diff --git a/Include/intobject.h b/Include/intobject.h
index ab936b2..61ef0f0 100644
--- a/Include/intobject.h
+++ b/Include/intobject.h
@@ -36,6 +36,11 @@
 #endif
 PyAPI_FUNC(PyObject *) PyInt_FromLong(long);
 PyAPI_FUNC(long) PyInt_AsLong(PyObject *);
+PyAPI_FUNC(unsigned long) PyInt_AsUnsignedLongMask(PyObject *);
+#ifdef HAVE_LONG_LONG
+PyAPI_FUNC(unsigned PY_LONG_LONG) PyInt_AsUnsignedLongLongMask(PyObject *);
+#endif
+
 PyAPI_FUNC(long) PyInt_GetMax(void);
 
 /* Macro, trading safety for speed */
diff --git a/Include/longobject.h b/Include/longobject.h
index 63ca113..8354963 100644
--- a/Include/longobject.h
+++ b/Include/longobject.h
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 PyAPI_FUNC(PyObject *) PyLong_FromDouble(double);
 PyAPI_FUNC(long) PyLong_AsLong(PyObject *);
 PyAPI_FUNC(unsigned long) PyLong_AsUnsignedLong(PyObject *);
+PyAPI_FUNC(unsigned long) PyLong_AsUnsignedLongMask(PyObject *);
 
 /* _PyLong_AsScaledDouble returns a double x and an exponent e such that
    the true value is approximately equal to x * 2**(SHIFT*e).  e is >= 0.
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@
 PyAPI_FUNC(PyObject *) PyLong_FromUnsignedLongLong(unsigned PY_LONG_LONG);
 PyAPI_FUNC(PY_LONG_LONG) PyLong_AsLongLong(PyObject *);
 PyAPI_FUNC(unsigned PY_LONG_LONG) PyLong_AsUnsignedLongLong(PyObject *);
+PyAPI_FUNC(unsigned PY_LONG_LONG) PyLong_AsUnsignedLongLongMask(PyObject *);
 #endif /* HAVE_LONG_LONG */
 
 PyAPI_FUNC(PyObject *) PyLong_FromString(char *, char **, int);
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_getargs2.py b/Lib/test/test_getargs2.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4cf876a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Lib/test/test_getargs2.py
@@ -0,0 +1,245 @@
+import unittest
+from test import test_support
+import sys
+
+import warnings, re
+warnings.filterwarnings("ignore", category=DeprecationWarning, module=__name__)
+
+"""
+> How about the following counterproposal. This also changes some of
+> the other format codes to be a little more regular.
+>
+> Code C type Range check
+>
+> b unsigned char 0..UCHAR_MAX
+> h unsigned short 0..USHRT_MAX
+> B unsigned char none **
+> H unsigned short none **
+> k * unsigned long none
+> I * unsigned int 0..UINT_MAX
+
+
+> i int INT_MIN..INT_MAX
+> l long LONG_MIN..LONG_MAX
+
+> K * unsigned long long none
+> L long long LLONG_MIN..LLONG_MAX
+
+> Notes:
+>
+> * New format codes.
+>
+> ** Changed from previous "range-and-a-half" to "none"; the
+> range-and-a-half checking wasn't particularly useful.
+
+Plus a C API or two, e.g. PyInt_AsLongMask() ->
+unsigned long and PyInt_AsLongLongMask() -> unsigned
+long long (if that exists).
+"""
+
+LARGE = 0x7FFFFFFF
+VERY_LARGE = 0xFF0000121212121212121242L
+
+from _testcapi import UCHAR_MAX, USHRT_MAX, UINT_MAX, ULONG_MAX, INT_MAX, \
+     INT_MIN, LONG_MIN, LONG_MAX
+
+from _testcapi import getargs_ul as ul_convert
+from _testcapi import getargs_l as l_convert
+try:
+    from _testcapi import getargs_ll as ll_convert
+    from _testcapi import getargs_ull as ull_convert
+except ImportError:
+    pass
+
+# fake, they are not defined in Python's header files
+LLONG_MAX = 2**63-1
+LLONG_MIN = -2**63
+ULLONG_MAX = 2**64-1
+
+class Long:
+    def __int__(self):
+        return 99L
+
+class Int:
+    def __int__(self):
+        return 99
+
+class Unsigned_TestCase(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_b(self):
+        # b returns 'unsigned char', and does range checking (0 ... UCHAR_MAX)
+        self.failUnlessEqual(3, ul_convert("b", 3.14))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(99, ul_convert("b", Long()))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(99, ul_convert("b", Int()))
+
+        self.assertRaises(OverflowError, ul_convert, "b", -1)
+        self.failUnlessEqual(0, ul_convert("b", 0))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(UCHAR_MAX, ul_convert("b", UCHAR_MAX))
+        self.assertRaises(OverflowError, ul_convert, "b", UCHAR_MAX + 1)
+
+        self.failUnlessEqual(42, ul_convert("b", 42))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(42, ul_convert("b", 42L))
+        self.assertRaises(OverflowError, ul_convert, "b", VERY_LARGE)
+
+    def test_h(self):
+        # h returns 'unsigned short', and does range checking (0 ... USHRT_MAX)
+        self.failUnlessEqual(3, ul_convert("h", 3.14))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(99, ul_convert("h", Long()))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(99, ul_convert("h", Int()))
+
+        self.assertRaises(OverflowError, ul_convert, "h", -1)
+        self.failUnlessEqual(0, ul_convert("h", 0))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(USHRT_MAX, ul_convert("h", USHRT_MAX))
+        self.assertRaises(OverflowError, ul_convert, "h", USHRT_MAX+1)
+
+        self.failUnlessEqual(42, ul_convert("h", 42))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(42, ul_convert("h", 42L))
+        self.assertRaises(OverflowError, ul_convert, "h", VERY_LARGE)
+
+    def test_B(self):
+        # B returns 'unsigned char', no range checking
+        self.failUnless(3 == ul_convert("B", 3.14))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(99, ul_convert("B", Long()))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(99, ul_convert("B", Int()))
+
+        self.failUnlessEqual(UCHAR_MAX, ul_convert("B", -1))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(UCHAR_MAX, ul_convert("B", -1L))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(0, ul_convert("B", 0))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(UCHAR_MAX, ul_convert("B", UCHAR_MAX))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(0, ul_convert("B", UCHAR_MAX+1))
+
+        self.failUnlessEqual(42, ul_convert("B", 42))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(42, ul_convert("B", 42L))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(UCHAR_MAX & VERY_LARGE, ul_convert("B", VERY_LARGE))
+
+    def test_H(self):
+        # H returns 'unsigned short', no range checking
+        self.failUnlessEqual(3, ul_convert("H", 3.14))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(99, ul_convert("H", Long()))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(99, ul_convert("H", Int()))
+
+        self.failUnlessEqual(USHRT_MAX, ul_convert("H", -1))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(0, ul_convert("H", 0))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(USHRT_MAX, ul_convert("H", USHRT_MAX))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(0, ul_convert("H", USHRT_MAX+1))
+
+        self.failUnlessEqual(42, ul_convert("H", 42))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(42, ul_convert("H", 42L))
+
+        self.failUnlessEqual(VERY_LARGE & USHRT_MAX, ul_convert("H", VERY_LARGE))
+
+    def test_I(self):
+        # I returns 'unsigned int', no range checking
+        self.failUnlessEqual(3, ul_convert("I", 3.14))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(99, ul_convert("I", Long()))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(99, ul_convert("I", Int()))
+
+        self.failUnlessEqual(UINT_MAX, ul_convert("I", -1))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(0, ul_convert("I", 0))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(UINT_MAX, ul_convert("I", UINT_MAX))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(0, ul_convert("I", UINT_MAX+1))
+
+        self.failUnlessEqual(42, ul_convert("I", 42))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(42, ul_convert("I", 42L))
+
+        self.failUnlessEqual(VERY_LARGE & UINT_MAX, ul_convert("I", VERY_LARGE))
+
+    def test_k(self):
+        # k returns 'unsigned long', no range checking
+        # it does not accept float, or instances with __int__
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, ul_convert, "k", 3.14)
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, ul_convert, "k", Long())
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, ul_convert, "k", Int())
+
+        self.failUnlessEqual(ULONG_MAX, ul_convert("k", -1))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(0, ul_convert("k", 0))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(ULONG_MAX, ul_convert("k", ULONG_MAX))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(0, ul_convert("k", ULONG_MAX+1))
+
+        self.failUnlessEqual(42, ul_convert("k", 42))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(42, ul_convert("k", 42L))
+
+        self.failUnlessEqual(VERY_LARGE & ULONG_MAX, ul_convert("k", VERY_LARGE))
+
+class Signed_TestCase(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_i(self):
+        # i returns 'int', and does range checking (INT_MIN ... INT_MAX)
+        self.failUnlessEqual(3, l_convert("i", 3.14))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(99, l_convert("i", Long()))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(99, l_convert("i", Int()))
+
+        self.assertRaises(OverflowError, l_convert, "i", INT_MIN-1)
+        self.failUnlessEqual(INT_MIN, l_convert("i", INT_MIN))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(INT_MAX, l_convert("i", INT_MAX))
+        self.assertRaises(OverflowError, l_convert, "i", INT_MAX+1)
+
+        self.failUnlessEqual(42, l_convert("i", 42))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(42, l_convert("i", 42L))
+        self.assertRaises(OverflowError, l_convert, "i", VERY_LARGE)
+
+    def test_l(self):
+        # l returns 'long', and does range checking (LONG_MIN ... LONG_MAX)
+        self.failUnlessEqual(3, l_convert("l", 3.14))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(99, l_convert("l", Long()))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(99, l_convert("l", Int()))
+
+        self.assertRaises(OverflowError, l_convert, "l", LONG_MIN-1)
+        self.failUnlessEqual(LONG_MIN, l_convert("l", LONG_MIN))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(LONG_MAX, l_convert("l", LONG_MAX))
+        self.assertRaises(OverflowError, l_convert, "l", LONG_MAX+1)
+
+        self.failUnlessEqual(42, l_convert("l", 42))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(42, l_convert("l", 42L))
+        self.assertRaises(OverflowError, l_convert, "l", VERY_LARGE)
+
+
+class LongLong_TestCase(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_L(self):
+        # L returns 'long long', and does range checking (LLONG_MIN ... LLONG_MAX)
+
+        # XXX There's a bug in getargs.c, format code "L":
+        # If you pass something else than a Python long, you
+        # get "Bad argument to internal function".
+
+        # So these three tests are commented out:
+
+##        self.failUnlessEqual(3, ll_convert("L", 3.14))
+##        self.failUnlessEqual(99, ll_convert("L", Long()))
+##        self.failUnlessEqual(99, ll_convert("L", Int()))
+
+        self.assertRaises(OverflowError, ll_convert, "L", LLONG_MIN-1)
+        self.failUnlessEqual(LLONG_MIN, ll_convert("L", LLONG_MIN))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(LLONG_MAX, ll_convert("L", LLONG_MAX))
+        self.assertRaises(OverflowError, ll_convert, "L", LLONG_MAX+1)
+
+        self.failUnlessEqual(42, ll_convert("L", 42))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(42, ll_convert("L", 42L))
+        self.assertRaises(OverflowError, ll_convert, "L", VERY_LARGE)
+        
+    def test_K(self):
+        # K return 'unsigned long long', no range checking
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, ull_convert, "K", 3.14)
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, ull_convert, "K", Long())
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, ull_convert, "K", Int())
+        self.failUnlessEqual(ULLONG_MAX, ull_convert("K", ULLONG_MAX))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(0, ull_convert("K", 0))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(0, ull_convert("K", ULLONG_MAX+1))
+
+        self.failUnlessEqual(42, ull_convert("K", 42))
+        self.failUnlessEqual(42, ull_convert("K", 42L))
+
+        self.failUnlessEqual(VERY_LARGE & ULLONG_MAX, ull_convert("K", VERY_LARGE))
+
+def test_main():
+    suite = unittest.TestSuite()
+    suite.addTest(unittest.makeSuite(Signed_TestCase))
+    suite.addTest(unittest.makeSuite(Unsigned_TestCase))
+    try:
+        ll_convert
+    except NameError:
+        pass # PY_LONG_LONG not available
+    else:
+        suite.addTest(unittest.makeSuite(LongLong_TestCase))
+    test_support.run_suite(suite)
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    test_main()
diff --git a/Modules/_testcapimodule.c b/Modules/_testcapimodule.c
index c08dbb7..b3da398 100644
--- a/Modules/_testcapimodule.c
+++ b/Modules/_testcapimodule.c
@@ -290,6 +290,139 @@
 
 #endif	/* ifdef HAVE_LONG_LONG */
 
+/* Call PyArg_ParseTuple, and return the result as unsigned long */
+static PyObject *
+getargs_ul(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
+{
+	PyObject *ob, *result = NULL, *argtuple;
+	char *fmt;
+	unsigned long value = 0;
+
+	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "sO", &fmt, &ob))
+		return NULL;
+	argtuple = PyTuple_New(1);
+	Py_INCREF(ob);
+	PyTuple_SET_ITEM(argtuple, 0, ob);
+	if (PyArg_ParseTuple(argtuple, fmt, &value))
+		result = PyLong_FromUnsignedLong(value);
+	Py_DECREF(argtuple);
+	return result;
+}
+
+/* Call PyArg_ParseTuple, and return the result as signed long */
+static PyObject *
+getargs_l(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
+{
+	PyObject *ob, *result = NULL, *argtuple;
+	char *fmt;
+	long value = 0;
+
+	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "sO", &fmt, &ob))
+		return NULL;
+	argtuple = PyTuple_New(1);
+	Py_INCREF(ob);
+	PyTuple_SET_ITEM(argtuple, 0, ob);
+	if (PyArg_ParseTuple(argtuple, fmt, &value))
+		result = PyLong_FromLong(value);
+	Py_DECREF(argtuple);
+	return result;
+}
+
+#ifdef HAVE_LONG_LONG
+/* Call PyArg_ParseTuple, and return the result as signed long long */
+static PyObject *
+getargs_ll(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
+{
+	PyObject *ob, *result = NULL, *argtuple;
+	char *fmt;
+	PY_LONG_LONG value = 0;
+
+	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "sO", &fmt, &ob))
+		return NULL;
+	argtuple = PyTuple_New(1);
+	Py_INCREF(ob);
+	PyTuple_SET_ITEM(argtuple, 0, ob);
+	if (PyArg_ParseTuple(argtuple, fmt, &value))
+		result = PyLong_FromLongLong(value);
+	Py_DECREF(argtuple);
+	return result;
+}
+
+/* Call PyArg_ParseTuple, and return the result as unsigned long long */
+static PyObject *
+getargs_ull(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
+{
+	PyObject *ob, *result = NULL, *argtuple;
+	char *fmt;
+	unsigned PY_LONG_LONG value = 0;
+
+	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "sO", &fmt, &ob))
+		return NULL;
+	argtuple = PyTuple_New(1);
+	Py_INCREF(ob);
+	PyTuple_SET_ITEM(argtuple, 0, ob);
+	if (PyArg_ParseTuple(argtuple, fmt, &value))
+		result = PyLong_FromUnsignedLongLong(value);
+	Py_DECREF(argtuple);
+	return result;
+}
+#endif
+
+/* This function not only tests the 'k' getargs code, but also the
+   PyInt_AsUnsignedLongMask() and PyInt_AsUnsignedLongMask() functions. */
+static PyObject *
+test_k_code(PyObject *self)
+{
+	PyObject *tuple, *num;
+	unsigned long value;
+
+        tuple = PyTuple_New(1);
+        if (tuple == NULL)
+        	return NULL;
+
+	/* a number larger than UINT_MAX even on 64-bit platforms */
+        num = PyLong_FromString("FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF", NULL, 16);
+        if (num == NULL)
+        	return NULL;
+
+	value = PyInt_AsUnsignedLongMask(num);
+	if (value != UINT_MAX)
+        	return raiseTestError("test_k_code",
+	    "PyInt_AsUnsignedLongMask() returned wrong value for long 0xFFF...FFF");
+
+        PyTuple_SET_ITEM(tuple, 0, num);
+
+        value = -1;
+        if (PyArg_ParseTuple(tuple, "k:test_k_code", &value) < 0)
+        	return NULL;
+        if (value != UINT_MAX)
+        	return raiseTestError("test_k_code",
+			"k code returned wrong value for long 0xFFF...FFF");
+
+	Py_DECREF(num);
+        num = PyLong_FromString("-FFFFFFFF000000000000000042", NULL, 16);
+        if (num == NULL)
+        	return NULL;
+
+	value = PyInt_AsUnsignedLongMask(num);
+	if (value != (unsigned long)-0x42)
+        	return raiseTestError("test_k_code",
+	    "PyInt_AsUnsignedLongMask() returned wrong value for long 0xFFF...FFF");
+
+        PyTuple_SET_ITEM(tuple, 0, num);
+
+	value = -1;
+        if (PyArg_ParseTuple(tuple, "k:test_k_code", &value) < 0)
+        	return NULL;
+        if (value != (unsigned long)-0x42)
+        	return raiseTestError("test_k_code",
+			"k code returned wrong value for long -0xFFF..000042");
+
+	Py_DECREF(tuple);
+	Py_INCREF(Py_None);
+	return Py_None;
+}
+
 #ifdef Py_USING_UNICODE
 
 /* Test the u and u# codes for PyArg_ParseTuple. May leak memory in case
@@ -409,7 +542,12 @@
 	{"test_dict_iteration",	(PyCFunction)test_dict_iteration,METH_NOARGS},
 	{"test_long_api",	(PyCFunction)test_long_api,	 METH_NOARGS},
 	{"test_long_numbits",	(PyCFunction)test_long_numbits,	 METH_NOARGS},
+	{"test_k_code",		(PyCFunction)test_k_code,	 METH_NOARGS},
+	{"getargs_ul",		(PyCFunction)getargs_ul,	 METH_VARARGS},
+	{"getargs_l",		(PyCFunction)getargs_l,		 METH_VARARGS},
 #ifdef HAVE_LONG_LONG
+	{"getargs_ll",		(PyCFunction)getargs_ll,	 METH_VARARGS},
+	{"getargs_ull",		(PyCFunction)getargs_ull,	 METH_VARARGS},
 	{"test_longlong_api",	(PyCFunction)test_longlong_api,	 METH_NOARGS},
 	{"test_L_code",		(PyCFunction)test_L_code,	 METH_NOARGS},
 #endif
@@ -419,6 +557,8 @@
 	{NULL, NULL} /* sentinel */
 };
 
+#define AddSym(d, n, f, v) {PyObject *o = f(v); PyDict_SetItemString(d, n, o); Py_DECREF(o);}
+
 PyMODINIT_FUNC
 init_testcapi(void)
 {
@@ -426,6 +566,15 @@
 
 	m = Py_InitModule("_testcapi", TestMethods);
 
+	PyModule_AddObject(m, "UCHAR_MAX", PyInt_FromLong(UCHAR_MAX));
+	PyModule_AddObject(m, "USHRT_MAX", PyInt_FromLong(USHRT_MAX));
+	PyModule_AddObject(m, "UINT_MAX",  PyLong_FromUnsignedLong(UINT_MAX));
+	PyModule_AddObject(m, "ULONG_MAX", PyLong_FromUnsignedLong(ULONG_MAX));
+	PyModule_AddObject(m, "INT_MIN", PyInt_FromLong(INT_MIN));
+	PyModule_AddObject(m, "LONG_MIN", PyInt_FromLong(LONG_MIN));
+	PyModule_AddObject(m, "INT_MAX", PyInt_FromLong(INT_MAX));
+	PyModule_AddObject(m, "LONG_MAX", PyInt_FromLong(LONG_MAX));
+
 	TestError = PyErr_NewException("_testcapi.error", NULL, NULL);
 	Py_INCREF(TestError);
 	PyModule_AddObject(m, "error", TestError);
diff --git a/Objects/intobject.c b/Objects/intobject.c
index 611aedf..4b5dc55 100644
--- a/Objects/intobject.c
+++ b/Objects/intobject.c
@@ -169,6 +169,7 @@
 		}
 		else
 		{
+			Py_DECREF(io);
 			PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError,
 					"nb_int should return int object");
 			return -1;
@@ -181,6 +182,96 @@
 	return val;
 }
 
+unsigned long
+PyInt_AsUnsignedLongMask(register PyObject *op)
+{
+	PyNumberMethods *nb;
+	PyIntObject *io;
+	unsigned long val;
+
+	if (op && PyInt_Check(op))
+		return PyInt_AS_LONG((PyIntObject*) op);
+	if (op && PyLong_Check(op))
+		return PyLong_AsUnsignedLongMask(op);
+
+	if (op == NULL || (nb = op->ob_type->tp_as_number) == NULL ||
+	    nb->nb_int == NULL) {
+		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "an integer is required");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	io = (PyIntObject*) (*nb->nb_int) (op);
+	if (io == NULL)
+		return -1;
+	if (!PyInt_Check(io)) {
+		if (PyLong_Check(io)) {
+			val = PyLong_AsUnsignedLongMask((PyObject *)io);
+			Py_DECREF(io);
+			if (PyErr_Occurred())
+				return -1;
+			return val;
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			Py_DECREF(io);
+			PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError,
+					"nb_int should return int object");
+			return -1;
+		}
+	}
+
+	val = PyInt_AS_LONG(io);
+	Py_DECREF(io);
+
+	return val;
+}
+
+#ifdef HAVE_LONG_LONG
+unsigned PY_LONG_LONG
+PyInt_AsUnsignedLongLongMask(register PyObject *op)
+{
+	PyNumberMethods *nb;
+	PyIntObject *io;
+	unsigned PY_LONG_LONG val;
+
+	if (op && PyInt_Check(op))
+		return PyInt_AS_LONG((PyIntObject*) op);
+	if (op && PyLong_Check(op))
+		return PyLong_AsUnsignedLongLongMask(op);
+
+	if (op == NULL || (nb = op->ob_type->tp_as_number) == NULL ||
+	    nb->nb_int == NULL) {
+		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "an integer is required");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	io = (PyIntObject*) (*nb->nb_int) (op);
+	if (io == NULL)
+		return -1;
+	if (!PyInt_Check(io)) {
+		if (PyLong_Check(io)) {
+			val = PyLong_AsUnsignedLongLongMask((PyObject *)io);
+			Py_DECREF(io);
+			if (PyErr_Occurred())
+				return -1;
+			return val;
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			Py_DECREF(io);
+			PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError,
+					"nb_int should return int object");
+			return -1;
+		}
+	}
+
+	val = PyInt_AS_LONG(io);
+	Py_DECREF(io);
+
+	return val;
+}
+#endif
+
 PyObject *
 PyInt_FromString(char *s, char **pend, int base)
 {
diff --git a/Objects/longobject.c b/Objects/longobject.c
index e02bce4..663befc 100644
--- a/Objects/longobject.c
+++ b/Objects/longobject.c
@@ -260,6 +260,34 @@
 	return x;
 }
 
+/* Get a C unsigned long int from a long int object, ignoring the high bits.
+   Returns -1 and sets an error condition if an error occurs. */
+
+unsigned long
+PyLong_AsUnsignedLongMask(PyObject *vv)
+{
+	register PyLongObject *v;
+	unsigned long x;
+	int i, sign;
+
+	if (vv == NULL || !PyLong_Check(vv)) {
+		PyErr_BadInternalCall();
+		return (unsigned long) -1;
+	}
+	v = (PyLongObject *)vv;
+	i = v->ob_size;
+	sign = 1;
+	x = 0;
+	if (i < 0) {
+		sign = -1;
+		i = -i;
+	}
+	while (--i >= 0) {
+		x = (x << SHIFT) + v->ob_digit[i];
+	}
+	return x * sign;
+}
+
 int
 _PyLong_Sign(PyObject *vv)
 {
@@ -779,6 +807,33 @@
 		return bytes;
 }
 
+/* Get a C unsigned long int from a long int object, ignoring the high bits.
+   Returns -1 and sets an error condition if an error occurs. */
+
+unsigned PY_LONG_LONG
+PyLong_AsUnsignedLongLongMask(PyObject *vv)
+{
+	register PyLongObject *v;
+	unsigned PY_LONG_LONG x;
+	int i, sign;
+
+	if (vv == NULL || !PyLong_Check(vv)) {
+		PyErr_BadInternalCall();
+		return (unsigned long) -1;
+	}
+	v = (PyLongObject *)vv;
+	i = v->ob_size;
+	sign = 1;
+	x = 0;
+	if (i < 0) {
+		sign = -1;
+		i = -i;
+	}
+	while (--i >= 0) {
+		x = (x << SHIFT) + v->ob_digit[i];
+	}
+	return x * sign;
+}
 #undef IS_LITTLE_ENDIAN
 
 #endif /* HAVE_LONG_LONG */
diff --git a/Python/getargs.c b/Python/getargs.c
index 1f37e41..e9808d5 100644
--- a/Python/getargs.c
+++ b/Python/getargs.c
@@ -448,25 +448,15 @@
 		long ival;
 		if (float_argument_error(arg))
 			return NULL;
-		ival = PyInt_AsLong(arg);
+		ival = PyInt_AsUnsignedLongMask(arg);
 		if (ival == -1 && PyErr_Occurred())
-			return converterr("integer<b>", arg, msgbuf, bufsize);
-		else if (ival < SCHAR_MIN) {
-			PyErr_SetString(PyExc_OverflowError,
-			"byte-sized integer bitfield is less than minimum");
 			return converterr("integer<B>", arg, msgbuf, bufsize);
-		}
-		else if (ival > (int)UCHAR_MAX) {
-			PyErr_SetString(PyExc_OverflowError,
-			"byte-sized integer bitfield is greater than maximum");
-			return converterr("integer<B>", arg, msgbuf, bufsize);
-		}
 		else
 			*p = (unsigned char) ival;
 		break;
 	}
 	
-	case 'h': {/* signed short int */
+	case 'h': {/* unsigned short int */
 		short *p = va_arg(*p_va, short *);
 		long ival;
 		if (float_argument_error(arg))
@@ -474,14 +464,14 @@
 		ival = PyInt_AsLong(arg);
 		if (ival == -1 && PyErr_Occurred())
 			return converterr("integer<h>", arg, msgbuf, bufsize);
-		else if (ival < SHRT_MIN) {
+		else if (ival < 0) {
 			PyErr_SetString(PyExc_OverflowError,
-			"signed short integer is less than minimum");
+			"unsigned short integer is less than minimum");
 			return converterr("integer<h>", arg, msgbuf, bufsize);
 		}
-		else if (ival > SHRT_MAX) {
+		else if (ival > USHRT_MAX) {
 			PyErr_SetString(PyExc_OverflowError,
-			"signed short integer is greater than maximum");
+			"unsigned short integer is greater than maximum");
 			return converterr("integer<h>", arg, msgbuf, bufsize);
 		}
 		else
@@ -495,19 +485,9 @@
 		long ival;
 		if (float_argument_error(arg))
 			return NULL;
-		ival = PyInt_AsLong(arg);
+		ival = PyInt_AsUnsignedLongMask(arg);
 		if (ival == -1 && PyErr_Occurred())
 			return converterr("integer<H>", arg, msgbuf, bufsize);
-		else if (ival < SHRT_MIN) {
-			PyErr_SetString(PyExc_OverflowError,
-			"short integer bitfield is less than minimum");
-			return converterr("integer<H>", arg, msgbuf, bufsize);
-		}
-		else if (ival > USHRT_MAX) {
-			PyErr_SetString(PyExc_OverflowError,
-			"short integer bitfield is greater than maximum");
-			return converterr("integer<H>", arg, msgbuf, bufsize);
-		}
 		else
 			*p = (unsigned short) ival;
 		break;
@@ -536,6 +516,20 @@
 		break;
 	}
 
+	case 'I': { /* int sized bitfield, both signed and
+		       unsigned allowed */ 
+		unsigned int *p = va_arg(*p_va, unsigned int *);
+		unsigned int ival;
+		if (float_argument_error(arg))
+			return NULL;
+		ival = PyInt_AsUnsignedLongMask(arg);
+		if (ival == -1 && PyErr_Occurred())
+			return converterr("integer<I>", arg, msgbuf, bufsize);
+		else
+			*p = ival;
+		break;
+	}
+	
 	case 'l': {/* long int */
 		long *p = va_arg(*p_va, long *);
 		long ival;
@@ -548,6 +542,19 @@
 			*p = ival;
 		break;
 	}
+
+	case 'k': { /* long sized bitfield */
+		unsigned long *p = va_arg(*p_va, unsigned long *);
+		unsigned long ival;
+		if (PyInt_Check(arg))
+			ival = PyInt_AsUnsignedLongMask(arg);
+		else if (PyLong_Check(arg))
+			ival = PyLong_AsUnsignedLongMask(arg);
+		else
+			return converterr("integer<k>", arg, msgbuf, bufsize);
+		*p = ival;
+		break;
+	}
 	
 #ifdef HAVE_LONG_LONG
 	case 'L': {/* PY_LONG_LONG */
@@ -560,6 +567,21 @@
 		}
 		break;
 	}
+
+	case 'K': { /* long long sized bitfield */
+		unsigned PY_LONG_LONG *p = va_arg(*p_va, unsigned PY_LONG_LONG *);
+		unsigned PY_LONG_LONG ival;
+		if (float_argument_error(arg))
+			return NULL;
+		if (PyInt_Check(arg))
+			ival = PyInt_AsUnsignedLongMask(arg);
+		else if (PyLong_Check(arg))
+			ival = PyLong_AsUnsignedLongLongMask(arg);
+		else
+			return converterr("integer<K>", arg, msgbuf, bufsize);
+		*p = ival;
+		break;
+	}
 #endif
 	
 	case 'f': {/* float */