diff --git a/content.c b/content.c
index 4857b3ed57..4798c2b9b3 100644
--- a/content.c
+++ b/content.c
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
 #endif
 
 static bool apply_patch_content(uint8_t **buf,
-      ssize_t *size, const char *patch_desc, const char *patch_path,
+      size_t *size, const char *patch_desc, const char *patch_path,
       patch_func_t func)
 {
    void *patch_data = NULL;
@@ -52,7 +52,10 @@ static bool apply_patch_content(uint8_t **buf,
    uint8_t *patched_content = NULL;
    ssize_t ret_size = *size;
    uint8_t *ret_buf = *buf;
-   ssize_t patch_size = read_file(patch_desc, &patch_data);
+   size_t patch_size;
+   
+   if (!read_file(patch_desc, &patch_data, &patch_size))
+      return false;
    if (patch_size < 0)
       return false;
 
@@ -102,7 +105,7 @@ error:
    return false;
 }
 
-static bool try_bps_patch(uint8_t **buf, ssize_t *size)
+static bool try_bps_patch(uint8_t **buf, size_t *size)
 {
    bool allow_bps = !g_extern.ups_pref && !g_extern.ips_pref;
 
@@ -115,7 +118,7 @@ static bool try_bps_patch(uint8_t **buf, ssize_t *size)
          bps_apply_patch);
 }
 
-static bool try_ups_patch(uint8_t **buf, ssize_t *size)
+static bool try_ups_patch(uint8_t **buf, size_t *size)
 {
    bool allow_ups = !g_extern.bps_pref && !g_extern.ips_pref;
 
@@ -128,7 +131,7 @@ static bool try_ups_patch(uint8_t **buf, ssize_t *size)
          ups_apply_patch);
 }
 
-static bool try_ips_patch(uint8_t **buf, ssize_t *size)
+static bool try_ips_patch(uint8_t **buf, size_t *size)
 {
    bool allow_ips = !g_extern.ups_pref && !g_extern.bps_pref;
 
@@ -149,7 +152,7 @@ static bool try_ips_patch(uint8_t **buf, ssize_t *size)
  * Apply patch to the content file in-memory.
  *
  **/
-static void patch_content(uint8_t **buf, ssize_t *size)
+static void patch_content(uint8_t **buf, size_t *size)
 {
    if (g_extern.ups_pref + g_extern.bps_pref + g_extern.ips_pref > 1)
    {
@@ -167,33 +170,36 @@ static void patch_content(uint8_t **buf, ssize_t *size)
  * read_content_file:
  * @path         : buffer of the content file.
  * @buf          : size   of the content file.
+ * @length       : size of the content file that has been read from.
  *
  * Read the content file into memory. Also performs soft patching
  * (see patch_content function) in case soft patching has not been
  * blocked by the enduser.
  *
- * Returns: size of the content file that has been read from.
+ * Returns: true if successful, false on error.
  **/
-static ssize_t read_content_file(const char *path, void **buf)
+static bool read_content_file(const char *path, void **buf,
+      size_t *length)
 {
    uint8_t *ret_buf = NULL;
-   ssize_t ret = -1;
 
    RARCH_LOG("Loading content file: %s.\n", path);
-   ret = read_file(path, (void**) &ret_buf);
+   if (!read_file(path, (void**) &ret_buf, length))
+      return false;
 
-   if (ret <= 0)
-      return ret;
+   if (*length <= 0)
+      return false;
 
    /* Attempt to apply a patch. */
    if (!g_extern.block_patch)
-      patch_content(&ret_buf, &ret);
+      patch_content(&ret_buf, length);
    
-   g_extern.content_crc = crc32_calculate(ret_buf, ret);
+   g_extern.content_crc = crc32_calculate(ret_buf, *length);
 
    RARCH_LOG("CRC32: 0x%x .\n", (unsigned)g_extern.content_crc);
    *buf = ret_buf;
-   return ret;
+
+   return true;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -301,12 +307,13 @@ bool load_state(const char *path)
    bool ret = true;
    void *buf = NULL;
    struct sram_block *blocks = NULL;
+   size_t size;
 
-   ssize_t size = read_file(path, &buf);
+   ret = read_file(path, &buf, &size);
 
    RARCH_LOG("Loading state: \"%s\".\n", path);
 
-   if (size < 0)
+   if (!ret || size < 0)
    {
       RARCH_ERR("Failed to load state from \"%s\".\n", path);
       return false;
@@ -376,7 +383,8 @@ bool load_state(const char *path)
  */
 void load_ram_file(const char *path, int type)
 {
-   ssize_t rc;
+   size_t rc;
+   bool ret = false;
    void *buf   = NULL;
    size_t size = pretro_get_memory_size(type);
    void *data  = pretro_get_memory_data(type);
@@ -384,7 +392,10 @@ void load_ram_file(const char *path, int type)
    if (size == 0 || !data)
       return;
 
-   rc = read_file(path, &buf);
+   ret = read_file(path, &buf, &rc);
+
+   if (!ret)
+      return;
 
    if (rc > 0)
    {
@@ -475,22 +486,26 @@ static bool load_content(const struct retro_subsystem_info *special,
 
       if (!need_fullpath && *path)
       {
+         size_t len;
          /* Load the content into memory. */
 
          /* First content file is significant, attempt to do patching,
           * CRC checking, etc. */
-         long size = (i == 0) ?
-            read_content_file(path, (void**)&info[i].data) :
-            read_file(path, (void**)&info[i].data);
+         bool ret = false;
+         
+         if (i == 0)
+            ret = read_content_file(path, (void**)&info[i].data, &len);
+         else
+            ret = read_file(path, (void**)&info[i].data, &len);
 
-         if (size < 0)
+         if (!ret || len < 0)
          {
             RARCH_ERR("Could not read content file \"%s\".\n", path);
             ret = false;
             goto end;
          }
 
-         info[i].size = size;
+         info[i].size = len;
       }
       else
       {
@@ -502,6 +517,8 @@ static bool load_content(const struct retro_subsystem_info *special,
          {
             if (need_fullpath && path_contains_compressed_file(path))
             {
+               bool ret = false;
+               size_t len;
                char new_path[PATH_MAX_LENGTH], new_basedir[PATH_MAX_LENGTH];
                union string_list_elem_attr attributes;
 
@@ -525,7 +542,16 @@ static bool load_content(const struct retro_subsystem_info *special,
                attributes.i = 0;
                fill_pathname_join(new_path, new_basedir,
                      path_basename(path), sizeof(new_path));
-               read_compressed_file(path,NULL,new_path);
+
+               ret = read_compressed_file(path,NULL,new_path, &len);
+
+               if (!ret || len < 0)
+               {
+                  RARCH_ERR("Could not read content file \"%s\".\n", path);
+                  ret = false;
+                  goto end;
+               }
+
                string_list_append(additional_path_allocs,new_path, attributes);
                info[i].path =
                   additional_path_allocs->elems
diff --git a/database_info.c b/database_info.c
index 7bb8791b09..03d390bf4a 100644
--- a/database_info.c
+++ b/database_info.c
@@ -92,16 +92,16 @@ int database_info_write_rdl(const char *dir)
       else
 #endif
       {
-         ssize_t ret;
+         size_t ret;
          uint32_t crc, target_crc = 0;
          uint8_t *ret_buf = NULL;
+         bool read_from = false;
 
          (void)target_crc;
 
-         RARCH_LOG("name: %s\n", name);
-         ret = read_file(name, (void**)&ret_buf);
+         read_from = read_file(name, (void**)&ret_buf, &ret);
 
-         if (ret <= 0)
+         if (!read_from || ret <= 0)
             continue;
 
          crc = crc32_calculate(ret_buf, ret);
diff --git a/file_ops.c b/file_ops.c
index 18b6ef5d94..b007c5856c 100644
--- a/file_ops.c
+++ b/file_ops.c
@@ -150,19 +150,26 @@ error:
  * Extracts to buf, unless optional_filename != 0
  * Then extracts to optional_filename and leaves buf alone.
  */
-long read_compressed_file(const char * path, void **buf,
-      const char* optional_filename)
+bool read_compressed_file(const char * path, void **buf,
+      const char* optional_filename, size_t *length)
 {
    const char* file_ext;
    char archive_path[PATH_MAX_LENGTH], *archive_found = NULL;
 
-   /* Safety check.
-    * If optional_filename and optional_filename exists, we simply return 0,
-    * hoping that optional_filename is the same as requested.
-   */
    if (optional_filename)
+   {
+      /* Safety check.
+       * If optional_filename and optional_filename 
+       * exists, we simply return 0,
+       * hoping that optional_filename is the 
+       * same as requested.
+       */
       if(path_file_exists(optional_filename))
-         return 0;
+      {
+         *length = 0;
+         return true;
+      }
+   }
 
    //We split carchive path and relative path:
    strlcpy(archive_path,path,sizeof(archive_path));
@@ -179,23 +186,32 @@ long read_compressed_file(const char * path, void **buf,
        */
       RARCH_ERR("Could not extract image path and carchive path from "
             "path: %s.\n", path);
-      return -1;
+      *length = 0;
+      return false;
    }
 
    /* We split the string in two, by putting a \0, where the hash was: */
-   *archive_found = '\0';
-   archive_found+=1;
+   *archive_found  = '\0';
+   archive_found  += 1;
+   file_ext        = path_get_extension(archive_path);
 
-   file_ext = path_get_extension(archive_path);
 #ifdef HAVE_7ZIP
    if (strcasecmp(file_ext,"7z") == 0)
-      return read_7zip_file(archive_path,archive_found,buf,optional_filename);
+   {
+      *length = read_7zip_file(archive_path,archive_found,buf,optional_filename);
+      if (*length != -1)
+         return true;
+   }
 #endif
 #ifdef HAVE_ZLIB
    if (strcasecmp(file_ext,"zip") == 0)
-      return read_zip_file(archive_path,archive_found,buf,optional_filename);
+   {
+      *length = read_zip_file(archive_path,archive_found,buf,optional_filename);
+      if (*length != -1)
+         return true;
+   }
 #endif
-   return -1;
+   return false;
 }
 #endif
 
@@ -204,13 +220,14 @@ long read_compressed_file(const char * path, void **buf,
  * @path             : path to file.
  * @buf              : buffer to allocate and read the contents of the
  *                     file into. Needs to be freed manually.
+ * @length           : Number of items read, -1 on error.
  *
  * Read the contents of a file into @buf. Will call read_compressed_file
  * if path contains a compressed file, otherwise will call read_generic_file.
  *
- * Returns: number of items read, -1 on error.
+ * Returns: true if file read, false on error.
  */
-long read_file(const char *path, void **buf)
+bool read_file(const char *path, void **buf, size_t *length)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_COMPRESSION
    /* Here we check, whether the file, we are about to read is
@@ -223,10 +240,11 @@ long read_file(const char *path, void **buf)
     * carchive_path: /home/user/game.7z
     * */
    if (path_contains_compressed_file(path))
-      return read_compressed_file(path,buf,0);
+      if (read_compressed_file(path, buf, NULL, length))
+         return true;
 #endif
-   size_t length = 0;
-   if (!read_generic_file(path, buf, &length))
-      return 0;
-   return length;
+   if (read_generic_file(path, buf, length))
+      return true;
+   *length = -1;
+   return false;
 }
diff --git a/file_ops.h b/file_ops.h
index a566e4fd4f..845d4a04ac 100644
--- a/file_ops.h
+++ b/file_ops.h
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ extern "C" {
  * Extracts to buf, unless optional_filename != 0
  * Then extracts to optional_filename and leaves buf alone.
  */
-long read_compressed_file(const char * path, void **buf,
-      const char* optional_filename);
+bool read_compressed_file(const char * path, void **buf,
+      const char* optional_filename, size_t *length);
 #endif
 
 /**
@@ -42,13 +42,14 @@ long read_compressed_file(const char * path, void **buf,
  * @path             : path to file.
  * @buf              : buffer to allocate and read the contents of the
  *                     file into. Needs to be freed manually.
+ * @length           : Number of items read, -1 on error.
  *
  * Read the contents of a file into @buf. Will call read_compressed_file
  * if path contains a compressed file, otherwise will call read_generic_file.
  *
- * Returns: number of items read, -1 on error.
+ * Returns: true if file read, false on error.
  */
-long read_file(const char *path, void **buf);
+bool read_file(const char *path, void **buf, size_t *length);
 
 /**
  * write_file:
diff --git a/gfx/drivers_shader/shader_glsl.c b/gfx/drivers_shader/shader_glsl.c
index 932b6f7d9f..4d084cba42 100644
--- a/gfx/drivers_shader/shader_glsl.c
+++ b/gfx/drivers_shader/shader_glsl.c
@@ -433,7 +433,9 @@ static GLuint compile_program(glsl_shader_data_t *glsl,
 static bool load_source_path(struct video_shader_pass *pass,
       const char *path)
 {
-   if (read_file(path, (void**)&pass->source.string.vertex) <= 0)
+   size_t len;
+   bool ret = read_file(path, (void**)&pass->source.string.vertex, &len);
+   if (!ret || len <= 0)
       return false;
 
    pass->source.string.fragment = strdup(pass->source.string.vertex);
diff --git a/gfx/image/image_rpng.c b/gfx/image/image_rpng.c
index e548d82de2..c05c49d21b 100644
--- a/gfx/image/image_rpng.c
+++ b/gfx/image/image_rpng.c
@@ -214,9 +214,10 @@ bool texture_image_load(struct texture_image *out_img, const char *path)
    {
       void *raw_buf = NULL;
       uint8_t *buf = NULL;
-      ssize_t len = read_file(path, &raw_buf);
+      size_t len;
+      bool ret = read_file(path, &raw_buf, &len);
 
-      if (len < 0)
+      if (!ret || len < 0)
       {
          RARCH_ERR("Failed to read image: %s.\n", path);
          return false;
diff --git a/gfx/video_state_python.c b/gfx/video_state_python.c
index 43ba3c28f9..4494bc8325 100644
--- a/gfx/video_state_python.c
+++ b/gfx/video_state_python.c
@@ -297,7 +297,9 @@ py_state_t *py_state_new(const char *script,
        * compiled with MSVC. */
 
       char *script_ = NULL;
-      if (read_file(script, (void**)&script_) < 0)
+      size_t len;
+      bool ret = read_file(script, (void**)&script_, &len);
+      if (!ret || len < 0)
       {
          RARCH_ERR("Python: Failed to read script\n");
          goto error;