diff --git a/src/cmd/vac/file.c b/src/cmd/vac/file.c
index bb0bb03..10c632c 100644
--- a/src/cmd/vac/file.c
+++ b/src/cmd/vac/file.c
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 #include "fns.h"
 #include "error.h"
 
+#define debug 0
+
 /*
  * locking order is upwards.  A thread can hold the lock for a VacFile
  * and then acquire the lock of its parent
@@ -122,12 +124,16 @@
 VacFile*
 _vacfileroot(VacFs *fs, VtFile *r)
 {
+	int redirected;
+	char err[ERRMAX];	
 	VtBlock *b;
 	VtFile *r0, *r1, *r2;
 	MetaBlock mb;
 	MetaEntry me;
 	VacFile *root, *mr;
 
+	redirected = 0;
+Top:
 	b = nil;
 	root = nil;
 	mr = nil;
@@ -137,13 +143,30 @@
 	if(vtfilelock(r, -1) < 0)
 		return nil;
 	r0 = vtfileopen(r, 0, fs->mode);
+	if(debug)
+		fprint(2, "r0 %p\n", r0);
 	if(r0 == nil)
 		goto Err;
-	r1 = vtfileopen(r, 1, fs->mode);
-	if(r1 == nil)
-		goto Err;
 	r2 = vtfileopen(r, 2, fs->mode);
-	if(r2 == nil)
+	if(debug)
+		fprint(2, "r2 %p\n", r2);
+	if(r2 == nil){
+		/*
+		 * some vac files (e.g., from fossil)
+		 * have an extra layer of indirection.
+		 */
+		rerrstr(err, sizeof err);
+		if(!redirected && strstr(err, "not active")){
+			vtfileunlock(r);
+			r = r0;
+			goto Top;
+		}
+		goto Err;
+	}
+	r1 = vtfileopen(r, 1, fs->mode);
+	if(debug)
+		fprint(2, "r1 %p\n", r1);
+	if(r1 == nil)
 		goto Err;
 
 	mr = filealloc(fs);
diff --git a/src/cmd/vac/fs.c b/src/cmd/vac/fs.c
index f635d5d..d9ab258 100644
--- a/src/cmd/vac/fs.c
+++ b/src/cmd/vac/fs.c
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 #include "dat.h"
 #include "fns.h"
 
+#define debug 0
+
 static char EBadVacFormat[] = "bad format for vac file";
 
 static VacFs *
@@ -103,13 +105,15 @@
 	root = nil;
 	if((r = vtfileopenroot(fs->cache, &e)) == nil)
 		goto Err;
-
+	if(debug)
+		fprint(2, "r %p\n", r);
 	root = _vacfileroot(fs, r);
+	if(debug)
+		fprint(2, "root %p\n", root);
 	vtfileclose(r);
 	if(root == nil)
 		goto Err;
 	fs->root = root;
-
 	return fs;
 Err:
 	if(root)
diff --git a/src/cmd/vac/mkfile b/src/cmd/vac/mkfile
index dfc0e1a..1f8d999 100644
--- a/src/cmd/vac/mkfile
+++ b/src/cmd/vac/mkfile
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 	fs\
 	pack\
 
-LIB=${LIBFILES:%=%.$O}
+LIB=${LIBFILES:%=%.$O} $PLAN9/lib/libventi.a
 
 HFILES=\
 	$PLAN9/include/venti.h\
diff --git a/src/cmd/vac/vac.c b/src/cmd/vac/vac.c
index 0b4f818..bcb9b57 100644
--- a/src/cmd/vac/vac.c
+++ b/src/cmd/vac/vac.c
@@ -318,9 +318,8 @@
 	/* build meta information for the root */
 	ms = metasinkalloc(z, bsize, bsize);
 	/* fake into a directory */
-	dir->mode |= (dir->mode&0444)>>2;
+	dir->mode = DMDIR|0555;
 	dir->qid.type |= QTDIR;
-	dir->mode |= DMDIR;
 	plan9tovacdir(&vd, dir, 0, fileid++);
 	if(strcmp(vd.elem, "/") == 0){
 		vtfree(vd.elem);
diff --git a/src/cmd/vac/vacfs.c b/src/cmd/vac/vacfs.c
index 6720919..4064cfa 100644
--- a/src/cmd/vac/vacfs.c
+++ b/src/cmd/vac/vacfs.c
@@ -141,6 +141,10 @@
 	long ncache = 1000;
 	int readOnly = 1;
 
+	fmtinstall('H', encodefmt);
+	fmtinstall('V', vtscorefmt);
+	fmtinstall('F', vtfcallfmt);
+	
 	defsrv = nil;
 	ARGBEGIN{
 	case 'd':
@@ -164,6 +168,9 @@
 	case 'p':
 		noperm = 1;
 		break;
+	case 'V':
+		chattyventi = 1;
+		break;
 	default:
 		usage();
 	}ARGEND
@@ -198,7 +205,6 @@
 	if(post9pservice(p[1], defsrv) != 0) 
 		sysfatal("post9pservice");
 
-
 	threadexits(0);
 }
 
@@ -840,9 +846,6 @@
 	notify(notifyf);
 	user = getuser();
 
-	fmtinstall('V', vtscorefmt);
-//	fmtinstall('R', vtErrFmt);
-
 	conn = vtdial(host);
 	if(conn == nil)
 		sysfatal("could not connect to server: %r");
diff --git a/src/cmd/venti/read.c b/src/cmd/venti/read.c
index 3f3441e..a48e62e 100644
--- a/src/cmd/venti/read.c
+++ b/src/cmd/venti/read.c
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 		host = EARGF(usage());
 		break;
 	case 't':
-		type = atoi(argv[1]);
+		type = atoi(EARGF(usage()));
 		break;
 	default:
 		usage();
@@ -62,10 +62,9 @@
 				break;
 			}
 		}
-	}else{
-		type = atoi(argv[1]);
+	}else
 		n = vtread(z, score, type, buf, VtMaxLumpSize);
-	}
+
 	vthangup(z);
 	if(n < 0)
 		sysfatal("could not read block: %r");
diff --git a/src/cmd/venti/root.c b/src/cmd/venti/root.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5d67ad3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cmd/venti/root.c
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+#include <u.h>
+#include <libc.h>
+#include <venti.h>
+#include <libsec.h>
+#include <thread.h>
+
+void
+usage(void)
+{
+	fprint(2, "usage: root [-h host] score\n");
+	threadexitsall("usage");
+}
+
+void
+threadmain(int argc, char *argv[])
+{
+	int i, n;
+	uchar score[VtScoreSize];
+	uchar *buf;
+	VtConn *z;
+	char *host;
+	VtRoot root;
+
+	fmtinstall('F', vtfcallfmt);
+	fmtinstall('V', vtscorefmt);
+	quotefmtinstall();
+
+	host = nil;
+	ARGBEGIN{
+	case 'h':
+		host = EARGF(usage());
+		break;
+	default:
+		usage();
+		break;
+	}ARGEND
+
+	if(argc == 0)
+		usage();
+
+	buf = vtmallocz(VtMaxLumpSize);
+
+	z = vtdial(host);
+	if(z == nil)
+		sysfatal("could not connect to server: %r");
+
+	if(vtconnect(z) < 0)
+		sysfatal("vtconnect: %r");
+
+	for(i=0; i<argc; i++){
+		if(vtparsescore(argv[i], nil, score) < 0){
+			fprint(2, "cannot parse score '%s': %r\n", argv[i]);
+			continue;
+		}
+		n = vtread(z, score, VtRootType, buf, VtMaxLumpSize);
+		if(n < 0){
+			fprint(2, "could not read block %V: %r\n", score);
+			continue;
+		}
+		if(n != VtRootSize){
+			fprint(2, "block %V is wrong size %d != 300\n", score, n);
+			continue;
+		}
+		if(vtrootunpack(&root, buf) < 0){
+			fprint(2, "unpacking block %V: %r\n", score);
+			continue;
+		}
+		print("%V: %q %q %V %d %V\n", score, root.name, root.type, root.score, root.blocksize, root.prev);
+	}
+	vthangup(z);
+	threadexitsall(0);
+}
diff --git a/src/cmd/venti/srv/buildindex.c b/src/cmd/venti/srv/buildindex.c
index 4cf6029..640b190 100644
--- a/src/cmd/venti/srv/buildindex.c
+++ b/src/cmd/venti/srv/buildindex.c
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@
 
 	zero = 1;
 	bcmem = 0;
+	ventifmtinstall();
 	ARGBEGIN{
 	case 'B':
 		bcmem = unittoull(ARGF());
diff --git a/src/cmd/venti/srv/wrarena.c b/src/cmd/venti/srv/wrarena.c
index 4b8358c..7563fae 100644
--- a/src/cmd/venti/srv/wrarena.c
+++ b/src/cmd/venti/srv/wrarena.c
@@ -190,14 +190,14 @@
 	if(arena == nil)
 		sysfatal("initarena: %r");
 
-	if(host && strcmp(host, "/dev/null") != 0){
+	z = nil;
+	if(host==nil || strcmp(host, "/dev/null") != 0){
 		z = vtdial(host);
 		if(z == nil)
 			sysfatal("could not connect to server: %r");
 		if(vtconnect(z) < 0)
 			sysfatal("vtconnect: %r");
-	}else
-		z = nil;
+	}
 	
 	c = chancreate(sizeof(ZClump), 0);
 	for(i=0; i<12; i++)
diff --git a/src/libventi/cache.c b/src/libventi/cache.c
index 09ca5ea..71bdb62 100644
--- a/src/libventi/cache.c
+++ b/src/libventi/cache.c
@@ -311,11 +311,13 @@
 {
 	VtBlock *b;
 
-	if(addr >= c->nblock)
-		sysfatal("vtcachelocal: asked for block #%ud; only %d blocks\n",
+	if(addr == 0)
+		sysfatal("vtcachelocal: asked for nonexistent block 0");
+	if(addr > c->nblock)
+		sysfatal("vtcachelocal: asked for block #%ud; only %d blocks",
 			addr, c->nblock);
 
-	b = &c->block[addr];
+	b = &c->block[addr-1];
 	if(b->addr == NilBlock || b->iostate != BioLocal)
 		sysfatal("vtcachelocal: block is not local");
 
@@ -340,7 +342,7 @@
 	b = vtcachebumpblock(c);
 	b->iostate = BioLocal;
 	b->type = type;
-	b->addr = b - c->block;
+	b->addr = (b - c->block)+1;
 	vtzeroextend(type, b->data, 0, c->blocksize);
 	vtlocaltoglobal(b->addr, b->score);
 	qunlock(&c->lk);
diff --git a/src/libventi/entry.c b/src/libventi/entry.c
index ca1d200..aeb8dad 100644
--- a/src/libventi/entry.c
+++ b/src/libventi/entry.c
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 checksize(int n)
 {
 	if(n < 256 || n > VtMaxLumpSize) {
-		werrstr("bad block size");
+		werrstr("bad block size %#ux", n);
 		return -1;
 	}
 	return 0;
@@ -77,6 +77,16 @@
 	if(!(e->flags & VtEntryActive))
 		return 0;
 
+	/* 
+	 * Some old vac files use psize==0 and dsize==0 when the
+	 * file itself has size 0 or is zeros.  Just to make programs not
+	 * have to figure out what block sizes of 0 means, rewrite them.
+	 */
+	if(e->psize == 0 && e->dsize == 0
+	&& memcmp(e->score, vtzeroscore, VtScoreSize) == 0){
+		e->psize = 4096;
+		e->dsize = 4096;
+	}
 	if(checksize(e->psize) < 0 || checksize(e->dsize) < 0)
 		return -1;
 
diff --git a/src/libventi/file.c b/src/libventi/file.c
index 89b307c..9b25011 100644
--- a/src/libventi/file.c
+++ b/src/libventi/file.c
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
 
 #define MaxBlock (1UL<<31)
 
-static char EBadEntry[] = "bad VtEntry";
 static char ENotDir[] = "walk in non-directory";
 static char ETooBig[] = "file too big";
 /* static char EBadAddr[] = "bad address"; */
@@ -49,8 +48,10 @@
 	}else
 		epb = p->dsize / VtEntrySize;
 
-	if(b->type != VtDirType)
-		goto Bad;
+	if(b->type != VtDirType){
+		werrstr("bad block type %#uo", b->type);
+		return nil;
+	}
 
 	/*
 	 * a non-active entry is the only thing that
@@ -58,28 +59,26 @@
 	 * get prints.
 	 */
 	if(vtentryunpack(&e, b->data, offset % epb) < 0){
-		fprint(2, "vtentryunpack failed\n");
-		goto Bad;
+		fprint(2, "vtentryunpack failed: %r (%.*H)\n", VtEntrySize, b->data+VtEntrySize*(offset%epb));
+		return nil;
 	}
 	if(!(e.flags & VtEntryActive)){
-		if(0)fprint(2, "not active\n");
-		goto Bad;
-	}
-	if(e.psize < 256 || e.dsize < 256){
-		fprint(2, "psize %ud dsize %ud\n", e.psize, e.dsize);
-		goto Bad;
+		werrstr("entry not active");
+		return nil;
 	}
 
 	if(DEPTH(e.type) < sizetodepth(e.size, e.psize, e.dsize)){
 		fprint(2, "depth %ud size %llud psize %ud dsize %ud\n",
 			DEPTH(e.type), e.size, e.psize, e.dsize);
-		goto Bad;
+		werrstr("bad depth");
+		return nil;
 	}
 
 	size = vtcacheblocksize(c);
 	if(e.dsize > size || e.psize > size){
-		fprint(2, "psize %ud dsize %ud blocksize %ud\n", e.psize, e.dsize, size);
-		goto Bad;
+		werrstr("block sizes %ud, %ud bigger than cache block size %ud",
+			e.psize, e.dsize, size);
+		return nil;
 	}
 
 	r = vtmallocz(sizeof(VtFile));
@@ -105,10 +104,6 @@
 	r->epb = epb;
 
 	return r;
-Bad:
-	werrstr(EBadEntry);
-	return nil;
-	
 }
 
 VtFile *
@@ -178,17 +173,23 @@
 	return r;
 }
 
-VtFile *
+VtFile*
 vtfilecreate(VtFile *r, int psize, int dsize, int type)
 {
+	return _vtfilecreate(r, -1, psize, dsize, type);
+}
+
+VtFile*
+_vtfilecreate(VtFile *r, int o, int psize, int dsize, int type)
+{
 	int i;
 	VtBlock *b;
 	u32int bn, size;
 	VtEntry e;
 	int epb;
 	VtFile *rr;
- 	u32int offset;
-
+	u32int offset;
+	
 	assert(ISLOCKED(r));
 	assert(psize <= VtMaxLumpSize);
 	assert(dsize <= VtMaxLumpSize);
@@ -205,8 +206,11 @@
 	/*
 	 * look at a random block to see if we can find an empty entry
 	 */
-	offset = lnrand(size+1);
-	offset -= offset % epb;
+	if(o == -1){
+		offset = lnrand(size+1);
+		offset -= offset % epb;
+	}else
+		offset = o;
 
 	/* try the given block and then try the last block */
 	for(;;){