diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 1d0f5c191..472f8a9fa 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -10,7 +10,10 @@ python:
   - 3.2
   - 3.3
 
-install: "sudo apt-get -qq install libfreetype6-dev liblcms2-dev libwebp-dev python-qt4 ghostscript"
+install: 
+  - "sudo apt-get -qq install libfreetype6-dev liblcms2-dev libwebp-dev python-qt4 ghostscript libffi-dev"
+  - "pip install cffi"
+
 
 script:
   - python setup.py clean
diff --git a/PIL/Image.py b/PIL/Image.py
index 0ab0367f7..e71e2ad5f 100644
--- a/PIL/Image.py
+++ b/PIL/Image.py
@@ -100,6 +100,13 @@ import os, sys
 import collections
 import numbers
 
+# works everywhere, win for pypy, not cpython
+USE_CFFI_ACCESS = hasattr(sys, 'pypy_version_info')  
+try:
+    import cffi
+    HAS_CFFI=True
+except:
+    HAS_CFFI=False
 
 def isImageType(t):
     """
@@ -468,6 +475,7 @@ class Image:
         self.info = {}
         self.category = NORMAL
         self.readonly = 0
+        self.pyaccess = None
 
     def _new(self, im):
         new = Image()
@@ -492,6 +500,7 @@ class Image:
     def _copy(self):
         self.load()
         self.im = self.im.copy()
+        self.pyaccess = None
         self.readonly = 0
 
     def _dump(self, file=None, format=None):
@@ -645,6 +654,13 @@ class Image:
                 self.palette.mode = "RGBA"
 
         if self.im:
+            if HAS_CFFI and USE_CFFI_ACCESS:
+                if self.pyaccess:
+                    return self.pyaccess
+                from PIL import PyAccess
+                self.pyaccess = PyAccess.new(self, self.readonly)
+                if self.pyaccess:
+                    return self.pyaccess
             return self.im.pixel_access(self.readonly)
 
     def verify(self):
@@ -976,6 +992,8 @@ class Image:
         """
 
         self.load()
+        if self.pyaccess:
+            return self.pyaccess.getpixel(xy)
         return self.im.getpixel(xy)
 
     def getprojection(self):
@@ -1186,12 +1204,14 @@ class Image:
                 mode = getmodebase(self.mode) + "A"
                 try:
                     self.im.setmode(mode)
+                    self.pyaccess = None
                 except (AttributeError, ValueError):
                     # do things the hard way
                     im = self.im.convert(mode)
                     if im.mode not in ("LA", "RGBA"):
                         raise ValueError # sanity check
                     self.im = im
+                    self.pyaccess = None
                 self.mode = self.im.mode
             except (KeyError, ValueError):
                 raise ValueError("illegal image mode")
@@ -1292,7 +1312,11 @@ class Image:
         self.load()
         if self.readonly:
             self._copy()
-
+            self.pyaccess = None
+            self.load()
+            
+        if self.pyaccess: 
+            return self.pyaccess.putpixel(xy,value)
         return self.im.putpixel(xy, value)
 
     def resize(self, size, resample=NEAREST):
@@ -1593,6 +1617,7 @@ class Image:
         self.size = size
 
         self.readonly = 0
+        self.pyaccess = None
 
     # FIXME: the different tranform methods need further explanation
     # instead of bloating the method docs, add a separate chapter.
diff --git a/PIL/PyAccess.py b/PIL/PyAccess.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f76beb820
--- /dev/null
+++ b/PIL/PyAccess.py
@@ -0,0 +1,297 @@
+#
+# The Python Imaging Library
+# Pillow fork
+#
+# Python implementation of the PixelAccess Object
+#
+# Copyright (c) 1997-2009 by Secret Labs AB.  All rights reserved.
+# Copyright (c) 1995-2009 by Fredrik Lundh.
+# Copyright (c) 2013 Eric Soroos
+#
+# See the README file for information on usage and redistribution
+#
+
+# Notes:
+#
+#  * Implements the pixel access object following Access.
+#  * Does not implement the line functions, as they don't appear to be used
+#  * Taking only the tuple form, which is used from python.
+#    * Fill.c uses the integer form, but it's still going to use the old Access.c implementation.
+#
+
+from __future__ import print_function
+
+from cffi import FFI
+import sys
+
+DEBUG = 0
+    
+defs = """
+struct Pixel_RGBA {
+    unsigned char r,g,b,a;
+};
+struct Pixel_I16 {
+    unsigned char l,r;
+};
+"""
+ffi = FFI()
+ffi.cdef(defs)
+
+
+class PyAccess(object):
+    
+    def __init__(self, img, readonly = False):
+        vals = dict(img.im.unsafe_ptrs)
+        self.readonly = readonly
+        self.image8 = ffi.cast('unsigned char **', vals['image8'])
+        self.image32 = ffi.cast('int **', vals['image32'])
+        self.image = ffi.cast('unsigned char **', vals['image'])
+        self.xsize = vals['xsize']
+        self.ysize = vals['ysize']
+        
+        if DEBUG:
+            print (vals)
+        self._post_init()
+
+    def _post_init(): pass
+        
+    def __setitem__(self, xy, color):
+        """
+        Modifies the pixel at x,y. The color is given as a single
+        numerical value for single band images, and a tuple for
+        multi-band images
+
+        :param xy: The pixel coordinate, given as (x, y).
+        :param value: The pixel value.                
+        """
+        if self.readonly: raise ValueError('Attempt to putpixel a read only image') 
+        (x,y) = self.check_xy(xy)
+        return self.set_pixel(x,y,color)
+
+    def __getitem__(self, xy):
+        """
+        Returns the pixel at x,y. The pixel is returned as a single
+        value for single band images or a tuple for multiple band
+        images
+
+        :param xy: The pixel coordinate, given as (x, y).
+        """
+        
+        (x,y) = self.check_xy(xy)
+        return self.get_pixel(x,y)
+
+    putpixel = __setitem__
+    getpixel = __getitem__
+
+    def check_xy(self, xy):
+        (x,y) = xy
+        if not (0 <= x < self.xsize and 0 <= y < self.ysize):
+            raise ValueError('pixel location out of range')
+        return xy
+
+class _PyAccess32_2(PyAccess):
+    """ PA, LA, stored in first and last bytes of a 32 bit word """
+    def _post_init(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        self.pixels = ffi.cast("struct Pixel_RGBA **", self.image32)
+        
+    def get_pixel(self, x,y):
+        pixel = self.pixels[y][x]
+        return (pixel.r, pixel.a)
+
+    def set_pixel(self, x,y, color):
+        pixel = self.pixels[y][x]
+        # tuple
+        pixel.r = min(color[0],255)
+        pixel.a = min(color[1],255)
+        
+class _PyAccess32_3(PyAccess):
+    """ RGB and friends, stored in the first three bytes of a 32 bit word """
+    
+    def _post_init(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        self.pixels = ffi.cast("struct Pixel_RGBA **", self.image32)
+        
+    def get_pixel(self, x,y):
+        pixel = self.pixels[y][x]
+        return (pixel.r, pixel.g, pixel.b)
+
+    def set_pixel(self, x,y, color):
+        pixel = self.pixels[y][x]
+        # tuple
+        pixel.r = min(color[0],255)
+        pixel.g = min(color[1],255)
+        pixel.b = min(color[2],255)
+
+class _PyAccess32_4(PyAccess):
+    """ RGBA etc, all 4 bytes of a 32 bit word """
+    def _post_init(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        self.pixels = ffi.cast("struct Pixel_RGBA **", self.image32)
+        
+    def get_pixel(self, x,y):
+        pixel = self.pixels[y][x]
+        return (pixel.r, pixel.g, pixel.b, pixel.a)
+
+    def set_pixel(self, x,y, color):
+        pixel = self.pixels[y][x]
+        # tuple
+        pixel.r = min(color[0],255)
+        pixel.g = min(color[1],255)
+        pixel.b = min(color[2],255)
+        pixel.a = min(color[3],255)
+
+            
+class _PyAccess8(PyAccess):
+    """ 1, L, P, 8 bit images stored as uint8 """
+    def _post_init(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        self.pixels = self.image8
+        
+    def get_pixel(self, x,y):
+        return self.pixels[y][x]
+
+    def set_pixel(self, x,y, color):
+        try:
+            # integer
+            self.pixels[y][x] = min(color,255)
+        except:
+            # tuple
+            self.pixels[y][x] = min(color[0],255)
+
+class _PyAccessI16_N(PyAccess):
+    """ I;16 access, native bitendian without conversion """
+    def _post_init(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        self.pixels = ffi.cast('unsigned short **', self.image)
+
+    def get_pixel(self, x,y):
+        return self.pixels[y][x]
+
+    def set_pixel(self, x,y, color):
+        try:
+            # integer
+            self.pixels[y][x] = min(color, 65535)
+        except:
+            # tuple
+            self.pixels[y][x] = min(color[0], 65535)
+
+class _PyAccessI16_L(PyAccess):
+    """ I;16L access, with conversion """
+    def _post_init(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        self.pixels = ffi.cast('struct Pixel_I16 **', self.image)
+
+    def get_pixel(self, x,y):
+        pixel = self.pixels[y][x]
+        return pixel.l + pixel.r * 256
+
+    def set_pixel(self, x,y, color):
+        pixel = self.pixels[y][x]
+        try:
+            color = min(color, 65535)
+        except:
+            color = min(color[0], 65535)
+
+        pixel.l = color & 0xFF
+        pixel.r = color >> 8
+
+class _PyAccessI16_B(PyAccess):
+    """ I;16B access, with conversion """
+    def _post_init(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        self.pixels = ffi.cast('struct Pixel_I16 **', self.image)
+
+    def get_pixel(self, x,y):
+        pixel = self.pixels[y][x]
+        return pixel.l *256  + pixel.r
+
+    def set_pixel(self, x,y, color):
+        pixel = self.pixels[y][x]
+        try:
+            color = min(color, 65535)
+        except:
+            color = min(color[0], 65535)
+
+        pixel.l = color >> 8
+        pixel.r = color & 0xFF
+
+class _PyAccessI32_N(PyAccess):
+    """ Signed Int32 access, native endian """
+    def _post_init(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        self.pixels = self.image32
+
+    def get_pixel(self, x,y):
+        return self.pixels[y][x]
+
+    def set_pixel(self, x,y, color):
+        self.pixels[y][x] = color
+
+class _PyAccessI32_Swap(PyAccess):
+    """ I;32L/B access, with byteswapping conversion """
+    def _post_init(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        self.pixels = self.image32
+
+    def reverse(self, i):
+        orig = ffi.new('int *', i)
+        chars = ffi.cast('unsigned char *', orig)
+        chars[0],chars[1],chars[2],chars[3] = chars[3], chars[2],chars[1],chars[0]
+        return ffi.cast('int *', chars)[0]
+        
+    def get_pixel(self, x,y):
+        return self.reverse(self.pixels[y][x])
+
+    def set_pixel(self, x,y, color):
+        self.pixels[y][x] = self.reverse(color)
+
+class _PyAccessF(PyAccess):
+    """ 32 bit float access """
+    def _post_init(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        self.pixels = ffi.cast('float **', self.image32)
+
+    def get_pixel(self, x,y):
+        return self.pixels[y][x]
+
+    def set_pixel(self, x,y, color):
+        try:
+            # not a tuple
+            self.pixels[y][x] = color
+        except:
+            # tuple
+            self.pixels[y][x] = color[0]
+
+
+mode_map = {'1': _PyAccess8,
+            'L': _PyAccess8,
+            'P': _PyAccess8,
+            'LA': _PyAccess32_2,
+            'PA': _PyAccess32_2,
+            'RGB': _PyAccess32_3,
+            'LAB': _PyAccess32_3,
+            'YCbCr': _PyAccess32_3,
+            'RGBA': _PyAccess32_4,
+            'RGBa': _PyAccess32_4,
+            'RGBX': _PyAccess32_4,
+            'CMYK': _PyAccess32_4,
+            'F': _PyAccessF,
+            'I': _PyAccessI32_N,
+            }
+
+if sys.byteorder == 'little':
+    mode_map['I;16'] = _PyAccessI16_N
+    mode_map['I;16L'] = _PyAccessI16_N
+    mode_map['I;16B'] = _PyAccessI16_B
+    
+    mode_map['I;32L'] = _PyAccessI32_N
+    mode_map['I;32B'] = _PyAccessI32_Swap
+else:
+    mode_map['I;16'] = _PyAccessI16_L
+    mode_map['I;16L'] = _PyAccessI16_L
+    mode_map['I;16B'] = _PyAccessI16_N
+
+    mode_map['I;32L'] = _PyAccessI32_Swap
+    mode_map['I;32B'] = _PyAccessI32_N
+    
+def new(img, readonly=False):
+
+    access_type = mode_map.get(img.mode, None)
+    if not access_type:
+        if DEBUG: print ("PyAccess Not Implemented: %s" % img.mode)
+        return None
+    if DEBUG: print ("New PyAccess: %s" % img.mode)
+    return access_type(img, readonly)
+    
+
diff --git a/Tests/bench_cffi_access.py b/Tests/bench_cffi_access.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8f8ef937a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Tests/bench_cffi_access.py
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+from tester import *
+
+# not running this test by default. No DOS against travis.
+
+from PIL import PyAccess
+from PIL import Image
+
+import time
+
+def iterate_get(size, access):
+    (w,h) = size
+    for x in range(w):
+        for y in range(h):
+            access[(x,y)]
+
+def iterate_set(size, access):
+    (w,h) = size
+    for x in range(w):
+        for y in range(h):
+            access[(x,y)] = (x %256,y%256,0)
+
+def timer(func, label, *args):
+    iterations = 5000
+    starttime = time.time()
+    for x in range(iterations):
+        func(*args)
+        if time.time()-starttime > 10:
+            print ("%s: breaking at %s iterations, %.6f per iteration"%(label, x+1, (time.time()-starttime)/(x+1.0)))
+            break
+    if x == iterations-1:
+        endtime = time.time()
+        print ("%s: %.4f s  %.6f per iteration" %(label, endtime-starttime, (endtime-starttime)/(x+1.0)))
+
+def test_direct():
+    im = lena()
+    im.load()
+    #im = Image.new( "RGB", (2000,2000), (1,3,2))
+    caccess = im.im.pixel_access(False)
+    access = PyAccess.new(im, False)
+
+    assert_equal(caccess[(0,0)], access[(0,0)])
+
+    print ("Size: %sx%s" % im.size)
+    timer(iterate_get, 'PyAccess - get', im.size, access)
+    timer(iterate_set, 'PyAccess - set', im.size, access)
+    timer(iterate_get, 'C-api - get', im.size, caccess)
+    timer(iterate_set, 'C-api - set', im.size, caccess)
+    
+    
+
+    
diff --git a/Tests/test_cffi.py b/Tests/test_cffi.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4065a9e53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Tests/test_cffi.py
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+from tester import *
+
+from PIL import Image, PyAccess
+
+import test_image_putpixel as put
+import test_image_getpixel as get
+
+
+
+try:
+    import cffi
+except:
+    skip()
+
+Image.USE_CFFI_ACCESS = True
+
+def test_put():
+    put.test_sanity()
+
+def test_get():
+    get.test_basic()
+    get.test_signedness()
+
+def _test_get_access(im):
+    """ Do we get the same thing as the old pixel access """
+
+    """ Using private interfaces, forcing a capi access and a pyaccess for the same image """
+    caccess = im.im.pixel_access(False)
+    access = PyAccess.new(im, False)
+
+    w,h = im.size
+    for x in range(0,w,10):
+        for y in range(0,h,10):
+            assert_equal(access[(x,y)], caccess[(x,y)])
+
+def test_get_vs_c():
+    _test_get_access(lena('RGB'))
+    _test_get_access(lena('RGBA'))
+    _test_get_access(lena('L'))
+    _test_get_access(lena('LA'))
+    _test_get_access(lena('1'))
+    _test_get_access(lena('P'))
+    #_test_get_access(lena('PA')) # PA   -- how do I make a PA image???
+    _test_get_access(lena('F'))
+    
+    im = Image.new('I;16', (10,10), 40000)
+    _test_get_access(im)
+    im = Image.new('I;16L', (10,10), 40000)
+    _test_get_access(im)
+    im = Image.new('I;16B', (10,10), 40000)
+    _test_get_access(im)
+    
+    im = Image.new('I', (10,10), 40000)
+    _test_get_access(im)
+    # These don't actually appear to be modes that I can actually make,
+    # as unpack sets them directly into the I mode. 
+    #im = Image.new('I;32L', (10,10), -2**10)
+    #_test_get_access(im)
+    #im = Image.new('I;32B', (10,10), 2**10)
+    #_test_get_access(im)
+
+
+
+def _test_set_access(im, color):
+    """ Are we writing the correct bits into the image? """
+
+    """ Using private interfaces, forcing a capi access and a pyaccess for the same image """
+    caccess = im.im.pixel_access(False)
+    access = PyAccess.new(im, False)
+
+    w,h = im.size
+    for x in range(0,w,10):
+        for y in range(0,h,10):
+            access[(x,y)] = color
+            assert_equal(color, caccess[(x,y)])
+
+def test_set_vs_c():
+    _test_set_access(lena('RGB'), (255, 128,0) )
+    _test_set_access(lena('RGBA'), (255, 192, 128, 0))
+    _test_set_access(lena('L'), 128)
+    _test_set_access(lena('LA'), (128,128))
+    _test_set_access(lena('1'), 255)
+    _test_set_access(lena('P') , 128)
+    ##_test_set_access(i, (128,128)) #PA  -- undone how to make
+    _test_set_access(lena('F'), 1024.0)
+    
+    im = Image.new('I;16', (10,10), 40000)
+    _test_set_access(im, 45000)
+    im = Image.new('I;16L', (10,10), 40000)
+    _test_set_access(im, 45000)
+    im = Image.new('I;16B', (10,10), 40000)
+    _test_set_access(im, 45000)
+    
+
+    im = Image.new('I', (10,10), 40000)
+    _test_set_access(im, 45000)
+#    im = Image.new('I;32L', (10,10), -(2**10))
+#    _test_set_access(im, -(2**13)+1)
+    #im = Image.new('I;32B', (10,10), 2**10)
+   #_test_set_access(im, 2**13-1)
diff --git a/Tests/test_image_getpixel.py b/Tests/test_image_getpixel.py
index 6c5e8b084..67f5904a2 100644
--- a/Tests/test_image_getpixel.py
+++ b/Tests/test_image_getpixel.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ from tester import *
 
 from PIL import Image
 
+Image.USE_CFFI_ACCESS=False
+
 def color(mode):
     bands = Image.getmodebands(mode)
     if bands == 1:
@@ -9,49 +11,39 @@ def color(mode):
     else:
         return tuple(range(1, bands+1))
 
-def test_pixel():
 
-    def pixel(mode):
+
+def check(mode, c=None):
+    if not c:
         c = color(mode)
-        im = Image.new(mode, (1, 1), None)
-        im.putpixel((0, 0), c)
-        return im.getpixel((0, 0))
+        
+    #check putpixel
+    im = Image.new(mode, (1, 1), None)
+    im.putpixel((0, 0), c)
+    assert_equal(im.getpixel((0, 0)), c,
+                 "put/getpixel roundtrip failed for mode %s, color %s" %
+                 (mode, c))
+    
+    # check inital color
+    im = Image.new(mode, (1, 1), c)
+    assert_equal(im.getpixel((0, 0)), c,
+                 "initial color failed for mode %s, color %s " %
+                 (mode, color))
 
-    assert_equal(pixel("1"), 1)
-    assert_equal(pixel("L"), 1)
-    assert_equal(pixel("LA"), (1, 2))
-    assert_equal(pixel("I"), 1)
-    assert_equal(pixel("I;16"), 1)
-    assert_equal(pixel("I;16B"), 1)
-    assert_equal(pixel("F"), 1.0)
-    assert_equal(pixel("P"), 1)
-    assert_equal(pixel("PA"), (1, 2))
-    assert_equal(pixel("RGB"), (1, 2, 3))
-    assert_equal(pixel("RGBA"), (1, 2, 3, 4))
-    assert_equal(pixel("RGBX"), (1, 2, 3, 4))
-    assert_equal(pixel("CMYK"), (1, 2, 3, 4))
-    assert_equal(pixel("YCbCr"), (1, 2, 3))
+def test_basic():    
+    for mode in ("1", "L", "LA", "I", "I;16", "I;16B", "F",
+                 "P", "PA", "RGB", "RGBA", "RGBX", "CMYK","YCbCr"):
+        check(mode)
 
-def test_image():
-
-    def pixel(mode):
-        im = Image.new(mode, (1, 1), color(mode))
-        return im.getpixel((0, 0))
-
-    assert_equal(pixel("1"), 1)
-    assert_equal(pixel("L"), 1)
-    assert_equal(pixel("LA"), (1, 2))
-    assert_equal(pixel("I"), 1)
-    assert_equal(pixel("I;16"), 1)
-    assert_equal(pixel("I;16B"), 1)
-    assert_equal(pixel("F"), 1.0)
-    assert_equal(pixel("P"), 1)
-    assert_equal(pixel("PA"), (1, 2))
-    assert_equal(pixel("RGB"), (1, 2, 3))
-    assert_equal(pixel("RGBA"), (1, 2, 3, 4))
-    assert_equal(pixel("RGBX"), (1, 2, 3, 4))
-    assert_equal(pixel("CMYK"), (1, 2, 3, 4))
-    assert_equal(pixel("YCbCr"), (1, 2, 3))
+def test_signedness():
+    # see https://github.com/python-imaging/Pillow/issues/452
+    # pixelaccess is using signed int* instead of uint*
+    for mode in ("I;16", "I;16B"):
+        check(mode, 2**15-1)
+        check(mode, 2**15)
+        check(mode, 2**15+1)
+        check(mode, 2**16-1)
 
+                
 
 
diff --git a/Tests/test_image_putpixel.py b/Tests/test_image_putpixel.py
index 2b60bbd97..5f19237cb 100644
--- a/Tests/test_image_putpixel.py
+++ b/Tests/test_image_putpixel.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ from tester import *
 
 from PIL import Image
 
+Image.USE_CFFI_ACCESS=False
+
 def test_sanity():
 
     im1 = lena()
diff --git a/_imaging.c b/_imaging.c
index c62f0257d..078961da4 100644
--- a/_imaging.c
+++ b/_imaging.c
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ getpixel(Imaging im, ImagingAccess access, int x, int y)
 {
     union {
       UINT8 b[4];
-      INT16 h;
+      UINT16 h;
       INT32 i;
       FLOAT32 f;
     } pixel;
@@ -3072,12 +3072,35 @@ _getattr_ptr(ImagingObject* self, void* closure)
 #endif
 }
 
+static PyObject*
+_getattr_unsafe_ptrs(ImagingObject* self, void* closure)
+{
+    return Py_BuildValue("(ss)(si)(si)(si)(si)(si)(sn)(sn)(sn)(sn)(sn)(si)(si)(sn)", 
+                         "mode", self->image->mode, 
+                         "type", self->image->type,
+                         "depth", self->image->depth,
+                         "bands", self->image->bands,
+                         "xsize", self->image->xsize,
+                         "ysize", self->image->ysize,
+                         "palette", self->image->palette,
+                         "image8", self->image->image8,
+                         "image32", self->image->image32,
+                         "image", self->image->image,
+                         "block", self->image->block,
+                         "pixelsize", self->image->pixelsize,
+                         "linesize", self->image->linesize,
+                         "destroy", self->image->destroy
+                        );
+};
+
+
 static struct PyGetSetDef getsetters[] = {
     { "mode",   (getter) _getattr_mode },
     { "size",   (getter) _getattr_size },
     { "bands",  (getter) _getattr_bands },
     { "id",     (getter) _getattr_id },
     { "ptr",    (getter) _getattr_ptr },
+    { "unsafe_ptrs", (getter) _getattr_unsafe_ptrs },
     { NULL }
 };
 
diff --git a/libImaging/Access.c b/libImaging/Access.c
index 70eb1af4c..62c97f3a3 100644
--- a/libImaging/Access.c
+++ b/libImaging/Access.c
@@ -94,11 +94,11 @@ static void
 get_pixel_16L(Imaging im, int x, int y, void* color)
 {
     UINT8* in = (UINT8*) &im->image[y][x+x];
-    INT16* out = color;
+    UINT16* out = color;
 #ifdef WORDS_BIGENDIAN
     out[0] = in[0] + (in[1]<<8);
 #else
-    out[0] = *(INT16*) in;
+    out[0] = *(UINT16*) in;
 #endif
 }
 
@@ -106,9 +106,9 @@ static void
 get_pixel_16B(Imaging im, int x, int y, void* color)
 {
     UINT8* in = (UINT8*) &im->image[y][x+x];
-    INT16* out = color;
+    UINT16* out = color;
 #ifdef WORDS_BIGENDIAN
-    out[0] = *(INT16*) in;
+    out[0] = *(UINT16*) in;
 #else
     out[0] = in[1] + (in[0]<<8);
 #endif