diff --git a/c64/kernal/iec/load_iec.s b/c64/kernal/iec/load_iec.s
index f609c035..3c4d2b09 100644
--- a/c64/kernal/iec/load_iec.s
+++ b/c64/kernal/iec/load_iec.s
@@ -119,7 +119,10 @@ load_iec_loop:
 	// Advance pointer to data; it is OK if it advances past $FFFF,
 	// one autostart technique does exactly this
 #if !HAS_OPCODES_65CE02
-	jsr lvs_advance_EAL
+	inc EAL+0
+	bne !+
+	inc EAL+1
+!:
 #else
 	inw EAL+0
 #endif
@@ -132,7 +135,7 @@ load_iec_loop:
 	phx_trash_a
 	jsr udtim_keyboard
 	jsr STOP
-	bcs load_break_error
+	bcs_far load_break_error
 	plx_trash_a
 !:
 	// Check for EOI - if so, this was the last byte
diff --git a/c64/kernal/iostack/load_save_common.s b/c64/kernal/iostack/load_save_common.s
index fb38606c..9aa7ed97 100644
--- a/c64/kernal/iostack/load_save_common.s
+++ b/c64/kernal/iostack/load_save_common.s
@@ -75,19 +75,6 @@ lvs_handle_byte_verify:
 	sec
 	rts
 
-#if CONFIG_IEC && !HAS_OPCODES_65CE02
-
-lvs_advance_EAL:
-
-	// Advance pointer
-	inc EAL+0
-	bne !+
-	inc EAL+1
-!:
-	rts
-
-#endif
-
 #if CONFIG_TAPE_NORMAL || CONFIG_TAPE_TURBO || CONFIG_IEC
 
 lvs_setup_MEMUSS:
diff --git a/c64/kernal/tape/load_tape_normal.s b/c64/kernal/tape/load_tape_normal.s
index 05b905b4..b3a51172 100644
--- a/c64/kernal/tape/load_tape_normal.s
+++ b/c64/kernal/tape/load_tape_normal.s
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 // this implementation sets the timer for twice the precision (timer B is triggered every 4 CPU cycles),
 // probably an overkill, but in realityy it does not cost us anything.
 //
-// So -= we have the following thresholds:
+// So - we have the following thresholds:
 // - S vs M       $72 (in our units of 4 ticks)
 // - M vs L       $98 (in our units of 4 ticks)
 //
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ load_tape_normal_header_loop:
 
 	// Read the header
 
+	jsr tape_normal_get_marker          // XXX handle result
 	jsr tape_normal_get_byte            // XXX handle errors
 	sta (TAPE1), y
 	iny
@@ -94,6 +95,7 @@ load_tape_normal_header_loop:
 	// XXX do not skip second header, use it to correct data
 	ldy #$15
 !:
+	jsr tape_normal_get_marker
 	jsr tape_normal_get_byte
 	dey
 	bne !-
@@ -115,11 +117,16 @@ load_tape_normal_header_loop:
 
 load_tape_normal_payload:
 
+	jsr tape_normal_pilot
+	ldy #$09
+	jsr tape_normal_sync
+
 
 
 
 	// XXX replace this placeholder with a real routine
 !:
+	jsr tape_normal_get_marker
 	jsr tape_normal_get_byte
 	jmp !-
 
diff --git a/c64/kernal/tape/tape_normal_get_byte.s b/c64/kernal/tape/tape_normal_get_byte.s
index c0b8e79a..1fbae18e 100644
--- a/c64/kernal/tape/tape_normal_get_byte.s
+++ b/c64/kernal/tape/tape_normal_get_byte.s
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@ tape_normal_get_byte:
 	lda #%01111111                     // canary bit is 0
 	sta INBIT
 
-	jsr tape_normal_get_marker         // XXX this is probablyy not the proper place 
-
 	// Now fetch individual bits
 
 tape_normal_get_byte_loop:
diff --git a/c64/kernal/tape/tape_normal_sync.s b/c64/kernal/tape/tape_normal_sync.s
index 0e1716ed..7969f958 100644
--- a/c64/kernal/tape/tape_normal_sync.s
+++ b/c64/kernal/tape/tape_normal_sync.s
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ tape_normal_sync:
 
 	// Injest bytes of decreasing values
 
+	jsr tape_normal_get_marker         // XXX handle result
 	jsr tape_normal_get_byte
 	bcs tape_normal_sync_fail