diff --git a/moo/lib/exec.c b/moo/lib/exec.c
index aa42890..cda487a 100644
--- a/moo/lib/exec.c
+++ b/moo/lib/exec.c
@@ -3343,7 +3343,7 @@ static pf_t pftab[] =
 	{ "Apex_addToBeFinalized",                 { pf_add_to_be_finalized,                  0, 0 } },
 	{ "Apex_basicAt:",                         { moo_pf_basic_at,                         1, 1 } },
 	{ "Apex_basicAt:put:",                     { moo_pf_basic_at_put,                     2, 2 } },
-	{ "Apex_basicFillFrom:with:count:",        { moo_pf_basic_fill,                      3, 3 } },
+	{ "Apex_basicFillFrom:with:count:",        { moo_pf_basic_fill,                       3, 3 } },
 	{ "Apex_basicNew",                         { moo_pf_basic_new,                        0, 0 } },
 	{ "Apex_basicNew:",                        { moo_pf_basic_new,                        1, 1 } },
 	{ "Apex_basicShiftFrom:to:count:",         { moo_pf_basic_shift,                      3, 3 } },
diff --git a/moo/lib/utl.c b/moo/lib/utl.c
index 9286255..ce01fd8 100644
--- a/moo/lib/utl.c
+++ b/moo/lib/utl.c
@@ -109,66 +109,52 @@ int moo_compucbcstr (const moo_uch_t* str1, const moo_bch_t* str2)
 
 int moo_compucharsucstr (const moo_uch_t* str1, moo_oow_t len, const moo_uch_t* str2)
 {
+	/* for "abc\0" of length 4 vs "abc", the fourth character
+	 * of the first string is equal to the terminating null of
+	 * the second string. the first string is still considered 
+	 * bigger */
 	const moo_uch_t* end = str1 + len;
-	while (str1 < end && *str2 != '\0' && *str1 == *str2) str1++, str2++;
-	
-	if (str1 == end)
+	while (str1 < end && *str2 != '\0') 
 	{
-		return (*str2 == '\0')? 0: -1;
-	}
-	else /* str1 < end */
-	{
-		/* for "abc\0" of length 4 vs "abc", the fourth character
-		 * of the first string is equal to the terminating null of
-		 * the second string. the first string is still considered 
-		 * bigger */
-		return (*str1 >= *str2)? 1: -1;
+		if (*str1 != *str2) return (*str1 > *str2)? 1: -1;
+		str1++; str2++;
 	}
+	return (str1 < end)? 1: (*str2 == '\0'? 0: -1);
 }
 
 int moo_compucharsbcstr (const moo_uch_t* str1, moo_oow_t len, const moo_bch_t* str2)
 {
 	const moo_uch_t* end = str1 + len;
-	while (str1 < end && *str2 != '\0' && *str1 == *str2) str1++, str2++;
-	if (str1 == end)
+	while (str1 < end && *str2 != '\0') 
 	{
-		return (*str2 == '\0')? 0: -1;
-	}
-	else /* str1 < end */
-	{
-		return (*str1 >= *str2)? 1: -1;
+		if (*str1 != *str2) return (*str1 > *str2)? 1: -1;
+		str1++; str2++;
 	}
+	return (str1 < end)? 1: (*str2 == '\0'? 0: -1);
 }
 
 int moo_compbcharsbcstr (const moo_bch_t* str1, moo_oow_t len, const moo_bch_t* str2)
 {
 	const moo_bch_t* end = str1 + len;
-	while (str1 < end && *str2 != '\0' && *str1 == *str2) str1++, str2++;
-	if (str1 == end)
+	while (str1 < end && *str2 != '\0') 
 	{
-		return (*str2 == '\0')? 0: -1;
-	}
-	else
-	{
-		return (*str1 >= *str2)? 1: -1;
+		if (*str1 != *str2) return (*str1 > *str2)? 1: -1;
+		str1++; str2++;
 	}
+	return (str1 < end)? 1: (*str2 == '\0'? 0: -1);
 }
 
 int moo_compbcharsucstr (const moo_bch_t* str1, moo_oow_t len, const moo_uch_t* str2)
 {
 	const moo_bch_t* end = str1 + len;
-	while (str1 < end && *str2 != '\0' && *str1 == *str2) str1++, str2++;
-	if (str1 == end)
+	while (str1 < end && *str2 != '\0') 
 	{
-		return (*str2 == '\0')? 0: -1;
-	}
-	else
-	{
-		return (*str1 >= *str2)? 1: -1;
+		if (*str1 != *str2) return (*str1 > *str2)? 1: -1;
+		str1++; str2++;
 	}
+	return (str1 < end)? 1: (*str2 == '\0'? 0: -1);
 }
 
-
 void moo_copyuchars (moo_uch_t* dst, const moo_uch_t* src, moo_oow_t len)
 {
 	/* take note of no forced null termination */