diff --git a/eval.c b/eval.c
index f09c139..6d52ea4 100644
--- a/eval.c
+++ b/eval.c
@@ -55,7 +55,16 @@ static int gettyp( char *token) ;
 char outline[ NSTRING] ;	/* global string to hold debug line text */
 #endif
 
-int gflags = GFREAD ;		/* global control flag		*/
+/* Emacs global flag bit definitions (for gflags). */
+/* if GFREAD is set, current buffer will be set on first file (read in) */
+#define	GFREAD	1
+
+static int gflags = GFREAD ;	/* global control flag		*/
+
+int readfirst_f( void) {
+	return GFREAD == (gflags & GFREAD) ;
+}
+
 int macbug = FALSE ;		/* macro debuging flag          */
 int cmdstatus = TRUE ;		/* last command status          */
 int flickcode = FALSE ;		/* do flicker supression?       */
diff --git a/eval.h b/eval.h
index 710b333..38a0861 100644
--- a/eval.h
+++ b/eval.h
@@ -10,18 +10,13 @@
 extern char outline[] ;		/* Global string to hold debug line text. */
 #endif
 
-
-/* Emacs global flag bit definitions (for gflags). */
-
-#define	GFREAD	1
-
-extern int gflags ;		/* global control flag          */
 extern int macbug ;		/* macro debuging flag          */
 extern int cmdstatus ;		/* last command status          */
 extern int flickcode ;		/* do flicker supression?       */
 extern int rval ;		/* return value of a subprocess */
 extern long envram ;		/* # of bytes current in use by malloc */
 
+int readfirst_f( void) ;
 int is_it_cmd( char *token) ;
 
 void varinit( void) ;
diff --git a/main.c b/main.c
index f576afd..0b9a1ec 100644
--- a/main.c
+++ b/main.c
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	/* if there are any files to read, read the first one! */
 	bp = bfind("main", FALSE, 0);
-	if (firstfile == FALSE && (gflags & GFREAD)) {
+	if (firstfile == FALSE && readfirst_f()) {
 		swbuffer(firstbp);
 		zotbuf(bp);
 	} else