diff --git a/newlib/libc/stdio/local.h b/newlib/libc/stdio/local.h
index 3b86cf19a..dfb9fbbd0 100644
--- a/newlib/libc/stdio/local.h
+++ b/newlib/libc/stdio/local.h
@@ -231,21 +231,26 @@ extern _READ_WRITE_RETURN_TYPE __swrite64 (struct _reent *, void *,
  * Set the orientation for a stream. If o > 0, the stream has wide-
  * orientation. If o < 0, the stream has byte-orientation.
  */
-#define ORIENT(fp,ori)			\
-  (					\
-    (					\
-      ((fp)->_flags & __SORD) ?		\
-	0				\
-      :					\
-	(				\
-	  ((fp)->_flags |= __SORD),	\
-	  (ori > 0) ?			\
-	    ((fp)->_flags2 |= __SWID)	\
-	  :				\
-	    ((fp)->_flags2 &= ~__SWID)	\
-	)				\
-    ),					\
-    ((fp)->_flags2 & __SWID) ? 1 : -1	\
+#define ORIENT(fp,ori)				\
+  (						\
+    ((fp)->_file < 0) ?				\
+      ((ori > 0) ? 1 : -1)			\
+    :						\
+      (						\
+	(					\
+	  ((fp)->_flags & __SORD) ?		\
+	    0					\
+	  :					\
+	    (					\
+	      ((fp)->_flags |= __SORD),		\
+	      (ori > 0) ?			\
+		((fp)->_flags2 |= __SWID)	\
+	      :					\
+		((fp)->_flags2 &= ~__SWID)	\
+	    )					\
+	),					\
+	((fp)->_flags2 & __SWID) ? 1 : -1	\
+      )						\
   )
 #else
 #define ORIENT(fp,ori) (-1)
diff --git a/newlib/libc/stdio/refill.c b/newlib/libc/stdio/refill.c
index c1ef7e120..cd71ed152 100644
--- a/newlib/libc/stdio/refill.c
+++ b/newlib/libc/stdio/refill.c
@@ -43,9 +43,6 @@ __srefill_r (struct _reent * ptr,
 
   CHECK_INIT (ptr, fp);
 
-  if (ORIENT (fp, -1) != -1)
-    return EOF;
-
   fp->_r = 0;			/* largely a convenience for callers */
 
   /* SysV does not make this test; take it out for compatibility */
diff --git a/newlib/libc/stdio/ungetc.c b/newlib/libc/stdio/ungetc.c
index 79914af08..5053fd6c4 100644
--- a/newlib/libc/stdio/ungetc.c
+++ b/newlib/libc/stdio/ungetc.c
@@ -125,12 +125,6 @@ _ungetc_r (struct _reent *rptr,
 
   _newlib_flockfile_start (fp);
 
-  if (ORIENT (fp, -1) != -1)
-    {
-      _newlib_flockfile_exit (fp);
-      return EOF;
-    }
-
   /* After ungetc, we won't be at eof anymore */
   fp->_flags &= ~__SEOF;
 
@@ -213,6 +207,8 @@ int
 ungetc (int c,
        register FILE *fp)
 {
+  if (ORIENT (fp, -1) != -1)
+    return EOF;
   return _ungetc_r (_REENT, c, fp);
 }
 #endif /* !_REENT_ONLY */
diff --git a/newlib/libc/stdio/ungetwc.c b/newlib/libc/stdio/ungetwc.c
index 18636d773..002b6292a 100644
--- a/newlib/libc/stdio/ungetwc.c
+++ b/newlib/libc/stdio/ungetwc.c
@@ -112,5 +112,7 @@ ungetwc (wint_t wc,
   struct _reent *reent = _REENT;
 
   CHECK_INIT (reent, fp);
+  if (ORIENT (fp, 1) != 1)
+    return WEOF;
   return _ungetwc_r (reent, wc, fp);
 }