diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 1608c376..67856081 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@ Cvs code -
 	- Added config.guess and config.sub to distribution because,
 	  apparently, newer autoconf/automakes can't live without them.
 	- Various spelling updates by David Lawrence Ramsey.
+	- Changed all string allocations to charalloc(), new function
+	  designed to take nmalloc argument but call calloc based on 
+	  (char *) size.
 - configure.in:
 	- New option, --enable-nanorc, which allows people to have a .nanorc
 	  initialization file and set options normally used on the command
diff --git a/cut.c b/cut.c
index 487a92cb..69c7a0b3 100644
--- a/cut.c
+++ b/cut.c
@@ -66,13 +66,13 @@ void cut_marked_segment(filestruct * top, int top_x, filestruct * bot,
 
     /* Set up the beginning of the cutbuffer */
     tmp = copy_node(top);
-    tmpstr = nmalloc(strlen(&top->data[top_x]) + 1);
+    tmpstr = charalloc(strlen(&top->data[top_x]) + 1);
     strcpy(tmpstr, &top->data[top_x]);
     free(tmp->data);
     tmp->data = tmpstr;
 
     /* Chop off the end of the first line */
-    tmpstr = nmalloc(top_x + 1);
+    tmpstr = charalloc(top_x + 1);
     strncpy(tmpstr, top->data, top_x);
     free(top->data);
     top->data = tmpstr;
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ void cut_marked_segment(filestruct * top, int top_x, filestruct * bot,
     if (next == NULL)
 	return;
     /* Now, paste bot[bot_x] into top[top_x] */
-    tmpstr = nmalloc(strlen(top->data) + strlen(&bot->data[bot_x]));
+    tmpstr = charalloc(strlen(top->data) + strlen(&bot->data[bot_x]));
     strncpy(tmpstr, top->data, top_x);
     strcpy(&tmpstr[top_x], &bot->data[bot_x]);
     free(top->data);
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ int do_cut_text(void)
 	    tmp = copy_node(current);
 	    newsize = abs(mark_beginx - current_x) + 1;
 
-	    tmpstr = nmalloc(newsize + 1);
+	    tmpstr = charalloc(newsize + 1);
 	    if (current_x < mark_beginx) {
 		strncpy(tmpstr, &current->data[current_x], newsize);
 		memmove(&current->data[current_x],
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ int do_cut_text(void)
 	} else {
 	    add_to_cutbuffer(fileptr);
 	    fileage = make_new_node(NULL);
-	    fileage->data = nmalloc(1);
+	    fileage->data = charalloc(1);
 	    fileage->data[0] = '\0';
 	    current = fileage;
 	}
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ int do_uncut_text(void)
 	/* If there's only one line in the cutbuffer */
 	if (cutbuffer->next == NULL) {
 	    tmpstr =
-		nmalloc(strlen(current->data) + strlen(cutbuffer->data) +
+		charalloc(strlen(current->data) + strlen(cutbuffer->data) +
 			1);
 	    strncpy(tmpstr, current->data, current_x);
 	    strcpy(&tmpstr[current_x], cutbuffer->data);
@@ -315,13 +315,13 @@ int do_uncut_text(void)
 	} else {		/* yuck -- no kidding! */
 	    tmp = current->next;
 	    /* New beginning */
-	    tmpstr = nmalloc(current_x + strlen(newbuf->data) + 1);
+	    tmpstr = charalloc(current_x + strlen(newbuf->data) + 1);
 	    strncpy(tmpstr, current->data, current_x);
 	    strcpy(&tmpstr[current_x], newbuf->data);
 	    totsize += strlen(newbuf->data) + strlen(newend->data) + 1;
 
 	    /* New end */
-	    tmpstr2 = nmalloc(strlen(newend->data) +
+	    tmpstr2 = charalloc(strlen(newend->data) +
 			      strlen(&current->data[current_x]) + 1);
 	    strcpy(tmpstr2, newend->data);
 	    strcat(tmpstr2, &current->data[current_x]);
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ int do_uncut_text(void)
 
 	if (marked_cut == 2 && current_x != strlen(current->data)) {
 	    tmp = make_new_node(current);
-	    tmp->data = nmalloc(strlen(&current->data[current_x]) + 1);
+	    tmp->data = charalloc(strlen(&current->data[current_x]) + 1);
 	    strcpy(tmp->data, &current->data[current_x]);
 	    splice_node(current, tmp, current->next);
 	    null_at(current->data, current_x);
diff --git a/files.c b/files.c
index 2c688d05..ac626ba3 100644
--- a/files.c
+++ b/files.c
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ void load_file(void)
 void new_file(void)
 {
     fileage = nmalloc(sizeof(filestruct));
-    fileage->data = nmalloc(1);
+    fileage->data = charalloc(1);
     strcpy(fileage->data, "");
     fileage->prev = NULL;
     fileage->next = NULL;
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ filestruct *read_line(char *buf, filestruct * prev, int *line1ins)
     filestruct *fileptr;
 
     fileptr = nmalloc(sizeof(filestruct));
-    fileptr->data = nmalloc(strlen(buf) + 2);
+    fileptr->data = charalloc(strlen(buf) + 2);
     strcpy(fileptr->data, buf);
 
     if (*line1ins) {
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ int read_file(int fd, char *filename)
     filestruct *fileptr = current, *tmp = NULL;
     int line1ins = 0;
 
-    buf = nmalloc(bufx);
+    buf = charalloc(bufx);
     buf[0] = '\0';
 
     if (fileptr != NULL && fileptr->prev != NULL) {
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ int write_file(char *name, int tmp)
     }
     /* Don't follow symlink.  Create new file. */
     else {
-	buf = nmalloc(strlen(realname) + 8);
+	buf = charalloc(strlen(realname) + 8);
 	strncpy(buf, realname, strlen(realname)+1);
 	strcat(buf, ".XXXXXX");
 	if ((fd = mkstemp(buf)) == -1) {
@@ -603,7 +603,7 @@ char *real_dir_from_tilde(char *buf)
 	    if (getenv("HOME") != NULL) {
 
 		free(dirtmp);
-		dirtmp = nmalloc(strlen(buf) + 2 + strlen(getenv("HOME")));
+		dirtmp = charalloc(strlen(buf) + 2 + strlen(getenv("HOME")));
 
 		sprintf(dirtmp, "%s%s", getenv("HOME"), &buf[1]);
 
@@ -627,7 +627,7 @@ char *real_dir_from_tilde(char *buf)
 	    if (userdata != NULL) {  /* User found */
 
 	        free(dirtmp);
-		dirtmp = nmalloc(strlen(buf) + 2 + strlen(userdata->pw_dir));
+		dirtmp = charalloc(strlen(buf) + 2 + strlen(userdata->pw_dir));
 		sprintf(dirtmp, "%s%s", userdata->pw_dir, &buf[i]);
 
 	    }
@@ -702,7 +702,7 @@ char **username_tab_completion(char *buf, int *num_matches)
 	     * This makes a lot more sense to me (Chris) this way...
 	     */
 
-	    matchline = nmalloc(strlen(userdata->pw_name) + 2);
+	    matchline = charalloc(strlen(userdata->pw_name) + 2);
 	    sprintf(matchline, "~%s", userdata->pw_name);
 	    matches[*num_matches] = matchline;
 	    ++*num_matches;
@@ -734,7 +734,7 @@ char **cwd_tab_completion(char *buf, int *num_matches)
 
     /* Okie, if there's a / in the buffer, strip out the directory part */
     if (strcmp(buf, "") && strstr(buf, "/")) {
-	dirName = nmalloc(strlen(buf) + 1);
+	dirName = charalloc(strlen(buf) + 1);
 	tmp = buf + strlen(buf);
 	while (*tmp != '/' && tmp != buf)
 	    tmp--;
@@ -793,7 +793,7 @@ char **cwd_tab_completion(char *buf, int *num_matches)
 	     * This makes a lot more sense to me (Chris) this way...
 	     */
 	    tmp2 = NULL;
-	    tmp2 = nmalloc(strlen(next->d_name) + 1);
+	    tmp2 = charalloc(strlen(next->d_name) + 1);
 	    strcpy(tmp2, next->d_name);
 	    matches[*num_matches] = tmp2;
 	    ++*num_matches;
@@ -958,7 +958,7 @@ char *input_tab(char *buf, int place, int *lastWasTab, int *newplace)
 	    if (longestname > COLS - 1)
 		longestname = COLS - 1;
 
-	    foo = nmalloc(longestname + 5);
+	    foo = charalloc(longestname + 5);
 
 	    /* Print the list of matches */
 	    for (i = 0, col = 0; i < num_matches; i++) {
@@ -1063,7 +1063,7 @@ char **browser_init(char *path, int *longest, int *numents)
     while ((next = readdir(dir)) != NULL) {
 	if (!strcmp(next->d_name, "."))
 	   continue;
-	filelist[i] = nmalloc(strlen(next->d_name) + strlen(path) + 2);
+	filelist[i] = charalloc(strlen(next->d_name) + strlen(path) + 2);
 
 	if (!strcmp(path, "/"))
 	    snprintf(filelist[i], strlen(next->d_name) + strlen(path) + 1, 
@@ -1158,7 +1158,7 @@ char *do_browser(char *inpath)
 	path = mallocstrcpy(path, inpath);
 
     filelist = browser_init(path, &longest, &numents);
-    foo = nmalloc(longest + 8);
+    foo = charalloc(longest + 8);
 
     /* Sort the list by directory first, then alphabetically */
     qsort(filelist, numents, sizeof(char *), diralphasort);
diff --git a/nano.c b/nano.c
index 61c3f554..bcccaf24 100644
--- a/nano.c
+++ b/nano.c
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ void die(char *msg, ...)
 	i = write_file(name, 1);
     } else {
 
-	char *buf = nmalloc(strlen(filename) + 6);
+	char *buf = charalloc(strlen(filename) + 6);
 	strcpy(buf, filename);
 	strcat(buf, ".save");
 	i = write_file(buf, 1);
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ void clear_filename(void)
 {
     if (filename != NULL)
 	free(filename);
-    filename = nmalloc(1);
+    filename = charalloc(1);
     filename[0] = 0;
 }
 
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ void global_init(void)
     if (fill < MIN_FILL_LENGTH)
 	die_too_small();
 
-    hblank = nmalloc(COLS + 1);
+    hblank = charalloc(COLS + 1);
     memset(hblank, ' ', COLS);
     hblank[COLS] = 0;
 }
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ filestruct *copy_node(filestruct * src)
     filestruct *dst;
 
     dst = nmalloc(sizeof(filestruct));
-    dst->data = nmalloc(strlen(src->data) + 1);
+    dst->data = charalloc(strlen(src->data) + 1);
 
     dst->next = src->next;
     dst->prev = src->prev;
@@ -606,12 +606,12 @@ int do_enter(filestruct * inptr)
 		current_x++;
 		totsize++;
 	    }
-	    newnode->data = nmalloc(strlen(tmp) + extra + 1);
+	    newnode->data = charalloc(strlen(tmp) + extra + 1);
 	    strncpy(newnode->data, current->data, extra);
 	    strcpy(&newnode->data[extra], tmp);
 	}
     } else {
-	newnode->data = nmalloc(strlen(tmp) + 1);
+	newnode->data = charalloc(strlen(tmp) + 1);
 	strcpy(newnode->data, tmp);
     }
     *tmp = 0;
@@ -809,7 +809,7 @@ void do_wrap(filestruct * inptr, char input_char)
 	    down = 1;
 	}
 
-	temp->data = nmalloc(strlen(&inptr->data[current_word_start]) + 1);
+	temp->data = charalloc(strlen(&inptr->data[current_word_start]) + 1);
 	strcpy(temp->data, &inptr->data[current_word_start]);
 	inptr->data = nrealloc(inptr->data, last_word_end + 2);
 	inptr->data[last_word_end + 1] = 0;
@@ -817,7 +817,7 @@ void do_wrap(filestruct * inptr, char input_char)
 	/* Category 1b: one word on the line and word not taking up whole line
 	   (i.e. there are spaces at the beginning of the line) */
     if (last_word_end == -1) {
-	temp->data = nmalloc(strlen(&inptr->data[current_word_start]) + 1);
+	temp->data = charalloc(strlen(&inptr->data[current_word_start]) + 1);
 	strcpy(temp->data, &inptr->data[current_word_start]);
 
 	/* Inside word, remove it from original, and move cursor to right spot. */
@@ -848,7 +848,7 @@ void do_wrap(filestruct * inptr, char input_char)
 	/* Case 2a: cursor before word at wrap point. */
 	if (current_x < current_word_start) {
 	    temp->data =
-		nmalloc(strlen(&inptr->data[current_word_start]) + 1);
+		charalloc(strlen(&inptr->data[current_word_start]) + 1);
 	    strcpy(temp->data, &inptr->data[current_word_start]);
 
 	    if (!isspace((int) input_char)) {
@@ -871,7 +871,7 @@ void do_wrap(filestruct * inptr, char input_char)
 	else if ((current_x >= current_word_start)
 		 && (current_x <= (current_word_end + 1))) {
 	    temp->data =
-		nmalloc(strlen(&inptr->data[current_word_start]) + 1);
+		charalloc(strlen(&inptr->data[current_word_start]) + 1);
 	    strcpy(temp->data, &inptr->data[current_word_start]);
 
 	    down = 1;
@@ -907,7 +907,7 @@ void do_wrap(filestruct * inptr, char input_char)
 	/* Case 2c: cursor past word at wrap point. */
 	else {
 	    temp->data =
-		nmalloc(strlen(&inptr->data[current_word_start]) + 1);
+		charalloc(strlen(&inptr->data[current_word_start]) + 1);
 	    strcpy(temp->data, &inptr->data[current_word_start]);
 
 	    down = 1;
@@ -931,8 +931,7 @@ void do_wrap(filestruct * inptr, char input_char)
 
 	/* Plus one for the space which concatenates the two lines together plus 1 for \0. */
 	char *p =
-	    nmalloc((strlen(temp->data) + strlen(inptr->next->data) + 2)
-		    * sizeof(char));
+	    charalloc((strlen(temp->data) + strlen(inptr->next->data) + 2));
 
 	if (ISSET(AUTOINDENT)) {
 	    int non = 0;
@@ -991,7 +990,7 @@ void do_wrap(filestruct * inptr, char input_char)
 		    spc++;
 		    totsize++;
 		}
-		t = nmalloc(strlen(temp->data) + extra + 1);
+		t = charalloc(strlen(temp->data) + extra + 1);
 		strncpy(t, inptr->data, extra);
 		strcpy(t + extra, temp->data);
 		free(temp->data);
@@ -1342,7 +1341,7 @@ int do_int_speller(char *tempfile_name)
 	return FALSE;
     }
 
-    read_buff = nmalloc(pipe_buff_size + 1);
+    read_buff = charalloc(pipe_buff_size + 1);
 
     /* Process the returned spelling errors */
 
@@ -1960,7 +1959,7 @@ int do_justify(void)
 	    current->data[i] = '\0';
 
 	    len2 = strlen(current->data + i + 1);
-	    tmpline->data = nmalloc(len2 + 1);
+	    tmpline->data = charalloc(len2 + 1);
 
 	    /* Skip the white space in current. */
 	    memcpy(tmpline->data, current->data + i + 1, len2);
@@ -2078,7 +2077,7 @@ void help_init(void)
 	free(help_text);
 
     /* Allocate space for the help text */
-    help_text = nmalloc(allocsize);
+    help_text = charalloc(allocsize);
 
     /* Now add the text we want */
     strcpy(help_text, help_text_init);
@@ -2332,7 +2331,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	    break;
 #ifndef DISABLE_SPELLER
 	case 's':
-	    alt_speller = nmalloc(strlen(optarg) + 1);
+	    alt_speller = charalloc(strlen(optarg) + 1);
 	    strcpy(alt_speller, optarg);
 	    break;
 #endif
diff --git a/proto.h b/proto.h
index 3b26ef38..0be932dc 100644
--- a/proto.h
+++ b/proto.h
@@ -124,7 +124,6 @@ void center_cursor(void);
 void bottombars(shortcut s[], int slen);
 void blank_statusbar_refresh(void);
 void *nmalloc (size_t howmuch);
-void *ncalloc (size_t howmuch, size_t size);
 void *mallocstrcpy(char *dest, char *src);
 void wrap_reset(void);
 void display_main_list(void);
@@ -168,6 +167,8 @@ int do_first_line(void), do_last_line(void);
 int do_replace(void), do_help(void), do_enter_void(void);
 int keypad_on(WINDOW * win, int newval);
 
+char *charalloc (size_t howmuch);
+
 #ifndef DISABLE_BROWSER
 char *do_browser(char *path);
 struct stat filestat(const char *path);
diff --git a/rcfile.c b/rcfile.c
index b361df2b..fb8ca1fd 100644
--- a/rcfile.c
+++ b/rcfile.c
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ void do_rcfile(void)
     if (getenv("HOME") == NULL)
 	return;
 
-    nanorc = nmalloc(strlen(getenv("HOME")) + 10);
+    nanorc = charalloc(strlen(getenv("HOME")) + 10);
     sprintf(nanorc, "%s/.nanorc", getenv("HOME"));
 
     if (stat(nanorc, &fileinfo) == -1) {
diff --git a/search.c b/search.c
index 57ce24b2..4b1eef93 100644
--- a/search.c
+++ b/search.c
@@ -55,11 +55,11 @@ void regexp_cleanup(void)
 void search_init_globals(void)
 {
     if (last_search == NULL) {
-	last_search = nmalloc(1);
+	last_search = charalloc(1);
 	last_search[0] = 0;
     }
     if (last_replace == NULL) {
-	last_replace = nmalloc(1);
+	last_replace = charalloc(1);
 	last_replace[0] = 0;
     }
 }
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ int search_init(int replacing)
 
     search_init_globals();
 
-    buf = nmalloc(strlen(last_search) + 5);
+    buf = charalloc(strlen(last_search) + 5);
     buf[0] = 0;
 
      /* Okay, fun time.  backupstring is our holder for what is being 
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@ char *replace_line(void)
     }
 
     /* Create buffer */
-    copy = nmalloc(new_line_size);
+    copy = charalloc(new_line_size);
 
     /* Head of Original Line */
     strncpy(copy, current->data, current_x);
@@ -628,7 +628,7 @@ int do_replace(void)
     }
 
     if (ISSET(PICO_MODE)) {
-	buf = nmalloc(strlen(last_replace) + 5);
+	buf = charalloc(strlen(last_replace) + 5);
 	if (strcmp(last_replace, "")) {
 	    if (strlen(last_replace) > (COLS / 3)) {
 		strncpy(buf, last_replace, COLS / 3);
diff --git a/utils.c b/utils.c
index f331acb1..2655f722 100644
--- a/utils.c
+++ b/utils.c
@@ -99,17 +99,18 @@ void *nmalloc(size_t howmuch)
     return r;
 }
 
-/* We're going to need this too */
-void *ncalloc(size_t howmuch, size_t size)
+/* We're going to need this too - Hopefully this will minimize
+   the transition cost of moving to the apropriate function. */
+char *charalloc(size_t howmuch)
 {
     void *r;
 
     /* Panic save? */
 
-    if (!(r = calloc(howmuch, size)))
+    if (!(r = calloc(howmuch, sizeof (char *))))
 	die(_("nano: calloc: out of memory!"));
 
-    return r;
+    return (char *) r;
 }
 
 void *nrealloc(void *ptr, size_t howmuch)
@@ -141,7 +142,7 @@ void *mallocstrcpy(char *dest, char *src)
 	return(dest);
     }
 
-    dest = nmalloc(strlen(src) + 1);
+    dest = charalloc(strlen(src) + 1);
     strcpy(dest, src);
 
     return dest;
@@ -152,7 +153,7 @@ void *mallocstrcpy(char *dest, char *src)
 void new_magicline(void)
 {
     filebot->next = nmalloc(sizeof(filestruct));
-    filebot->next->data = nmalloc(1);
+    filebot->next->data = charalloc(1);
     filebot->next->data[0] = '\0';
     filebot->next->prev = filebot;
     filebot->next->next = NULL;
diff --git a/winio.c b/winio.c
index 88ec03f8..3661c45a 100644
--- a/winio.c
+++ b/winio.c
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ int nanogetstr(int allowtabs, char *buf, char *def, shortcut s[], int slen,
     int shift = 0;
 #endif
     
-    inputbuf = nmalloc(strlen(def) + 1);
+    inputbuf = charalloc(strlen(def) + 1);
     inputbuf[0] = 0;
 
     x_left = strlen(buf);
@@ -930,7 +930,7 @@ void update_line(filestruct * fileptr, int index)
 
     realdata = fileptr->data;
     len = strlen(realdata);
-    fileptr->data = nmalloc(xpt(fileptr, len) + 1);
+    fileptr->data = charalloc(xpt(fileptr, len) + 1);
 
     pos = 0;
     for (i = 0; i < len; i++) {