--- src/util.c
+++ src/util.c
@@ -188,8 +188,15 @@ tape_fill_input_buffer (int in_des, int 
   input_size = rmtread (in_des, input_buffer, num_bytes);
   if (input_size == 0 && input_is_special)
     {
-      get_next_reel (in_des);
+      if (!tape_eof (in_des))
+	get_next_reel (in_des);
       input_size = rmtread (in_des, input_buffer, num_bytes);
+      if (input_size == 0)
+	{
+	  if (tape_eod (in_des))
+	    get_next_reel (in_des);
+	  input_size = rmtread (in_des, input_buffer, num_bytes);
+	}
     }
   if (input_size < 0)
     error (1, errno, _("read error"));
@@ -354,8 +361,15 @@ tape_buffered_peek (char *peek_buf, int 
 	{
 	  if (input_is_special)
 	    {
-	      get_next_reel (in_des);
+	      if (!tape_eof (in_des))
+		get_next_reel (in_des);
 	      tmp_input_size = rmtread (in_des, append_buf, io_block_size);
+	      if (tmp_input_size == 0)
+		{
+		  if (tape_eod (in_des))
+		    get_next_reel (in_des);
+		  tmp_input_size = rmtread (in_des, append_buf, io_block_size);
+		}
 	    }
 	  else
 	    break;
@@ -828,6 +842,40 @@ tape_offline (int tape_des)
 #endif
 }
 
+int
+tape_eof( int tape_des)
+{
+  struct mtget status;
+
+  if (rmtioctl (tape_des, MTIOCGET, (char*)&status) == -1) {
+    error (1, errno, "Cannot get tape status");
+    return 0;
+  }
+
+  if (GMT_EOF(status.mt_gstat)) {
+      return 1;
+  }
+
+  return 0;
+}
+
+int
+tape_eod( int tape_des)
+{
+  struct mtget status;
+
+  if (rmtioctl (tape_des, MTIOCGET, (char*)&status) == -1) {
+    error (1, errno, "Cannot get tape status");
+    return 1;
+  }
+
+  if (GMT_EOD(status.mt_gstat)) {
+      return 1;
+  }
+
+  return 0;
+}
+
 /* The file on file descriptor TAPE_DES is assumed to be magnetic tape
    (or floppy disk or other device) and the end of the medium
    has been reached.  Ask the user for to mount a new "tape" to continue