diff --git a/nis/nss_compat/compat-grp.c b/nis/nss_compat/compat-grp.c
index 5e9c527..987d914 100644
--- a/nis/nss_compat/compat-grp.c
+++ b/nis/nss_compat/compat-grp.c
@@ -192,9 +192,9 @@ _nss_compat_setgrent (int stayopen)
 
 
 static enum nss_status
-internal_endgrent (ent_t *ent)
+internal_endgrent (ent_t *ent, int needent)
 {
-  if (nss_endgrent)
+  if (needent && nss_endgrent)
     nss_endgrent ();
 
   if (ent->stream != NULL)
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ _nss_compat_endgrent (void)
 
   __libc_lock_lock (lock);
 
-  result = internal_endgrent (&ext_ent);
+  result = internal_endgrent (&ext_ent, 1);
 
   __libc_lock_unlock (lock);
 
@@ -532,7 +532,7 @@ _nss_compat_getgrnam_r (const char *name, struct group *grp,
   if (result == NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS)
     result = internal_getgrnam_r (name, grp, &ent, buffer, buflen, errnop);
 
-  internal_endgrent (&ent);
+  internal_endgrent (&ent, 0);
 
   return result;
 }
@@ -661,7 +661,7 @@ _nss_compat_getgrgid_r (gid_t gid, struct group *grp,
   if (result == NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS)
     result = internal_getgrgid_r (gid, grp, &ent, buffer, buflen, errnop);
 
-  internal_endgrent (&ent);
+  internal_endgrent (&ent, 0);
 
   return result;
 }
diff --git a/nis/nss_compat/compat-pwd.c b/nis/nss_compat/compat-pwd.c
index e3e3dbb..aec5c0f 100644
--- a/nis/nss_compat/compat-pwd.c
+++ b/nis/nss_compat/compat-pwd.c
@@ -309,9 +309,9 @@ _nss_compat_setpwent (int stayopen)
 
 
 static enum nss_status
-internal_endpwent (ent_t *ent)
+internal_endpwent (ent_t *ent, int needent)
 {
-  if (nss_endpwent)
+  if (needent && nss_endpwent)
     nss_endpwent ();
 
   if (ent->stream != NULL)
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ _nss_compat_endpwent (void)
 
   __libc_lock_lock (lock);
 
-  result = internal_endpwent (&ext_ent);
+  result = internal_endpwent (&ext_ent, 1);
 
   __libc_lock_unlock (lock);
 
@@ -871,7 +871,7 @@ _nss_compat_getpwnam_r (const char *name, struct passwd *pwd,
   if (result == NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS)
     result = internal_getpwnam_r (name, pwd, &ent, buffer, buflen, errnop);
 
-  internal_endpwent (&ent);
+  internal_endpwent (&ent, 0);
 
   return result;
 }
@@ -1110,7 +1110,7 @@ _nss_compat_getpwuid_r (uid_t uid, struct passwd *pwd,
   if (result == NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS)
     result = internal_getpwuid_r (uid, pwd, &ent, buffer, buflen, errnop);
 
-  internal_endpwent (&ent);
+  internal_endpwent (&ent, 0);
 
   return result;
 }
diff --git a/nis/nss_compat/compat-spwd.c b/nis/nss_compat/compat-spwd.c
index 73c2ed3..d67c145 100644
--- a/nis/nss_compat/compat-spwd.c
+++ b/nis/nss_compat/compat-spwd.c
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ copy_spwd_changes (struct spwd *dest, struct spwd *src,
 }
 
 static enum nss_status
-internal_setspent (ent_t *ent, int stayopen)
+internal_setspent (ent_t *ent, int stayopen, int needent)
 {
   enum nss_status status = NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS;
 
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ internal_setspent (ent_t *ent, int stayopen)
 
   give_spwd_free (&ent->pwd);
 
-  if (status == NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS && nss_setspent)
+  if (needent && status == NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS && nss_setspent)
     ent->setent_status = nss_setspent (stayopen);
 
   return status;
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ _nss_compat_setspent (int stayopen)
   if (ni == NULL)
     init_nss_interface ();
 
-  result = internal_setspent (&ext_ent, stayopen);
+  result = internal_setspent (&ext_ent, stayopen, 1);
 
   __libc_lock_unlock (lock);
 
@@ -265,9 +265,9 @@ _nss_compat_setspent (int stayopen)
 
 
 static enum nss_status
-internal_endspent (ent_t *ent)
+internal_endspent (ent_t *ent, int needent)
 {
-  if (nss_endspent)
+  if (needent && nss_endspent)
     nss_endspent ();
 
   if (ent->stream != NULL)
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ _nss_compat_endspent (void)
 
   __libc_lock_lock (lock);
 
-  result = internal_endspent (&ext_ent);
+  result = internal_endspent (&ext_ent, 1);
 
   __libc_lock_unlock (lock);
 
@@ -658,7 +658,7 @@ _nss_compat_getspent_r (struct spwd *pwd, char *buffer, size_t buflen,
     init_nss_interface ();
 
   if (ext_ent.stream == NULL)
-    result = internal_setspent (&ext_ent, 1);
+    result = internal_setspent (&ext_ent, 1, 1);
 
   if (result == NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS)
     result = internal_getspent_r (pwd, &ext_ent, buffer, buflen, errnop);
@@ -830,12 +830,12 @@ _nss_compat_getspnam_r (const char *name, struct spwd *pwd,
 
   __libc_lock_unlock (lock);
 
-  result = internal_setspent (&ent, 0);
+  result = internal_setspent (&ent, 0, 0);
 
   if (result == NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS)
     result = internal_getspnam_r (name, pwd, &ent, buffer, buflen, errnop);
 
-  internal_endspent (&ent);
+  internal_endspent (&ent, 0);
 
   return result;
 }
diff --git a/nss/nss_files/files-XXX.c b/nss/nss_files/files-XXX.c
index a7a45e5..aabd4ea 100644
--- a/nss/nss_files/files-XXX.c
+++ b/nss/nss_files/files-XXX.c
@@ -63,21 +63,18 @@ __libc_lock_define_initialized (static, lock)
 /* Maintenance of the shared stream open on the database file.  */
 
 static FILE *stream;
-static fpos_t position;
-static enum { nouse, getent, getby } last_use;
-static int keep_stream;
 
 /* Open database file if not already opened.  */
 static enum nss_status
-internal_setent (int stayopen)
+internal_setent (FILE **stream)
 {
   enum nss_status status = NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS;
 
-  if (stream == NULL)
+  if (*stream == NULL)
     {
-      stream = fopen (DATAFILE, "rce");
+      *stream = fopen (DATAFILE, "rce");
 
-      if (stream == NULL)
+      if (*stream == NULL)
 	status = errno == EAGAIN ? NSS_STATUS_TRYAGAIN : NSS_STATUS_UNAVAIL;
       else
 	{
@@ -90,7 +87,7 @@ internal_setent (int stayopen)
 	      int result;
 	      int flags;
 
-	      result = flags = fcntl (fileno (stream), F_GETFD, 0);
+	      result = flags = fcntl (fileno (*stream), F_GETFD, 0);
 	      if (result >= 0)
 		{
 # ifdef O_CLOEXEC
@@ -100,15 +97,15 @@ internal_setent (int stayopen)
 # endif
 		    {
 		      flags |= FD_CLOEXEC;
-		      result = fcntl (fileno (stream), F_SETFD, flags);
+		      result = fcntl (fileno (*stream), F_SETFD, flags);
 		    }
 		}
 	      if (result < 0)
 		{
 		  /* Something went wrong.  Close the stream and return a
 		     failure.  */
-		  fclose (stream);
-		  stream = NULL;
+		  fclose (*stream);
+		  *stream = NULL;
 		  status = NSS_STATUS_UNAVAIL;
 		}
 	    }
@@ -116,11 +113,7 @@ internal_setent (int stayopen)
 	}
     }
   else
-    rewind (stream);
-
-  /* Remember STAYOPEN flag.  */
-  if (stream != NULL)
-    keep_stream |= stayopen;
+    rewind (*stream);
 
   return status;
 }
@@ -134,16 +127,7 @@ CONCAT(_nss_files_set,ENTNAME) (int stayopen)
 
   __libc_lock_lock (lock);
 
-  status = internal_setent (stayopen);
-
-  if (status == NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS && fgetpos (stream, &position) < 0)
-    {
-      fclose (stream);
-      stream = NULL;
-      status = NSS_STATUS_UNAVAIL;
-    }
-
-  last_use = getent;
+  status = internal_setent (&stream);
 
   __libc_lock_unlock (lock);
 
@@ -153,12 +137,12 @@ CONCAT(_nss_files_set,ENTNAME) (int stayopen)
 
 /* Close the database file.  */
 static void
-internal_endent (void)
+internal_endent (FILE **stream)
 {
-  if (stream != NULL)
+  if (*stream != NULL)
     {
-      fclose (stream);
-      stream = NULL;
+      fclose (*stream);
+      *stream = NULL;
     }
 }
 
@@ -169,10 +153,7 @@ CONCAT(_nss_files_end,ENTNAME) (void)
 {
   __libc_lock_lock (lock);
 
-  internal_endent ();
-
-  /* Reset STAYOPEN flag.  */
-  keep_stream = 0;
+  internal_endent (&stream);
 
   __libc_lock_unlock (lock);
 
@@ -227,7 +208,7 @@ get_contents (char *linebuf, size_t len, FILE *stream)
 
 /* Parsing the database file into `struct STRUCTURE' data structures.  */
 static enum nss_status
-internal_getent (struct STRUCTURE *result,
+internal_getent (FILE *stream, struct STRUCTURE *result,
 		 char *buffer, size_t buflen, int *errnop H_ERRNO_PROTO
 		 EXTRA_ARGS_DECL)
 {
@@ -300,45 +281,14 @@ CONCAT(_nss_files_get,ENTNAME_r) (struct STRUCTURE *result, char *buffer,
     {
       int save_errno = errno;
 
-      status = internal_setent (0);
+      status = internal_setent (&stream);
 
       __set_errno (save_errno);
-
-      if (status == NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS && fgetpos (stream, &position) < 0)
-	{
-	  fclose (stream);
-	  stream = NULL;
-	  status = NSS_STATUS_UNAVAIL;
-	}
     }
 
   if (status == NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS)
-    {
-      /* If the last use was not by the getent function we need the
-	 position the stream.  */
-      if (last_use != getent)
-	{
-	  if (fsetpos (stream, &position) < 0)
-	    status = NSS_STATUS_UNAVAIL;
-	  else
-	    last_use = getent;
-	}
-
-      if (status == NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS)
-	{
-	  status = internal_getent (result, buffer, buflen, errnop
-				    H_ERRNO_ARG EXTRA_ARGS_VALUE);
-
-	  /* Remember this position if we were successful.  If the
-	     operation failed we give the user a chance to repeat the
-	     operation (perhaps the buffer was too small).  */
-	  if (status == NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS)
-	    fgetpos (stream, &position);
-	  else
-	    /* We must make sure we reposition the stream the next call.  */
-	    last_use = nouse;
-	}
-    }
+    status = internal_getent (stream, result, buffer, buflen, errnop
+			      H_ERRNO_ARG EXTRA_ARGS_VALUE);
 
   __libc_lock_unlock (lock);
 
@@ -364,27 +314,20 @@ _nss_files_get##name##_r (proto,					      \
 			  size_t buflen, int *errnop H_ERRNO_PROTO)	      \
 {									      \
   enum nss_status status;						      \
+  FILE *stream = NULL;							      \
 									      \
-  __libc_lock_lock (lock);						      \
-									      \
-  /* Reset file pointer to beginning or open file.  */			      \
-  status = internal_setent (keep_stream);				      \
+  /* Open file.  */							      \
+  status = internal_setent (&stream);					      \
 									      \
   if (status == NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS)					      \
     {									      \
-      /* Tell getent function that we have repositioned the file pointer.  */ \
-      last_use = getby;							      \
-									      \
-      while ((status = internal_getent (result, buffer, buflen, errnop	      \
+      while ((status = internal_getent (stream, result, buffer, buflen, errnop \
 					H_ERRNO_ARG EXTRA_ARGS_VALUE))	      \
 	     == NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS)					      \
 	{ break_if_match }						      \
 									      \
-      if (! keep_stream)						      \
-	internal_endent ();						      \
+      internal_endent (&stream);					      \
     }									      \
 									      \
-  __libc_lock_unlock (lock);						      \
-									      \
   return status;							      \
 }
diff --git a/nss/nss_files/files-alias.c b/nss/nss_files/files-alias.c
index d5c5089..a043831 100644
--- a/nss/nss_files/files-alias.c
+++ b/nss/nss_files/files-alias.c
@@ -36,20 +36,18 @@ __libc_lock_define_initialized (static, lock)
 /* Maintenance of the shared stream open on the database file.  */
 
 static FILE *stream;
-static fpos_t position;
-static enum { nouse, getent, getby } last_use;
 
 
 static enum nss_status
-internal_setent (void)
+internal_setent (FILE **stream)
 {
   enum nss_status status = NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS;
 
-  if (stream == NULL)
+  if (*stream == NULL)
     {
-      stream = fopen ("/etc/aliases", "rce");
+      *stream = fopen ("/etc/aliases", "rce");
 
-      if (stream == NULL)
+      if (*stream == NULL)
 	status = errno == EAGAIN ? NSS_STATUS_TRYAGAIN : NSS_STATUS_UNAVAIL;
       else
 	{
@@ -62,7 +60,7 @@ internal_setent (void)
 	      int result;
 	      int flags;
 
-	      result = flags = fcntl (fileno (stream), F_GETFD, 0);
+	      result = flags = fcntl (fileno (*stream), F_GETFD, 0);
 	      if (result >= 0)
 		{
 # ifdef O_CLOEXEC
@@ -72,14 +70,14 @@ internal_setent (void)
 # endif
 		    {
 		      flags |= FD_CLOEXEC;
-		      result = fcntl (fileno (stream), F_SETFD, flags);
+		      result = fcntl (fileno (*stream), F_SETFD, flags);
 		    }
 		}
 	      if (result < 0)
 		{
 		  /* Something went wrong.  Close the stream and return a
 		     failure.  */
-		  fclose (stream);
+		  fclose (*stream);
 		  stream = NULL;
 		  status = NSS_STATUS_UNAVAIL;
 		}
@@ -88,7 +86,7 @@ internal_setent (void)
 	}
     }
   else
-    rewind (stream);
+    rewind (*stream);
 
   return status;
 }
@@ -102,16 +100,7 @@ _nss_files_setaliasent (void)
 
   __libc_lock_lock (lock);
 
-  status = internal_setent ();
-
-  if (status == NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS && fgetpos (stream, &position) < 0)
-    {
-      fclose (stream);
-      stream = NULL;
-      status = NSS_STATUS_UNAVAIL;
-    }
-
-  last_use = getent;
+  status = internal_setent (&stream);
 
   __libc_lock_unlock (lock);
 
@@ -121,12 +110,12 @@ _nss_files_setaliasent (void)
 
 /* Close the database file.  */
 static void
-internal_endent (void)
+internal_endent (FILE **stream)
 {
-  if (stream != NULL)
+  if (*stream != NULL)
     {
-      fclose (stream);
-      stream = NULL;
+      fclose (*stream);
+      *stream = NULL;
     }
 }
 
@@ -137,7 +126,7 @@ _nss_files_endaliasent (void)
 {
   __libc_lock_lock (lock);
 
-  internal_endent ();
+  internal_endent (&stream);
 
   __libc_lock_unlock (lock);
 
@@ -146,7 +135,7 @@ _nss_files_endaliasent (void)
 
 /* Parsing the database file into `struct aliasent' data structures.  */
 static enum nss_status
-get_next_alias (const char *match, struct aliasent *result,
+get_next_alias (FILE *stream, const char *match, struct aliasent *result,
 		char *buffer, size_t buflen, int *errnop)
 {
   enum nss_status status = NSS_STATUS_NOTFOUND;
@@ -397,35 +386,16 @@ _nss_files_getaliasent_r (struct aliasent *result, char *buffer, size_t buflen,
 
   /* Be prepared that the set*ent function was not called before.  */
   if (stream == NULL)
-    status = internal_setent ();
+    status = internal_setent (&stream);
 
   if (status == NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS)
     {
-      /* If the last use was not by the getent function we need the
-	 position the stream.  */
-      if (last_use != getent)
-	{
-	  if (fsetpos (stream, &position) < 0)
-	    status = NSS_STATUS_UNAVAIL;
-	  else
-	    last_use = getent;
-	}
+      result->alias_local = 1;
 
-      if (status == NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS)
-	{
-	  result->alias_local = 1;
-
-	  /* Read lines until we get a definite result.  */
-	  do
-	    status = get_next_alias (NULL, result, buffer, buflen, errnop);
-	  while (status == NSS_STATUS_RETURN);
-
-	  /* If we successfully read an entry remember this position.  */
-	  if (status == NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS)
-	    fgetpos (stream, &position);
-	  else
-	    last_use = nouse;
-	}
+      /* Read lines until we get a definite result.  */
+      do
+	status = get_next_alias (stream, NULL, result, buffer, buflen, errnop);
+      while (status == NSS_STATUS_RETURN);
     }
 
   __libc_lock_unlock (lock);
@@ -440,6 +410,7 @@ _nss_files_getaliasbyname_r (const char *name, struct aliasent *result,
 {
   /* Return next entry in host file.  */
   enum nss_status status = NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS;
+  FILE *stream = NULL;
 
   if (name == NULL)
     {
@@ -447,11 +418,8 @@ _nss_files_getaliasbyname_r (const char *name, struct aliasent *result,
       return NSS_STATUS_UNAVAIL;
     }
 
-  __libc_lock_lock (lock);
-
-  /* Open the stream or rest it.  */
-  status = internal_setent ();
-  last_use = getby;
+  /* Open the stream.  */
+  status = internal_setent (&stream);
 
   if (status == NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS)
     {
@@ -459,13 +427,11 @@ _nss_files_getaliasbyname_r (const char *name, struct aliasent *result,
 
       /* Read lines until we get a definite result.  */
       do
-	status = get_next_alias (name, result, buffer, buflen, errnop);
+	status = get_next_alias (stream, name, result, buffer, buflen, errnop);
       while (status == NSS_STATUS_RETURN);
     }
 
-  internal_endent ();
-
-  __libc_lock_unlock (lock);
+  internal_endent (&stream);
 
   return status;
 }
diff --git a/nss/nss_files/files-hosts.c b/nss/nss_files/files-hosts.c
index 4c51c90..4117458 100644
--- a/nss/nss_files/files-hosts.c
+++ b/nss/nss_files/files-hosts.c
@@ -120,14 +120,13 @@ _nss_files_gethostbyname3_r (const char *name, int af, struct hostent *result,
 			     char *buffer, size_t buflen, int *errnop,
 			     int *herrnop, int32_t *ttlp, char **canonp)
 {
+  FILE *stream = NULL;
   uintptr_t pad = -(uintptr_t) buffer % __alignof__ (struct hostent_data);
   buffer += pad;
   buflen = buflen > pad ? buflen - pad : 0;
 
-  __libc_lock_lock (lock);
-
-  /* Reset file pointer to beginning or open file.  */
-  enum nss_status status = internal_setent (keep_stream);
+  /* Open file.  */
+  enum nss_status status = internal_setent (&stream);
 
   if (status == NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS)
     {
@@ -135,10 +134,7 @@ _nss_files_gethostbyname3_r (const char *name, int af, struct hostent *result,
          addresses to IPv6 addresses really the right thing to do?  */
       int flags = ((_res.options & RES_USE_INET6) ? AI_V4MAPPED : 0);
 
-      /* Tell getent function that we have repositioned the file pointer.  */
-      last_use = getby;
-
-      while ((status = internal_getent (result, buffer, buflen, errnop,
+      while ((status = internal_getent (stream, result, buffer, buflen, errnop,
 					herrnop, af, flags))
 	     == NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS)
 	{
@@ -165,7 +161,7 @@ _nss_files_gethostbyname3_r (const char *name, int af, struct hostent *result,
 	  bufferend = (char *) &result->h_aliases[naliases + 1];
 
 	again:
-	  while ((status = internal_getent (&tmp_result_buf, tmp_buffer,
+	  while ((status = internal_getent (stream, &tmp_result_buf, tmp_buffer,
 					    tmp_buflen, errnop, herrnop, af,
 					    flags))
 		 == NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS)
@@ -341,15 +337,12 @@ _nss_files_gethostbyname3_r (const char *name, int af, struct hostent *result,
 	    free (tmp_buffer);
 	}
 
-      if (! keep_stream)
-	internal_endent ();
+      internal_endent (&stream);
     }
 
   if (canonp && status == NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS)
     *canonp = result->h_name;
 
-  __libc_lock_unlock (lock);
-
   return status;
 }
 
@@ -378,16 +371,13 @@ _nss_files_gethostbyname4_r (const char *name, struct gaih_addrtuple **pat,
 			     char *buffer, size_t buflen, int *errnop,
 			     int *herrnop, int32_t *ttlp)
 {
-  __libc_lock_lock (lock);
+  FILE *stream = NULL;
 
-  /* Reset file pointer to beginning or open file.  */
-  enum nss_status status = internal_setent (keep_stream);
+  /* Open file.  */
+  enum nss_status status = internal_setent (&stream);
 
   if (status == NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS)
     {
-      /* Tell getent function that we have repositioned the file pointer.  */
-      last_use = getby;
-
       bool any = false;
       bool got_canon = false;
       while (1)
@@ -399,7 +389,7 @@ _nss_files_gethostbyname4_r (const char *name, struct gaih_addrtuple **pat,
 	  buflen = buflen > pad ? buflen - pad : 0;
 
 	  struct hostent result;
-	  status = internal_getent (&result, buffer, buflen, errnop,
+	  status = internal_getent (stream, &result, buffer, buflen, errnop,
 				    herrnop, AF_UNSPEC, 0);
 	  if (status != NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS)
 	    break;
@@ -475,8 +465,7 @@ _nss_files_gethostbyname4_r (const char *name, struct gaih_addrtuple **pat,
 	  status = NSS_STATUS_SUCCESS;
 	}
 
-      if (! keep_stream)
-	internal_endent ();
+      internal_endent (&stream);
     }
   else if (status == NSS_STATUS_TRYAGAIN)
     {
@@ -489,7 +478,5 @@ _nss_files_gethostbyname4_r (const char *name, struct gaih_addrtuple **pat,
       *herrnop = NO_DATA;
     }
 
-  __libc_lock_unlock (lock);
-
   return status;
 }
