diff --git a/src/client/expect.c b/src/client/expect.c
index cb0e9571..d278eba4 100644
--- a/src/client/expect.c
+++ b/src/client/expect.c
@@ -58,10 +58,9 @@ int
 recvline(int s, char *buf)
 {
     int sz = 1024;
-    char *bp, *end;
+    char *bp;
     char ch;
     ssize_t n;
-    long id;
 
     bp = buf;
     for (;;) {
@@ -84,10 +83,18 @@ recvline(int s, char *buf)
 
     *bp++ = ch;
     *bp = 0;
+    return parseid(buf);
+}
 
-    id = strtol(buf, &end, 16);
-    if (end == buf || *end != ' ') {
-	fprintf(stderr, "Malformed id in line %s", buf);
+int
+parseid(char *line)
+{
+    char *end;
+    long id;
+
+    id = strtol(line, &end, 16);
+    if (end == line || *end != ' ') {
+	fprintf(stderr, "Malformed id in line %s", line);
 	id = -1;
     }
     if (id > C_LAST)
diff --git a/src/client/misc.h b/src/client/misc.h
index 2b632947..05d4f3d5 100644
--- a/src/client/misc.h
+++ b/src/client/misc.h
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ void putso(void);
 void putse(void);
 #endif
 int recvline(int s, char *buf);
+int parseid(char *);
 int expect(int s, int match, char *buf);
 int tcp_connect(char *, char *);
 int login(int s, char *uname, char *cname, char *cpass, int kill_proc, int);
diff --git a/src/client/play.c b/src/client/play.c
index 22a1add8..072c5e75 100644
--- a/src/client/play.c
+++ b/src/client/play.c
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ recv_output(int sock)
     char buf[4096];
     ssize_t n;
     int i, ch, len;
-    char *line, *end;
+    char *line;
 
     n = read(sock, buf, sizeof(buf));
     if (n < 0)
@@ -337,16 +337,11 @@ recv_output(int sock)
 		lbuf_init(&lbuf);
 		break;
 	    }
-	    if (ch != ' ') {
-		lbuf_putc(&lbuf, ch);
+	    lbuf_putc(&lbuf, ch);
+	    if (ch != ' ')
 		break;
-	    }
 	    line = lbuf_line(&lbuf);
-	    id = strtol(line, &end, 16);
-	    if (end == line || *end) {
-		/* FIXME gripe bad id */
-		id = -1;
-	    }
+	    id = parseid(line);
 	    lbuf_init(&lbuf);
 
 	    switch (id) {