diff --git a/c64/aliases/,aliases_config.s b/c64/aliases/,aliases_config.s
index 7ed7990a..b3ff8bfe 100644
--- a/c64/aliases/,aliases_config.s
+++ b/c64/aliases/,aliases_config.s
@@ -169,6 +169,9 @@
 #if CONFIG_LEGACY_SCNKEY && CONFIG_RS232_UP9600
 	.error "CONFIG_LEGACY_SCNKEY is not compatible with CONFIG_RS232_UP9600"
 #endif
+#if CONFIG_LEGACY_SCNKEY && CONFIG_TAPE_NORMAL
+	.error "CONFIG_LEGACY_SCNKEY is not compatible with CONFIG_TAPE_NORMAL"
+#endif
 #if CONFIG_LEGACY_SCNKEY && (CONFIG_KEYBOARD_C128 || CONFIG_KEYBOARD_C128_CAPS_LOCK || CONFIG_KEYBOARD_C65 || CONFIG_KEYBOARD_C65_CAPS_LOCK)
 	.error "CONFIG_LEGACY_SCNKEY and CONFIG_KEYBOARD_C128* / CONFIG_KEYBOARD_C65* are mutually exclusive"
 #endif
diff --git a/c64/aliases/,aliases_ram_lowmem.s b/c64/aliases/,aliases_ram_lowmem.s
index 8ccfc953..37e3ae08 100644
--- a/c64/aliases/,aliases_ram_lowmem.s
+++ b/c64/aliases/,aliases_ram_lowmem.s
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@
 	.label BITCI     = $A8  //          -- NOT IMPLEMENTED --
 	.label RINONE    = $A9  //          -- WIP -- (UP9600 only) RS-232 check for start bit flag
 	.label RIDDATA   = $AA  //          -- NOT IMPLEMENTED --
-	.label RIPRTY    = $AB  //          -- NOT IMPLEMENTED --
+	.label RIPRTY    = $AB  //          -- WIP -- checksum while reading tape
 #endif
 	.label SAL       = $AC  // $AC-$AD  -- NOT IMPLEMENTED -- (implemented screen part)
 	.label EAL       = $AE  // $AE-$AF  -- NOT IMPLEMENTED -- [!] used also by screen editor, for temporary color storage when scrolling
diff --git a/c64/kernal/iostack/load_save_common.s b/c64/kernal/iostack/load_save_common.s
index 9aa7ed97..10c975b3 100644
--- a/c64/kernal/iostack/load_save_common.s
+++ b/c64/kernal/iostack/load_save_common.s
@@ -85,6 +85,10 @@ lvs_setup_MEMUSS:
 	sta MEMUSS+1
 	rts
 
+#endif
+
+#if CONFIG_TAPE_TURBO || CONFIG_IEC
+
 lvs_advance_MEMUSS_check_EAL:
 
 	// Advance pointer
@@ -95,7 +99,15 @@ lvs_advance_MEMUSS_check_EAL:
 !:
 #else
 	inw MEMUSS+0
+
 #endif
+
+	// FALLTROUGH
+
+#if CONFIG_TAPE_NORMAL || CONFIG_TAPE_TURBO || CONFIG_IEC
+
+lvs_check_EAL:
+
 	lda MEMUSS+1
 	cmp EAL+1
 	bne !+
diff --git a/c64/kernal/tape/load_tape_normal.s b/c64/kernal/tape/load_tape_normal.s
index b3a51172..a28bea37 100644
--- a/c64/kernal/tape/load_tape_normal.s
+++ b/c64/kernal/tape/load_tape_normal.s
@@ -117,18 +117,24 @@ load_tape_normal_header_loop:
 
 load_tape_normal_payload:
 
-	jsr tape_normal_pilot
-	ldy #$09
-	jsr tape_normal_sync
+	// Retrieve block
 
+	jsr tape_normal_get_block // XXX handle errors
 
+	// Advance MEMUSS (see Mapping the C64, page 36), check if end
 
-
-	// XXX replace this placeholder with a real routine
+	tya
+	clc
+	adc MEMUSS+0
+	sta MEMUSS+0
+	bcc !+
+	inc MEMUSS+1
 !:
-	jsr tape_normal_get_marker
-	jsr tape_normal_get_byte
-	jmp !-
+
+	jsr lvs_check_EAL
+	bne load_tape_normal_payload
+
+	jmp tape_load_success
 
 
 #endif
diff --git a/c64/kernal/tape/tape_normal_get_bit.s b/c64/kernal/tape/tape_normal_get_bit.s
index b619f29e..54f9b969 100644
--- a/c64/kernal/tape/tape_normal_get_bit.s
+++ b/c64/kernal/tape/tape_normal_get_bit.s
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 
 //
-// Tape (turbo) helper routine - bit reading
+// Tape (normal) helper routine - bit reading
 //
 // Returns bit in Zero flag, Carry set means error, on 0 bit .A is 0 too
 //
diff --git a/c64/kernal/tape/tape_normal_get_block.s b/c64/kernal/tape/tape_normal_get_block.s
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f4e3798d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/c64/kernal/tape/tape_normal_get_block.s
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+
+//
+// Tape (normal) helper routine - block reading
+//
+// Stores data starting from MEMUSS, Carry set means error, on 0 bit .A is 0 too
+//
+
+
+// XXX does not detect block end - find out why
+// XXX improve error handling - do not ignore second copy, handle damaged checksum byte, handle damaged sync part
+
+
+tape_normal_get_block:
+
+	// Read the pilot and sync of the block
+
+	jsr tape_normal_pilot
+	ldy #$89
+	jsr tape_normal_sync // XXX handle result
+	
+	// Initialize byte counter and block checksum (RIPRTY, see http://sta.c64.org/cbm64mem.html)
+	ldy #$00
+	sty RIPRTY
+
+tape_normal_get_block_loop:
+
+	jsr tape_normal_get_marker
+	bcs tape_normal_get_block_checksum // end of data for the block
+	jsr tape_normal_get_byte
+
+	bcs tape_normal_get_block_done     // error reading byte - fatal for now
+
+	// Store byte, calculate checksum
+	sta (MEMUSS), y
+	eor RIPRTY
+	sta RIPRTY
+	
+	iny
+	bne tape_normal_get_block_loop
+
+	// FALLTROUGH - if we are here, it means the block is too long
+	
+tape_normal_get_block_done_fail:
+	
+	sec
+	rts
+
+tape_normal_get_block_checksum:
+.break
+	jsr tape_normal_get_byte
+	bcs tape_normal_get_block_done     // cannot get block checksum - fatal for now
+
+	eor RIPRTY
+	cmp #$01
+	bcs tape_normal_get_block_done     // checksum error - fatal for now
+
+	// Read trailing pulses
+	
+	jsr tape_normal_sync // XXX handle result
+	
+	// Read the pilot and sync of the backup block
+
+	jsr tape_normal_pilot
+	ldy #$09
+	jsr tape_normal_sync // XXX handle result
+	
+	// For now we ignore the backup block
+	clc
+
+	// FALLTROUGH
+
+tape_normal_get_block_done:
+
+	rts