int), errstr)
+       != msize - sizeof(unsigned int))
 		return 0;
 	return msize;
 }