diff --git a/mlibc/libc-mes.c b/mlibc/libc-mes.c
index 3375a958..3fbd68be 100644
--- a/mlibc/libc-mes.c
+++ b/mlibc/libc-mes.c
@@ -191,8 +191,11 @@ int
 fgetc (int fd)
 {
   char c;
+  int i;
   int r = read (fd, &c, 1);
-  return c == 1 ? c : (-1);
+  if (r < 1) return -1;
+  i = c;
+  return i;
 }
 
 void