diff --git a/proc/libprocfs.sym b/proc/libprocfs.sym
index 150bbaac..d8bf6b73 100644
--- a/proc/libprocfs.sym
+++ b/proc/libprocfs.sym
@@ -71,11 +71,6 @@ global:
 	vm_pswpin;
 	vm_pswpout;
 	vminfo;
-	xalloc_err_handler;
-	xcalloc;
-	xmalloc;
-	xrealloc;
-	xstrdup;
 local:
 	*;
 };
diff --git a/ps/display.c b/ps/display.c
index d7bf5b5e..dfd4e241 100644
--- a/ps/display.c
+++ b/ps/display.c
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ static void lists_and_needs(void){
     format_node *p_end = &pfn;
     format_node *t_end = &tfn;
     while(walk){
-      format_node *new = xmalloc(sizeof(format_node));
+      format_node *new = malloc(sizeof(format_node));
       memcpy(new,walk,sizeof(format_node));
       p_end->next = walk;
       t_end->next = new;
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ static void prep_forest_sort(void){
   if(!sort_list) {     /* assume start time order */
     incoming = search_format_array("start_time");
     if(!incoming) { fprintf(stderr, "Could not find start_time!\n"); exit(1); }
-    tmp_list = xmalloc(sizeof(sort_node));
+    tmp_list = malloc(sizeof(sort_node));
     tmp_list->reverse = 0;
     tmp_list->typecode = '?'; /* what was this for? */
     tmp_list->sr = incoming->sr;
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ static void prep_forest_sort(void){
   /* this is required for the forest option */
   incoming = search_format_array("ppid");
   if(!incoming) { fprintf(stderr, "Could not find ppid!\n"); exit(1); }
-  tmp_list = xmalloc(sizeof(sort_node));
+  tmp_list = malloc(sizeof(sort_node));
   tmp_list->reverse = 0;
   tmp_list->typecode = '?'; /* what was this for? */
   tmp_list->sr = incoming->sr;
diff --git a/ps/global.c b/ps/global.c
index 51512059..2563f807 100644
--- a/ps/global.c
+++ b/ps/global.c
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
 #include "common.h"
 
 #include <sys/sysmacros.h>
-#include "../proc/alloc.h"
 #include "../proc/wchan.h"
 #include "../proc/version.h"
 #include "../proc/sysinfo.h"
@@ -234,7 +233,10 @@ static const char *set_personality(void){
   if(sl > 15) return "Environment specified an unknown personality.";
   strncpy(buf, s, sl);
   buf[sl] = '\0';
-  saved_personality_text = xstrdup(buf);
+  if ((saved_personality_text = strdup(buf))==NULL) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "Cannot strdup() personality text.\n");
+    exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+  }
 
   found = bsearch(&findme, personality_table, personality_table_count,
       sizeof(personality_table_struct), compare_personality_table_structs
diff --git a/ps/parser.c b/ps/parser.c
index 1edd26ed..01233b72 100644
--- a/ps/parser.c
+++ b/ps/parser.c
@@ -174,10 +174,10 @@ static const char *parse_list(const char *arg, const char *(*parse_fn)(char *, s
   int need_item;
   const char *err;       /* error code that could or did happen */
   /*** prepare to operate ***/
-  node = xmalloc(sizeof(selection_node));
-  node->u = xmalloc(strlen(arg)*sizeof(sel_union)); /* waste is insignificant */
+  node = malloc(sizeof(selection_node));
+  node->u = malloc(strlen(arg)*sizeof(sel_union)); /* waste is insignificant */
   node->n = 0;
-  buf = xstrdup(arg);
+  buf = strdup(arg);
   /*** sanity check and count items ***/
   need_item = 1; /* true */
   items = 0;
@@ -576,8 +576,8 @@ static const char *parse_bsd_option(void){
       /* put our tty on a tiny list */
       {
         selection_node *node;
-        node = xmalloc(sizeof(selection_node));
-        node->u = xmalloc(sizeof(sel_union));
+        node = malloc(sizeof(selection_node));
+        node->u = malloc(sizeof(sel_union));
         node->u[0].tty = cached_tty;
         node->typecode = SEL_TTY;
         node->n = 1;
@@ -705,8 +705,8 @@ static const char *parse_bsd_option(void){
       if(!arg){
         /* Wow, obsolete BSD syntax. Put our tty on a tiny list. */
         selection_node *node;
-        node = xmalloc(sizeof(selection_node));
-        node->u = xmalloc(sizeof(sel_union));
+        node = malloc(sizeof(selection_node));
+        node->u = malloc(sizeof(sel_union));
         node->u[0].tty = cached_tty;
         node->typecode = SEL_TTY;
         node->n = 1;
@@ -1018,16 +1018,16 @@ static const char *parse_trailing_pids(void){
   argp = ps_argv + thisarg;
   thisarg = ps_argc - 1;   /* we must be at the end now */
 
-  pidnode = xmalloc(sizeof(selection_node));
-  pidnode->u = xmalloc(i*sizeof(sel_union)); /* waste is insignificant */
+  pidnode = malloc(sizeof(selection_node));
+  pidnode->u = malloc(i*sizeof(sel_union)); /* waste is insignificant */
   pidnode->n = 0;
 
-  grpnode = xmalloc(sizeof(selection_node));
-  grpnode->u = xmalloc(i*sizeof(sel_union)); /* waste is insignificant */
+  grpnode = malloc(sizeof(selection_node));
+  grpnode->u = malloc(i*sizeof(sel_union)); /* waste is insignificant */
   grpnode->n = 0;
 
-  sidnode = xmalloc(sizeof(selection_node));
-  sidnode->u = xmalloc(i*sizeof(sel_union)); /* waste is insignificant */
+  sidnode = malloc(sizeof(selection_node));
+  sidnode->u = malloc(i*sizeof(sel_union)); /* waste is insignificant */
   sidnode->n = 0;
 
   while(i--){
diff --git a/ps/sortformat.c b/ps/sortformat.c
index db803687..82ee27c3 100644
--- a/ps/sortformat.c
+++ b/ps/sortformat.c
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
 #include <pwd.h>
 #include <grp.h>
 
-#include "../proc/alloc.h"
 #include "../proc/readproc.h"
 #include "../proc/sysinfo.h"
 #include "common.h"
@@ -39,7 +38,7 @@ static format_node *do_one_spec(const char *spec, const char *override){
   if(fs){
     int w1, w2;
     format_node *thisnode;
-    thisnode = xmalloc(sizeof(format_node));
+    thisnode = malloc(sizeof(format_node));
     if(fs->flags & CF_PIDMAX){
       w1 = (int)get_pid_digits();
       w2 = strlen(fs->head);
@@ -50,10 +49,10 @@ static format_node *do_one_spec(const char *spec, const char *override){
     if(override){
       w2 = strlen(override);
       thisnode->width = (w1>w2)?w1:w2;
-      thisnode->name = xstrdup(override);
+      thisnode->name = strdup(override);
     }else{
       thisnode->width = w1;
-      thisnode->name = xstrdup(fs->head);
+      thisnode->name = strdup(fs->head);
     }
     thisnode->pr = fs->pr;
     thisnode->need = fs->need;
@@ -143,7 +142,7 @@ static const char *aix_format_parse(sf_node *sfn){
   }
 
   /*** sanity check passed ***/
-  buf = xstrdup(sfn->sf);
+  buf = strdup(sfn->sf);
   walk = sfn->sf;
 
   while(items--){
@@ -176,9 +175,9 @@ double_percent:
       }
       buf[len] = '\0';
       walk += len;
-      fnode = xmalloc(sizeof(format_node));
+      fnode = malloc(sizeof(format_node));
       fnode->width = len;
-      fnode->name = xstrdup(buf);
+      fnode->name = strdup(buf);
       fnode->pr = NULL;     /* checked for */
       fnode->need = 0;
       fnode->vendor = AIX;
@@ -212,7 +211,7 @@ static const char *format_parse(sf_node *sfn){
   static char errbuf[80]; /* for variable-text error message */
 
   /*** prepare to operate ***/
-  buf = xstrdup(sfn->sf);
+  buf = strdup(sfn->sf);
 
   /*** sanity check and count items ***/
   need_item = 1; /* true */
@@ -327,7 +326,7 @@ static sort_node *do_one_sort_spec(const char *spec){
   fs = search_format_array(spec);
   if(fs){
     sort_node *thisnode;
-    thisnode = xmalloc(sizeof(sort_node));
+    thisnode = malloc(sizeof(sort_node));
     thisnode->sr = fs->sr;
     thisnode->need = fs->need;
     thisnode->reverse = reverse;
@@ -351,7 +350,7 @@ static const char *long_sort_parse(sf_node *sfn){
   int need_item;
 
   /*** prepare to operate ***/
-  buf = xstrdup(sfn->sf);
+  buf = strdup(sfn->sf);
 
   /*** sanity check and count items ***/
   need_item = 1; /* true */
@@ -555,8 +554,8 @@ int defer_sf_option(const char *arg, int source){
   const format_struct *fs;
   int need_item = 1;
 
-  sfn = xmalloc(sizeof(sf_node));
-  sfn->sf = xstrdup(arg);
+  sfn = malloc(sizeof(sf_node));
+  sfn->sf = strdup(arg);
   sfn->sf_code = source;
   sfn->s_cooked = NULL;
   sfn->f_cooked = NULL;
@@ -679,9 +678,9 @@ static const char *generate_sysv_list(void){
   if( (format_flags & FF_Ul) && !(format_modifiers & FM_y) ){
     if(personality & PER_IRIX_l){ /* add "rss" then ':' here */
       PUSH("sgi_rss");
-      fn = xmalloc(sizeof(format_node));
+      fn = malloc(sizeof(format_node));
       fn->width = 1;
-      fn->name = xstrdup(":");
+      fn->name = strdup(":");
       fn->pr = NULL;     /* checked for */
       fn->need = 0;
       fn->vendor = AIX;   /* yes, for SGI weirdness */
diff --git a/top.c b/top.c
index dbcb8021..1ccb7a19 100644
--- a/top.c
+++ b/top.c
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <values.h>
 
-#include "proc/alloc.h"
 #include "proc/devname.h"
 #include "proc/procps.h"
 #include "proc/readproc.h"
@@ -1319,7 +1318,7 @@ static void adj_geometry (void) {
    // we'll only grow our Pseudo_screen, never shrink it
    if (pseudo_max < Pseudo_size) {
       pseudo_max = Pseudo_size;
-      Pseudo_screen = xrealloc(Pseudo_screen, pseudo_max);
+      Pseudo_screen = realloc(Pseudo_screen, pseudo_max);
    }
    PSU_CLREOS(0);
    if (Frames_resize) putp(Cap_clr_scr);
@@ -1769,7 +1768,8 @@ static CPU_t *cpus_refresh (CPU_t *cpus) {
       /* note: we allocate one more CPU_t than Cpu_tot so that the last slot
                can hold tics representing the /proc/stat cpu summary (the first
                line read) -- that slot supports our View_CPUSUM toggle */
-      cpus = xcalloc((1 + Cpu_tot) * sizeof(CPU_t));
+      if ((cpus = calloc((1 + Cpu_tot),sizeof(CPU_t)))==NULL)
+         error_exit(fmtmk("failed to allocate memory for CPU_t"));
    }
    rewind(fp);
    fflush(fp);
@@ -1920,8 +1920,8 @@ static void prochlp (proc_t *this) {
 
    if (Frame_maxtask+1 >= HHist_siz) {
       HHist_siz = HHist_siz * 5 / 4 + 100;
-      PHist_sav = xrealloc(PHist_sav, sizeof(HST_t) * HHist_siz);
-      PHist_new = xrealloc(PHist_new, sizeof(HST_t) * HHist_siz);
+      PHist_sav = realloc(PHist_sav, sizeof(HST_t) * HHist_siz);
+      PHist_new = realloc(PHist_new, sizeof(HST_t) * HHist_siz);
    }
 
    /* calculate time in this process; the sum of user time (utime) and
@@ -1971,7 +1971,7 @@ static void procs_refresh (void) {
    for (;;) {
       if (n_used == n_alloc) {
          n_alloc = 10 + ((n_alloc * 5) / 4);     // grow by over 25%
-         private_ppt = xrealloc(private_ppt, sizeof(proc_t*) * n_alloc);
+         private_ppt = realloc(private_ppt, sizeof(proc_t*) * n_alloc);
          // ensure NULL pointers for the additional memory just acquired
          memset(private_ppt + n_used, 0, sizeof(proc_t*) * (n_alloc - n_used));
       }
@@ -1990,7 +1990,7 @@ static void procs_refresh (void) {
    else {
       n_saved = n_alloc;
       for (i = 0; i < GROUPSMAX; i++) {
-         Winstk[i].ppt = xrealloc(Winstk[i].ppt, sizeof(proc_t*) * n_alloc);
+         Winstk[i].ppt = realloc(Winstk[i].ppt, sizeof(proc_t*) * n_alloc);
          memcpy(Winstk[i].ppt, private_ppt, sizeof(proc_t*) * n_used);
       }
    }
@@ -2038,7 +2038,6 @@ static void before (char *me) {
    // setup our program name and library error message handler -- big!
    Myname = strrchr(me, '/');
    if (Myname) ++Myname; else Myname = me;
-   xalloc_err_handler = library_err;
 
    // establish cpu particulars -- even bigger!
 #ifdef PRETEND4CPUS
@@ -3153,7 +3152,7 @@ static void forest_create (WIN_t *q) {
       qsort(Seed_ppt, Frame_maxtask, sizeof(proc_t*), Fieldstab[P_PPD].sort);
       if (hwmsav < Frame_maxtask) {         // grow, but never shrink
          hwmsav = Frame_maxtask;
-         Tree_ppt = xrealloc(Tree_ppt, sizeof(proc_t*) * hwmsav);
+         Tree_ppt = realloc(Tree_ppt, sizeof(proc_t*) * hwmsav);
       }
       while (0 == Seed_ppt[i]->ppid)        // identify trees (expect 2)
          forest_add(i++, 1);                // add parent plus children