diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/hjfs/fs2.c b/sys/src/cmd/hjfs/fs2.c
index d823222e5..4a0e7b9f5 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/hjfs/fs2.c
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/hjfs/fs2.c
@@ -716,16 +716,16 @@ chanwstat(Chan *ch, Dir *di)
 		ingroup(ch->fs, ch->uid, d->gid, 1) ||
 		(ch->fs->flags & FSNOPERM) != 0 ||
 		(ch->flags & CHFNOPERM) != 0;
-	if((uvlong)~di->length){
+	if(di->length != ~0){
 		if(isdir && di->length != 0)
 			goto inval;
 		if((ch->flags & CHFNOPERM) == 0)
 			if(di->length != d->size && !permcheck(ch->fs, d, ch->uid, OWRITE))
 				goto perm;
 	}
-	if((ulong)~di->mtime && !owner)
+	if(di->mtime != ~0 && !owner)
 		goto perm;
-	if((ulong)~di->mode && !owner)
+	if(di->mode != ~0 && !owner)
 		goto perm;
 	nuid = NOUID;
 	ngid = NOUID;
@@ -737,13 +737,13 @@ chanwstat(Chan *ch, Dir *di)
 		goto inval;
 	if((nuid != NOUID || ngid != NOUID) && !owner)
 		goto perm;
-	if((uvlong)~di->length && !isdir){
+	if(di->length != ~0 && !isdir){
 		trunc(ch->fs, ch->loc, b, di->length);
 		modified(ch, d);
 	}
-	if((ulong)~di->mtime)
+	if(di->mtime != ~0)
 		d->mtime = di->mtime;
-	if((ulong)~di->mode){
+	if(di->mode != ~0){
 		d->mode = d->mode & ~0777 | di->mode & 0777;
 		ch->loc->type = d->type = di->mode >> 24;
 	}
diff --git a/sys/src/lib9p/srv.c b/sys/src/lib9p/srv.c
index 5a2bd9e1c..4b91b86ce 100644
--- a/sys/src/lib9p/srv.c
+++ b/sys/src/lib9p/srv.c
@@ -668,15 +668,15 @@ swstat(Srv *srv, Req *r)
 		respond(r, Ebaddir);
 		return;
 	}
-	if((ushort)~r->d.type){
+	if(r->d.type != (ushort)~0){
 		respond(r, "wstat -- attempt to change type");
 		return;
 	}
-	if((uint)~r->d.dev){
+	if(r->d.dev != ~0){
 		respond(r, "wstat -- attempt to change dev");
 		return;
 	}
-	if((uchar)~r->d.qid.type || (ulong)~r->d.qid.vers || (uvlong)~r->d.qid.path){
+	if(r->d.qid.type != (uchar)~0 || r->d.qid.vers != ~0 || r->d.qid.path != ~0){
 		respond(r, "wstat -- attempt to change qid");
 		return;
 	}
@@ -684,7 +684,7 @@ swstat(Srv *srv, Req *r)
 		respond(r, "wstat -- attempt to change muid");
 		return;
 	}
-	if((ulong)~r->d.mode && ((r->d.mode&DMDIR)>>24) != (r->fid->qid.type&QTDIR)){
+	if(r->d.mode != ~0 && ((r->d.mode&DMDIR)>>24) != (r->fid->qid.type&QTDIR)){
 		respond(r, "wstat -- attempt to change DMDIR bit");
 		return;
 	}