diff --git a/sys/src/ape/lib/ap/stdio/fread.c b/sys/src/ape/lib/ap/stdio/fread.c
index 3345011b6..cf66c54fb 100644
--- a/sys/src/ape/lib/ap/stdio/fread.c
+++ b/sys/src/ape/lib/ap/stdio/fread.c
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ size_t fread(void *p, size_t recl, size_t nrec, FILE *f){
 			memcpy(s, f->rp, d);
 			f->rp+=d;
 		}else{
-			if(n >= BIGN && f->state==RD && !(f->flags&STRING) && f->buf!=f->unbuf){
+			if(n >= BIGN && f->state==RD && !(f->flags&STRING) && f->buf!=f->unbuf || f->buf == f->unbuf){
 				d=read(f->fd, s, n);
 				if(d<=0){
 					f->state=(d==0)?END:ERR;