diff --git a/TODO b/TODO
index 3f902ecb..8734bec6 100644
--- a/TODO
+++ b/TODO
@@ -1,10 +1,6 @@
 - seq no longer stalls ahead threads ... instead, we rely on sinkdisk 
   interlocks to limit how far ahead or behind threads can get
 
-  the readbehind option to many loaders is no longer needed
-
-	  check pforeign.h 
-
 
 
 - vips linecache has access there twice!
diff --git a/libvips/deprecated/im_jpeg2vips.c b/libvips/deprecated/im_jpeg2vips.c
index 2e3e5d09..11696663 100644
--- a/libvips/deprecated/im_jpeg2vips.c
+++ b/libvips/deprecated/im_jpeg2vips.c
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ jpeg2vips( const char *name, IMAGE *out, gboolean header_only )
 
 #ifdef HAVE_JPEG
 	if( vips__jpeg_read_file( filename, out, 
-		header_only, shrink, fail_on_warn, TRUE, FALSE ) )
+		header_only, shrink, fail_on_warn, FALSE ) )
 		return( -1 );
 #else
 	vips_error( "im_jpeg2vips", 
diff --git a/libvips/deprecated/im_png2vips.c b/libvips/deprecated/im_png2vips.c
index a1b24579..61eb7fef 100644
--- a/libvips/deprecated/im_png2vips.c
+++ b/libvips/deprecated/im_png2vips.c
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ png2vips( const char *name, IMAGE *out, gboolean header_only )
 			return( -1 );
 	}
 	else {
-		if( vips__png_read( filename, out, TRUE ) )
+		if( vips__png_read( filename, out ) )
 			return( -1 );
 	}
 #else
diff --git a/libvips/deprecated/im_tiff2vips.c b/libvips/deprecated/im_tiff2vips.c
index 74479115..d94019e9 100644
--- a/libvips/deprecated/im_tiff2vips.c
+++ b/libvips/deprecated/im_tiff2vips.c
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ tiff2vips( const char *name, IMAGE *out, gboolean header_only )
 			return( -1 );
 	}
 	else {
-		if( vips__tiff_read( filename, out, page, 1, FALSE, TRUE ) )
+		if( vips__tiff_read( filename, out, page, 1, FALSE ) )
 			return( -1 );
 	}
 #else
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/jpeg2vips.c b/libvips/foreign/jpeg2vips.c
index b38baacc..8c63d3ec 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/jpeg2vips.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/jpeg2vips.c
@@ -152,10 +152,6 @@ typedef struct _ReadJpeg {
 	 */
 	gboolean fail;
 
-	/* Use a read behind buffer.
-	 */
-	gboolean readbehind; 
-
 	/* Used for file input only.
 	 */
 	char *filename;
@@ -216,8 +212,7 @@ readjpeg_close( VipsObject *object, ReadJpeg *jpeg )
 }
 
 static ReadJpeg *
-readjpeg_new( VipsImage *out, 
-	int shrink, gboolean fail, gboolean readbehind, gboolean autorotate )
+readjpeg_new( VipsImage *out, int shrink, gboolean fail, gboolean autorotate )
 {
 	ReadJpeg *jpeg;
 
@@ -227,7 +222,6 @@ readjpeg_new( VipsImage *out,
 	jpeg->out = out;
 	jpeg->shrink = shrink;
 	jpeg->fail = fail;
-	jpeg->readbehind = readbehind;
 	jpeg->filename = NULL;
         jpeg->cinfo.err = jpeg_std_error( &jpeg->eman.pub );
 	jpeg->eman.pub.error_exit = vips__new_error_exit;
@@ -744,13 +738,12 @@ vips__jpeg_read( ReadJpeg *jpeg, VipsImage *out, gboolean header_only )
  */
 int
 vips__jpeg_read_file( const char *filename, VipsImage *out, 
-	gboolean header_only, int shrink, gboolean fail, gboolean readbehind,
-	gboolean autorotate )
+	gboolean header_only, int shrink, gboolean fail, gboolean autorotate )
 {
 	ReadJpeg *jpeg;
 
 	if( !(jpeg = readjpeg_new( out, 
-		shrink, fail, readbehind, autorotate )) )
+		shrink, fail, autorotate )) )
 		return( -1 );
 
 	/* Here for longjmp() from vips__new_error_exit() during startup.
@@ -951,13 +944,12 @@ readjpeg_buffer (ReadJpeg *jpeg, const void *buf, size_t len)
 
 int
 vips__jpeg_read_buffer( const void *buf, size_t len, VipsImage *out, 
-	gboolean header_only, int shrink, int fail, gboolean readbehind, 
-	gboolean autorotate )
+	gboolean header_only, int shrink, int fail, gboolean autorotate )
 {
 	ReadJpeg *jpeg;
 
 	if( !(jpeg = readjpeg_new( out, 
-		shrink, fail, readbehind, autorotate )) )
+		shrink, fail, autorotate )) )
 		return( -1 );
 
 	if( setjmp( jpeg->eman.jmp ) ) 
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/jpegload.c b/libvips/foreign/jpegload.c
index bc0e2559..4868b950 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/jpegload.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/jpegload.c
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ vips_foreign_load_jpeg_file_header( VipsForeignLoad *load )
 	VipsForeignLoadJpegFile *file = (VipsForeignLoadJpegFile *) load;
 
 	if( vips__jpeg_read_file( file->filename, load->out, 
-		TRUE, jpeg->shrink, load->fail, FALSE, jpeg->autorotate ) ) 
+		TRUE, jpeg->shrink, load->fail, jpeg->autorotate ) ) 
 		return( -1 );
 
 	return( 0 );
@@ -195,8 +195,7 @@ vips_foreign_load_jpeg_file_load( VipsForeignLoad *load )
 	VipsForeignLoadJpegFile *file = (VipsForeignLoadJpegFile *) load;
 
 	if( vips__jpeg_read_file( file->filename, load->real, 
-		FALSE, jpeg->shrink, load->fail,
-		load->access == VIPS_ACCESS_SEQUENTIAL, jpeg->autorotate ) )
+		FALSE, jpeg->shrink, load->fail, jpeg->autorotate ) )
 		return( -1 );
 
 	return( 0 );
@@ -262,8 +261,7 @@ vips_foreign_load_jpeg_buffer_header( VipsForeignLoad *load )
 	VipsForeignLoadJpegBuffer *buffer = (VipsForeignLoadJpegBuffer *) load;
 
 	if( vips__jpeg_read_buffer( buffer->buf->data, buffer->buf->length, 
-		load->out, TRUE, jpeg->shrink, load->fail, FALSE, 
-		jpeg->autorotate ) )
+		load->out, TRUE, jpeg->shrink, load->fail, jpeg->autorotate ) )
 		return( -1 );
 
 	return( 0 );
@@ -276,8 +274,7 @@ vips_foreign_load_jpeg_buffer_load( VipsForeignLoad *load )
 	VipsForeignLoadJpegBuffer *buffer = (VipsForeignLoadJpegBuffer *) load;
 
 	if( vips__jpeg_read_buffer( buffer->buf->data, buffer->buf->length, 
-		load->real, FALSE, jpeg->shrink, load->fail,
-		load->access == VIPS_ACCESS_SEQUENTIAL, jpeg->autorotate ) )
+		load->real, FALSE, jpeg->shrink, load->fail, jpeg->autorotate ) )
 		return( -1 );
 
 	return( 0 );
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/pforeign.h b/libvips/foreign/pforeign.h
index 796c1d38..4aa39c74 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/pforeign.h
+++ b/libvips/foreign/pforeign.h
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ int vips__tiff_write_buf( VipsImage *in,
 int vips__tiff_read_header( const char *filename, VipsImage *out, 
 	int page, int n, gboolean autorotate );
 int vips__tiff_read( const char *filename, VipsImage *out, 
-	int page, int n, gboolean autorotate, gboolean readbehind );
+	int page, int n, gboolean autorotate );
 
 gboolean vips__istiff( const char *filename );
 gboolean vips__istifftiled( const char *filename );
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ gboolean vips__istifftiled_buffer( const void *buf, size_t len );
 int vips__tiff_read_header_buffer( const void *buf, size_t len, VipsImage *out, 
 	int page, int n, gboolean autorotate );
 int vips__tiff_read_buffer( const void *buf, size_t len, VipsImage *out, 
-	int page, int n, gboolean autorotate, gboolean readbehind );
+	int page, int n, gboolean autorotate );
 
 extern const char *vips__foreign_tiff_suffs[];
 
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ int vips__ppm_save( VipsImage *in, const char *filename,
 
 int vips__rad_israd( const char *filename );
 int vips__rad_header( const char *filename, VipsImage *out );
-int vips__rad_load( const char *filename, VipsImage *out, gboolean readbehind );
+int vips__rad_load( const char *filename, VipsImage *out );
 
 int vips__rad_save( VipsImage *in, const char *filename );
 int vips__rad_save_buf( VipsImage *in, void **obuf, size_t *olen );
@@ -172,21 +172,18 @@ int vips__jpeg_write_buffer( VipsImage *in,
 int vips__isjpeg_buffer( const void *buf, size_t len );
 int vips__isjpeg( const char *filename );
 int vips__jpeg_read_file( const char *name, VipsImage *out, 
-	gboolean header_only, int shrink, gboolean fail, gboolean readbehind,
-	gboolean autorotate );
+	gboolean header_only, int shrink, gboolean fail, gboolean autorotate );
 int vips__jpeg_read_buffer( const void *buf, size_t len, VipsImage *out, 
-	gboolean header_only, int shrink, int fail, gboolean readbehind,
-	gboolean autorotate );
+	gboolean header_only, int shrink, int fail, gboolean autorotate );
 
 int vips__png_header( const char *name, VipsImage *out );
-int vips__png_read( const char *name, VipsImage *out, gboolean readbehind );
+int vips__png_read( const char *name, VipsImage *out );
 gboolean vips__png_ispng_buffer( const void *buf, size_t len );
 int vips__png_ispng( const char *filename );
 gboolean vips__png_isinterlaced( const char *filename );
 gboolean vips__png_isinterlaced_buffer( const void *buffer, size_t length );
 extern const char *vips__png_suffs[];
-int vips__png_read_buffer( const void *buffer, size_t length, 
-	VipsImage *out, gboolean readbehind  );
+int vips__png_read_buffer( const void *buffer, size_t length, VipsImage *out );
 int vips__png_header_buffer( const void *buffer, size_t length, 
 	VipsImage *out );
 
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/pngload.c b/libvips/foreign/pngload.c
index 7d10605d..01ffb7f1 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/pngload.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/pngload.c
@@ -106,8 +106,7 @@ vips_foreign_load_png_load( VipsForeignLoad *load )
 {
 	VipsForeignLoadPng *png = (VipsForeignLoadPng *) load;
 
-	if( vips__png_read( png->filename, load->real, 
-		load->access == VIPS_ACCESS_SEQUENTIAL ) )
+	if( vips__png_read( png->filename, load->real ) )
 		return( -1 );
 
 	return( 0 );
@@ -202,7 +201,7 @@ vips_foreign_load_png_buffer_load( VipsForeignLoad *load )
 	VipsForeignLoadPngBuffer *buffer = (VipsForeignLoadPngBuffer *) load;
 
 	if( vips__png_read_buffer( buffer->buf->data, buffer->buf->length, 
-		load->real, load->access == VIPS_ACCESS_SEQUENTIAL ) )
+		load->real ) )
 		return( -1 );
 
 	return( 0 );
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/radiance.c b/libvips/foreign/radiance.c
index ea939756..d6cddeb2 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/radiance.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/radiance.c
@@ -1134,7 +1134,7 @@ rad2vips_generate( VipsRegion *or,
 }
 
 int
-vips__rad_load( const char *filename, VipsImage *out, gboolean readbehind )
+vips__rad_load( const char *filename, VipsImage *out )
 {
 	VipsImage **t = (VipsImage **) 
 		vips_object_local_array( VIPS_OBJECT( out ), 3 );
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/radload.c b/libvips/foreign/radload.c
index 518ae8a8..e35a322b 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/radload.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/radload.c
@@ -100,8 +100,7 @@ vips_foreign_load_rad_load( VipsForeignLoad *load )
 {
 	VipsForeignLoadRad *rad = (VipsForeignLoadRad *) load;
 
-	if( vips__rad_load( rad->filename, load->real,
-		load->access == VIPS_ACCESS_SEQUENTIAL ) )
+	if( vips__rad_load( rad->filename, load->real ) )
 		return( -1 );
 
 	return( 0 );
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/tiff2vips.c b/libvips/foreign/tiff2vips.c
index f24b17ca..27414c4c 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/tiff2vips.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/tiff2vips.c
@@ -274,7 +274,6 @@ typedef struct _Rtiff {
 	int page;
 	int n;
 	gboolean autorotate;
-	gboolean readbehind; 
 
 	/* The TIFF we read.
 	 */
@@ -1965,8 +1964,7 @@ rtiff_close( VipsObject *object, Rtiff *rtiff )
 }
 
 static Rtiff *
-rtiff_new( VipsImage *out, 
-	int page, int n, gboolean autorotate, gboolean readbehind )
+rtiff_new( VipsImage *out, int page, int n, gboolean autorotate )
 {
 	Rtiff *rtiff;
 
@@ -1978,7 +1976,6 @@ rtiff_new( VipsImage *out,
 	rtiff->page = page;
 	rtiff->n = n;
 	rtiff->autorotate = autorotate;
-	rtiff->readbehind = readbehind;
 	rtiff->tiff = NULL;
 	rtiff->current_page = -1;
 	rtiff->sfn = NULL;
@@ -2183,11 +2180,11 @@ rtiff_header_read_all( Rtiff *rtiff )
 
 static Rtiff *
 rtiff_new_filename( const char *filename, VipsImage *out, 
-	int page, int n, gboolean autorotate, gboolean readbehind )
+	int page, int n, gboolean autorotate )
 {
 	Rtiff *rtiff;
 
-	if( !(rtiff = rtiff_new( out, page, n, autorotate, readbehind )) ||
+	if( !(rtiff = rtiff_new( out, page, n, autorotate )) ||
 		!(rtiff->tiff = vips__tiff_openin( filename )) || 
 		rtiff_header_read_all( rtiff ) )
 		return( NULL );
@@ -2199,11 +2196,11 @@ rtiff_new_filename( const char *filename, VipsImage *out,
 
 static Rtiff *
 rtiff_new_buffer( const void *buf, size_t len, VipsImage *out, 
-	int page, int n, gboolean autorotate, gboolean readbehind )
+	int page, int n, gboolean autorotate )
 {
 	Rtiff *rtiff;
 
-	if( !(rtiff = rtiff_new( out, page, n, autorotate, readbehind )) ||
+	if( !(rtiff = rtiff_new( out, page, n, autorotate )) ||
 		!(rtiff->tiff = vips__tiff_openin_buffer( out, buf, len )) ||
 		rtiff_header_read_all( rtiff ) )
 		return( NULL );
@@ -2234,7 +2231,7 @@ istiffpyramid( const char *name )
 
 int
 vips__tiff_read( const char *filename, VipsImage *out, 
-	int page, int n, gboolean autorotate, gboolean readbehind )
+	int page, int n, gboolean autorotate )
 {
 	Rtiff *rtiff;
 
@@ -2245,8 +2242,7 @@ vips__tiff_read( const char *filename, VipsImage *out,
 
 	vips__tiff_init();
 
-	if( !(rtiff = rtiff_new_filename( filename, 
-		out, page, n, autorotate, readbehind )) )
+	if( !(rtiff = rtiff_new_filename( filename, out, page, n, autorotate )) )
 		return( -1 );
 
 	if( rtiff->header.tiled ) {
@@ -2292,8 +2288,7 @@ vips__tiff_read_header( const char *filename, VipsImage *out,
 
 	vips__tiff_init();
 
-	if( !(rtiff = rtiff_new_filename( filename, out, 
-		page, n, autorotate, FALSE )) )
+	if( !(rtiff = rtiff_new_filename( filename, out, page, n, autorotate )) )
 		return( -1 );
 
 	if( rtiff_set_header( rtiff, out ) )
@@ -2361,8 +2356,7 @@ vips__tiff_read_header_buffer( const void *buf, size_t len, VipsImage *out,
 
 	vips__tiff_init();
 
-	if( !(rtiff = rtiff_new_buffer( buf, len, out, 
-		page, n, autorotate, FALSE )) )
+	if( !(rtiff = rtiff_new_buffer( buf, len, out, page, n, autorotate )) )
 		return( -1 );
 
 	if( rtiff_set_header( rtiff, out ) )
@@ -2375,8 +2369,7 @@ vips__tiff_read_header_buffer( const void *buf, size_t len, VipsImage *out,
 
 int
 vips__tiff_read_buffer( const void *buf, size_t len, 
-	VipsImage *out, int page, int n, gboolean autorotate, 
-	gboolean readbehind )
+	VipsImage *out, int page, int n, gboolean autorotate )
 {
 	Rtiff *rtiff;
 
@@ -2387,8 +2380,7 @@ vips__tiff_read_buffer( const void *buf, size_t len,
 
 	vips__tiff_init();
 
-	if( !(rtiff = rtiff_new_buffer( buf, len, out, 
-		page, n, autorotate, readbehind )) )
+	if( !(rtiff = rtiff_new_buffer( buf, len, out, page, n, autorotate )) )
 		return( -1 );
 
 	if( rtiff->header.tiled ) {
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/tiffload.c b/libvips/foreign/tiffload.c
index d4152b6f..76d2a365 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/tiffload.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/tiffload.c
@@ -183,8 +183,7 @@ vips_foreign_load_tiff_file_load( VipsForeignLoad *load )
 	VipsForeignLoadTiffFile *file = (VipsForeignLoadTiffFile *) load;
 
 	if( vips__tiff_read( file->filename, load->real, 
-		tiff->page, tiff->n,  tiff->autorotate, 
-		load->access == VIPS_ACCESS_SEQUENTIAL ) )
+		tiff->page, tiff->n,  tiff->autorotate ) )
 		return( -1 );
 
 	return( 0 );
@@ -284,8 +283,7 @@ vips_foreign_load_tiff_buffer_load( VipsForeignLoad *load )
 
 	if( vips__tiff_read_buffer( 
 		buffer->buf->data, buffer->buf->length, load->real, 
-		tiff->page, tiff->n, tiff->autorotate,
-		load->access == VIPS_ACCESS_SEQUENTIAL ) )
+		tiff->page, tiff->n, tiff->autorotate ) )
 		return( -1 );
 
 	return( 0 );
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/vipspng.c b/libvips/foreign/vipspng.c
index 3004f282..336d3a05 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/vipspng.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/vipspng.c
@@ -138,7 +138,6 @@ user_warning_function( png_structp png_ptr, png_const_charp warning_msg )
 typedef struct {
 	char *name;
 	VipsImage *out;
-	gboolean readbehind; 
 
 	int y_pos;
 	png_structp pPng;
@@ -175,7 +174,7 @@ read_close_cb( VipsImage *out, Read *read )
 }
 
 static Read *
-read_new( VipsImage *out, gboolean readbehind )
+read_new( VipsImage *out )
 {
 	Read *read;
 
@@ -183,7 +182,6 @@ read_new( VipsImage *out, gboolean readbehind )
 		return( NULL );
 
 	read->name = NULL;
-	read->readbehind = readbehind;
 	read->out = out;
 	read->y_pos = 0;
 	read->pPng = NULL;
@@ -221,11 +219,11 @@ read_new( VipsImage *out, gboolean readbehind )
 }
 
 static Read *
-read_new_filename( VipsImage *out, const char *name, gboolean readbehind )
+read_new_filename( VipsImage *out, const char *name )
 {
 	Read *read;
 
-	if( !(read = read_new( out, readbehind )) )
+	if( !(read = read_new( out )) )
 		return( NULL );
 
 	read->name = vips_strdup( VIPS_OBJECT( out ), name );
@@ -428,7 +426,7 @@ vips__png_header( const char *name, VipsImage *out )
 {
 	Read *read;
 
-	if( !(read = read_new_filename( out, name, FALSE )) ||
+	if( !(read = read_new_filename( out, name )) ||
 		png2vips_header( read, out ) ) 
 		return( -1 );
 
@@ -557,7 +555,7 @@ vips__png_isinterlaced( const char *filename )
 	int interlace_type;
 
 	image = vips_image_new();
-	if( !(read = read_new_filename( image, filename, FALSE )) ) {
+	if( !(read = read_new_filename( image, filename )) ) {
 		g_object_unref( image );
 		return( -1 );
 	}
@@ -601,7 +599,7 @@ png2vips_image( Read *read, VipsImage *out )
 }
 
 int
-vips__png_read( const char *filename, VipsImage *out, gboolean readbehind )
+vips__png_read( const char *filename, VipsImage *out )
 {
 	Read *read;
 
@@ -609,7 +607,7 @@ vips__png_read( const char *filename, VipsImage *out, gboolean readbehind )
 	printf( "vips__png_read: reading \"%s\"\n", filename );
 #endif /*DEBUG*/
 
-	if( !(read = read_new_filename( out, filename, readbehind )) ||
+	if( !(read = read_new_filename( out, filename )) ||
 		png2vips_image( read, out ) )
 		return( -1 ); 
 
@@ -656,12 +654,11 @@ vips_png_read_buffer( png_structp pPng, png_bytep data, png_size_t length )
 }
 
 static Read *
-read_new_buffer( VipsImage *out, const void *buffer, size_t length, 
-	gboolean readbehind )
+read_new_buffer( VipsImage *out, const void *buffer, size_t length )
 {
 	Read *read;
 
-	if( !(read = read_new( out, readbehind )) )
+	if( !(read = read_new( out )) )
 		return( NULL );
 
 	read->length = length;
@@ -687,7 +684,7 @@ vips__png_header_buffer( const void *buffer, size_t length, VipsImage *out )
 {
 	Read *read;
 
-	if( !(read = read_new_buffer( out, buffer, length, FALSE )) ||
+	if( !(read = read_new_buffer( out, buffer, length )) ||
 		png2vips_header( read, out ) ) 
 		return( -1 );
 
@@ -695,12 +692,11 @@ vips__png_header_buffer( const void *buffer, size_t length, VipsImage *out )
 }
 
 int
-vips__png_read_buffer( const void *buffer, size_t length, VipsImage *out, 
-	gboolean readbehind  )
+vips__png_read_buffer( const void *buffer, size_t length, VipsImage *out )
 {
 	Read *read;
 
-	if( !(read = read_new_buffer( out, buffer, length, readbehind )) ||
+	if( !(read = read_new_buffer( out, buffer, length )) ||
 		png2vips_image( read, out ) )
 		return( -1 ); 
 
@@ -719,7 +715,7 @@ vips__png_isinterlaced_buffer( const void *buffer, size_t length )
 
 	image = vips_image_new();
 
-	if( !(read = read_new_buffer( image, buffer, length, FALSE )) ) { 
+	if( !(read = read_new_buffer( image, buffer, length )) ) { 
 		g_object_unref( image );
 		return( -1 );
 	}