diff --git a/VAX/vax860_stddev.c b/VAX/vax860_stddev.c
index 759166db..ea9a55e3 100644
--- a/VAX/vax860_stddev.c
+++ b/VAX/vax860_stddev.c
@@ -1102,8 +1102,8 @@ switch (rlcs_state) {
                 if (sim_fseek (uptr->fileref, da, SEEK_SET))
                     return SCPE_IOERR;
                 bcnt = sim_fread (rlcs_buf, sizeof (int16), RL_NUMBY, uptr->fileref);
-                if (bcnt != (sizeof (int16) * RL_NUMBY))
-                    return SCPE_IOERR;
+                for ( ; bcnt < RL_NUMBY; bcnt++)                            /* fill buffer */
+                    rlcs_buf[bcnt] = 0;
                 }
             if (rlcs_bcnt < RL_NUMBY) {                 /* more data in buffer? */
                 cso_buf = rlcs_buf[rlcs_bcnt++];        /* return next word */
@@ -1133,7 +1133,7 @@ switch (rlcs_state) {
             if (sim_fseek (uptr->fileref, da, SEEK_SET))
                 return SCPE_IOERR;
             bcnt = sim_fwrite (rlcs_buf, sizeof (int16), RL_NUMBY, uptr->fileref);
-            if (bcnt != (sizeof (int16) * RL_NUMBY))
+            if (bcnt != RL_NUMBY)
                 return SCPE_IOERR;
             rlcs_state = RL_IDLE;                       /* now idle */
             rlcs_bcnt = 0;