diff --git a/archival/dpkg.c b/archival/dpkg.c
index 7693342f7..1280ca03d 100644
--- a/archival/dpkg.c
+++ b/archival/dpkg.c
@@ -1162,7 +1162,7 @@ static char **create_list(const char *filename)
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
-	while ((line = xmalloc_getline(list_stream)) != NULL) {
+	while ((line = xmalloc_fgetline(list_stream)) != NULL) {
 		file_list = xrealloc(file_list, sizeof(char *) * (count + 2));
 		file_list[count] = line;
 		count++;
diff --git a/archival/tar.c b/archival/tar.c
index 7bd79552e..0c90ac07e 100644
--- a/archival/tar.c
+++ b/archival/tar.c
@@ -660,7 +660,7 @@ static llist_t *append_file_list_to_list(llist_t *list)
 		tmp = cur;
 		cur = cur->link;
 		free(tmp);
-		while ((line = xmalloc_getline(src_stream)) != NULL) {
+		while ((line = xmalloc_fgetline(src_stream)) != NULL) {
 			/* kill trailing '/' unless the string is just "/" */
 			char *cp = last_char_is(line, '/');
 			if (cp > line)
diff --git a/coreutils/cut.c b/coreutils/cut.c
index e617ef28f..7a44d1088 100644
--- a/coreutils/cut.c
+++ b/coreutils/cut.c
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ static void cut_file(FILE *file, char delim)
 	unsigned int linenum = 0;	/* keep these zero-based to be consistent */
 
 	/* go through every line in the file */
-	while ((line = xmalloc_getline(file)) != NULL) {
+	while ((line = xmalloc_fgetline(file)) != NULL) {
 
 		/* set up a list so we can keep track of what's been printed */
 		char * printed = xzalloc(strlen(line) * sizeof(char));
diff --git a/coreutils/md5_sha1_sum.c b/coreutils/md5_sha1_sum.c
index 080eac5f4..2e1c96459 100644
--- a/coreutils/md5_sha1_sum.c
+++ b/coreutils/md5_sha1_sum.c
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ int md5_sha1_sum_main(int argc ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED, char **argv)
 
 		pre_computed_stream = xfopen_stdin(argv[0]);
 
-		while ((line = xmalloc_getline(pre_computed_stream)) != NULL) {
+		while ((line = xmalloc_fgetline(pre_computed_stream)) != NULL) {
 			char *filename_ptr;
 
 			count_total++;
diff --git a/coreutils/sort.c b/coreutils/sort.c
index 15566ce2b..a54be7269 100644
--- a/coreutils/sort.c
+++ b/coreutils/sort.c
@@ -150,9 +150,9 @@ static struct sort_key *add_key(void)
 #define GET_LINE(fp) \
 	((option_mask32 & FLAG_z) \
 	? bb_get_chunk_from_file(fp, NULL) \
-	: xmalloc_getline(fp))
+	: xmalloc_fgetline(fp))
 #else
-#define GET_LINE(fp) xmalloc_getline(fp)
+#define GET_LINE(fp) xmalloc_fgetline(fp)
 #endif
 
 /* Iterate through keys list and perform comparisons */
diff --git a/coreutils/uniq.c b/coreutils/uniq.c
index d0729607c..32327c6ce 100644
--- a/coreutils/uniq.c
+++ b/coreutils/uniq.c
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ int uniq_main(int argc ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED, char **argv)
 		dups = 0;
 
 		/* gnu uniq ignores newlines */
-		while ((s1 = xmalloc_getline(in)) != NULL) {
+		while ((s1 = xmalloc_fgetline(in)) != NULL) {
 			e1 = s1;
 			for (i = skip_fields; i; i--) {
 				e1 = skip_whitespace(e1);
diff --git a/coreutils/uudecode.c b/coreutils/uudecode.c
index 4c619dec5..c06747622 100644
--- a/coreutils/uudecode.c
+++ b/coreutils/uudecode.c
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ static void read_stduu(FILE *src_stream, FILE *dst_stream)
 {
 	char *line;
 
-	while ((line = xmalloc_getline(src_stream)) != NULL) {
+	while ((line = xmalloc_fgetline(src_stream)) != NULL) {
 		int encoded_len, str_len;
 		char *line_ptr, *dst;
 
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ int uudecode_main(int argc ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED, char **argv)
 	src_stream = xfopen_stdin(*argv);
 
 	/* Search for the start of the encoding */
-	while ((line = xmalloc_getline(src_stream)) != NULL) {
+	while ((line = xmalloc_fgetline(src_stream)) != NULL) {
 		void (*decode_fn_ptr)(FILE * src, FILE * dst);
 		char *line_ptr;
 		FILE *dst_stream;
diff --git a/e2fsprogs/fsck.c b/e2fsprogs/fsck.c
index 178792f6f..0707d295d 100644
--- a/e2fsprogs/fsck.c
+++ b/e2fsprogs/fsck.c
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ static void load_fs_info(const char *filename)
 	}
 	while (1) {
 		int r;
-		char *buf = xmalloc_getline(f);
+		char *buf = xmalloc_fgetline(f);
 		if (!buf) break;
 		r = parse_fstab_line(buf, &fs);
 		free(buf);
diff --git a/editors/patch.c b/editors/patch.c
index 6f42b835c..1c9e97005 100644
--- a/editors/patch.c
+++ b/editors/patch.c
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ int patch_main(int argc ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED, char **argv)
 		patch_file = xfopen_stdin(i);
 	}
 
-	patch_line = xmalloc_getline(patch_file);
+	patch_line = xmalloc_fgetline(patch_file);
 	while (patch_line) {
 		FILE *src_stream;
 		FILE *dst_stream;
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ int patch_main(int argc ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED, char **argv)
 			/* Extract the filename used before the patch was generated */
 			new_filename = extract_filename(patch_line, patch_level, "--- ");
 			// was old_filename above
-			patch_line = xmalloc_getline(patch_file);
+			patch_line = xmalloc_fgetline(patch_file);
 			if (!patch_line) goto quit;
 		} while (!new_filename);
 		free(new_filename); // "source" filename is irrelevant
diff --git a/editors/sed.c b/editors/sed.c
index 32911f8f9..f85884534 100644
--- a/editors/sed.c
+++ b/editors/sed.c
@@ -1028,7 +1028,7 @@ static void process_files(void)
 				if (rfile) {
 					char *line;
 
-					while ((line = xmalloc_getline(rfile))
+					while ((line = xmalloc_fgetline(rfile))
 							!= NULL)
 						append(line);
 					xprint_and_close_file(rfile);
@@ -1273,7 +1273,7 @@ int sed_main(int argc ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED, char **argv)
 		char *line;
 		FILE *cmdfile;
 		cmdfile = xfopen(opt_f->data, "r");
-		while ((line = xmalloc_getline(cmdfile)) != NULL) {
+		while ((line = xmalloc_fgetline(cmdfile)) != NULL) {
 			add_cmd(line);
 			free(line);
 		}
diff --git a/findutils/grep.c b/findutils/grep.c
index 259026ee5..b319e22ce 100644
--- a/findutils/grep.c
+++ b/findutils/grep.c
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ static int grep_file(FILE *file)
 	enum { print_n_lines_after = 0 };
 #endif /* ENABLE_FEATURE_GREP_CONTEXT */
 
-	while ((line = xmalloc_getline(file)) != NULL) {
+	while ((line = xmalloc_fgetline(file)) != NULL) {
 		llist_t *pattern_ptr = pattern_head;
 		grep_list_data_t *gl = gl; /* for gcc */
 
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ static void load_regexes_from_file(llist_t *fopt)
 		fopt = cur->link;
 		free(cur);
 		f = xfopen(ffile, "r");
-		while ((line = xmalloc_getline(f)) != NULL) {
+		while ((line = xmalloc_fgetline(f)) != NULL) {
 			llist_add_to(&pattern_head,
 				new_grep_list_data(line, PATTERN_MEM_A));
 		}
diff --git a/include/libbb.h b/include/libbb.h
index 07f74e476..3638b7e15 100644
--- a/include/libbb.h
+++ b/include/libbb.h
@@ -524,15 +524,16 @@ extern ssize_t nonblock_safe_read(int fd, void *buf, size_t count);
 extern ssize_t full_read(int fd, void *buf, size_t count);
 extern void xread(int fd, void *buf, size_t count);
 extern unsigned char xread_char(int fd);
-// Read one line a-la fgets. Uses one read(), works only on seekable streams
+// Reads one line a-la fgets (but doesn't save terminating '\n').
+// Uses single full_read() call, works only on seekable streams.
 extern char *reads(int fd, char *buf, size_t count);
-// Read one line a-la fgets. Reads byte-by-byte.
-// Useful when it is important to not read ahead.
+// Reads one line a-la fgets (but doesn't save terminating '\n').
+// Reads byte-by-byte. Useful when it is important to not read ahead.
 // Bytes are appended to pfx (which must be malloced, or NULL).
 extern char *xmalloc_reads(int fd, char *pfx, size_t *maxsz_p);
-extern ssize_t read_close(int fd, void *buf, size_t count);
-extern ssize_t open_read_close(const char *filename, void *buf, size_t count);
-extern void *xmalloc_open_read_close(const char *filename, size_t *sizep);
+extern ssize_t read_close(int fd, void *buf, size_t maxsz);
+extern ssize_t open_read_close(const char *filename, void *buf, size_t maxsz);
+extern void *xmalloc_open_read_close(const char *filename, size_t *maxsz_p);
 
 extern ssize_t safe_write(int fd, const void *buf, size_t count);
 // NB: will return short write on error, not -1,
@@ -549,7 +550,7 @@ extern char *xmalloc_fgetline_str(FILE *file, const char *terminating_string);
 /* Reads up to (and including) "\n" or NUL byte */
 extern char *xmalloc_fgets(FILE *file);
 /* Chops off '\n' from the end, unlike fgets: */
-extern char *xmalloc_getline(FILE *file);
+extern char *xmalloc_fgetline(FILE *file);
 extern char *bb_get_chunk_from_file(FILE *file, int *end);
 extern void die_if_ferror(FILE *file, const char *msg);
 extern void die_if_ferror_stdout(void);
diff --git a/include/usage.h b/include/usage.h
index f950a0a49..f830fb35c 100644
--- a/include/usage.h
+++ b/include/usage.h
@@ -133,6 +133,8 @@
      "\n	-f	Control pipe (else exit after drawing image)" \
      "\n			commands: 'NN' (% for progress bar) or 'exit'" \
 
+
+
 #define brctl_trivial_usage \
        "COMMAND [BRIDGE [INTERFACE]]"
 #define brctl_full_usage \
diff --git a/libbb/get_line_from_file.c b/libbb/get_line_from_file.c
index ac4d14b1f..b88872d53 100644
--- a/libbb/get_line_from_file.c
+++ b/libbb/get_line_from_file.c
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ char *xmalloc_fgets(FILE *file)
 }
 
 /* Get line.  Remove trailing \n */
-char *xmalloc_getline(FILE *file)
+char *xmalloc_fgetline(FILE *file)
 {
 	int i;
 	char *c = bb_get_chunk_from_file(file, &i);
diff --git a/libbb/lineedit.c b/libbb/lineedit.c
index 5d65665d3..4ba61c143 100644
--- a/libbb/lineedit.c
+++ b/libbb/lineedit.c
@@ -969,7 +969,7 @@ static void load_history(const char *fromfile)
 		}
 
 		for (hi = 0; hi < MAX_HISTORY;) {
-			char *hl = xmalloc_getline(fp);
+			char *hl = xmalloc_fgetline(fp);
 			int l;
 
 			if (!hl)
diff --git a/libbb/read.c b/libbb/read.c
index 9c025e3a3..1d31fb076 100644
--- a/libbb/read.c
+++ b/libbb/read.c
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ char *reads(int fd, char *buffer, size_t size)
 		off_t offset;
 		*p++ = '\0';
 		// avoid incorrect (unsigned) widening
-		offset = (off_t)(p-buffer) - (off_t)size;
+		offset = (off_t)(p - buffer) - (off_t)size;
 		// set fd position right after '\n'
 		if (offset && lseek(fd, offset, SEEK_CUR) == (off_t)-1)
 			return NULL;
@@ -149,8 +149,8 @@ char *reads(int fd, char *buffer, size_t size)
 	return buffer;
 }
 
-// Read one line a-la fgets. Reads byte-by-byte.
-// Useful when it is important to not read ahead.
+// Reads one line a-la fgets (but doesn't save terminating '\n').
+// Reads byte-by-byte. Useful when it is important to not read ahead.
 // Bytes are appended to pfx (which must be malloced, or NULL).
 char *xmalloc_reads(int fd, char *buf, size_t *maxsz_p)
 {
@@ -178,9 +178,10 @@ char *xmalloc_reads(int fd, char *buf, size_t *maxsz_p)
 			break;
 		p++;
 	}
-	*p++ = '\0';
+	*p = '\0';
 	if (maxsz_p)
-		*maxsz_p  = p - buf - 1;
+		*maxsz_p  = p - buf;
+	p++;
 	return xrealloc(buf, p - buf);
 }
 
diff --git a/loginutils/addgroup.c b/loginutils/addgroup.c
index 367c6b9f0..c9495b2c1 100644
--- a/loginutils/addgroup.c
+++ b/loginutils/addgroup.c
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ static void add_user_to_group(char **args,
 
 	if (!group_file) return;
 
-	while ((line = xmalloc_getline(group_file))) {
+	while ((line = xmalloc_fgetline(group_file)) != NULL) {
 		/* Find the group */
 		if (!strncmp(line, args[1], len)
 		 && line[len] == ':'
diff --git a/loginutils/chpasswd.c b/loginutils/chpasswd.c
index cb13ebb2d..5dc7a9bf0 100644
--- a/loginutils/chpasswd.c
+++ b/loginutils/chpasswd.c
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ int chpasswd_main(int argc ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED, char **argv)
 	USE_GETOPT_LONG(applet_long_options = chpasswd_longopts;)
 	opt = getopt32(argv, "em");
 
-	while ((name = xmalloc_getline(stdin)) != NULL) {
+	while ((name = xmalloc_fgetline(stdin)) != NULL) {
 		pass = strchr(name, ':');
 		if (!pass)
 			bb_error_msg_and_die("missing new password");
diff --git a/loginutils/cryptpw.c b/loginutils/cryptpw.c
index c5170c6a4..68f5e8074 100644
--- a/loginutils/cryptpw.c
+++ b/loginutils/cryptpw.c
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ int cryptpw_main(int argc ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED, char **argv)
 		crypt_make_salt(salt, 1, 0);     /* des */
 	}
 
-	puts(pw_encrypt(argv[optind] ? argv[optind] : xmalloc_getline(stdin), salt));
+	puts(pw_encrypt(argv[optind] ? argv[optind] : xmalloc_fgetline(stdin), salt));
 
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/miscutils/dc.c b/miscutils/dc.c
index 612937556..193929c8e 100644
--- a/miscutils/dc.c
+++ b/miscutils/dc.c
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ int dc_main(int argc ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED, char **argv)
 		char *line;
 		char *cursor;
 		char *token;
-		while ((line = xmalloc_getline(stdin)) != NULL) {
+		while ((line = xmalloc_fgetline(stdin)) != NULL) {
 			cursor = line;
 			while (1) {
 				token = get_token(&cursor);
diff --git a/miscutils/makedevs.c b/miscutils/makedevs.c
index 1f88f3428..43e4b8c4d 100644
--- a/miscutils/makedevs.c
+++ b/miscutils/makedevs.c
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ int makedevs_main(int argc, char **argv)
 		printf("table=<stdin>\n");
 	}
 
-	while ((line = xmalloc_getline(table))) {
+	while ((line = xmalloc_fgetline(table)) != NULL) {
 		char type;
 		unsigned int mode = 0755;
 		unsigned int major = 0;
diff --git a/networking/ifupdown.c b/networking/ifupdown.c
index 20bb709ce..7c31448e8 100644
--- a/networking/ifupdown.c
+++ b/networking/ifupdown.c
@@ -693,13 +693,13 @@ static struct interfaces_file_t *read_interfaces(const char *filename)
 	defn = xzalloc(sizeof(*defn));
 	f = xfopen(filename, "r");
 
-	while ((buf = xmalloc_getline(f)) != NULL) {
+	while ((buf = xmalloc_fgetline(f)) != NULL) {
 #if ENABLE_DESKTOP
 		/* Trailing "\" concatenates lines */
 		char *p;
 		while ((p = last_char_is(buf, '\\')) != NULL) {
 			*p = '\0';
-			rest_of_line = xmalloc_getline(f);
+			rest_of_line = xmalloc_fgetline(f);
 			if (!rest_of_line)
 				break;
 			p = xasprintf("%s%s", buf, rest_of_line);
@@ -1051,7 +1051,7 @@ static char *run_mapping(char *physical, struct mapping_defn_t *map)
 		/* If the mapping script exited successfully, try to
 		 * grab a line of output and use that as the name of the
 		 * logical interface. */
-		char *new_logical = xmalloc_getline(out);
+		char *new_logical = xmalloc_fgetline(out);
 
 		if (new_logical) {
 			/* If we are able to read a line of output from the script,
diff --git a/networking/sendmail.c b/networking/sendmail.c
index 378c4bb2e..973d712b9 100644
--- a/networking/sendmail.c
+++ b/networking/sendmail.c
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ static int smtp_checkp(const char *fmt, const char *param, int code)
 	// if code = -1 then just return this number
 	// if code != -1 then checks whether the number equals the code
 	// if not equal -> die saying msg
-	while ((answer = xmalloc_getline(stdin)) != NULL)
+	while ((answer = xmalloc_fgetline(stdin)) != NULL)
 		if (strlen(answer) <= 3 || '-' != answer[3])
 			break;
 	if (answer) {
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ static char *sane(char *str)
 static void pop3_checkr(const char *fmt, const char *param, char **ret)
 {
 	const char *msg = command(fmt, param);
-	char *answer = xmalloc_getline(stdin);
+	char *answer = xmalloc_fgetline(stdin);
 	if (answer && '+' == *answer) {
 		alarm(0);
 		if (ret)
diff --git a/util-linux/hexdump.c b/util-linux/hexdump.c
index 10c57fd61..7630153e7 100644
--- a/util-linux/hexdump.c
+++ b/util-linux/hexdump.c
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ static void bb_dump_addfile(char *name)
 
 	fp = xfopen(name, "r");
 
-	while ((buf = xmalloc_getline(fp)) != NULL) {
+	while ((buf = xmalloc_fgetline(fp)) != NULL) {
 		p = skip_whitespace(buf);
 
 		if (*p && (*p != '#')) {
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ int hexdump_main(int argc, char **argv)
 		char *buf;
 		fp = xfopen(*argv, "r");
  jump_in:
-		while ((buf = xmalloc_getline(fp)) != NULL) {
+		while ((buf = xmalloc_fgetline(fp)) != NULL) {
 			p = buf;
 			while (1) {
 				/* skip address or previous byte */
diff --git a/util-linux/mdev.c b/util-linux/mdev.c
index 0edaf1047..5a8f1d918 100644
--- a/util-linux/mdev.c
+++ b/util-linux/mdev.c
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ static void make_device(char *path, int delete)
 		if (!fp)
 			goto end_parse;
 
-		while ((vline = line = xmalloc_getline(fp)) != NULL) {
+		while ((vline = line = xmalloc_fgetline(fp)) != NULL) {
 			int field;
 
 			/* A pristine copy for command execution. */
diff --git a/util-linux/mount.c b/util-linux/mount.c
index bd5f27b2e..351a31a73 100644
--- a/util-linux/mount.c
+++ b/util-linux/mount.c
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ static llist_t *get_block_backed_filesystems(void)
 		f = fopen(filesystems[i], "r");
 		if (!f) continue;
 
-		while ((buf = xmalloc_getline(f)) != 0) {
+		while ((buf = xmalloc_fgetline(f)) != NULL) {
 			if (!strncmp(buf, "nodev", 5) && isspace(buf[5]))
 				continue;
 			fs = skip_whitespace(buf);