diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
index f3f554a..577639f 100644
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
   fix typo breaking fmt_long for dest==NULL
   add fmt_*longlong()
   add range check to scan_ulong, scan_ulonglong
+  extended socket API; you can now pass NULL for results you don't want
 
 0.14:
   avoid bus errors in byte_copy
diff --git a/socket.h b/socket.h
index 7c9c429..1de1127 100644
--- a/socket.h
+++ b/socket.h
@@ -12,33 +12,33 @@ extern int socket_udp6(void);
 #define socket_tcp() socket_tcp4()
 #define socket_udp() socket_udp4()
 
-extern int socket_connect4(int s,const char *ip,uint16 port);
-extern int socket_connect6(int s,const char *ip,uint16 port,uint32 scope_id);
+extern int socket_connect4(int s,const char* ip,uint16 port);
+extern int socket_connect6(int s,const char* ip,uint16 port,uint32 scope_id);
 extern int socket_connected(int s);
-extern int socket_bind4(int s,const char *ip,uint16 port);
-extern int socket_bind4_reuse(int s,const char *ip,uint16 port);
-extern int socket_bind6(int s,const char *ip,uint16 port,uint32 scope_id);
-extern int socket_bind6_reuse(int s,const char *ip,uint16 port,uint32 scope_id);
+extern int socket_bind4(int s,const char* ip,uint16 port);
+extern int socket_bind4_reuse(int s,const char* ip,uint16 port);
+extern int socket_bind6(int s,const char* ip,uint16 port,uint32 scope_id);
+extern int socket_bind6_reuse(int s,const char* ip,uint16 port,uint32 scope_id);
 extern int socket_listen(int s,unsigned int backlog);
-extern int socket_accept4(int s,char *ip,uint16 *port);
-extern int socket_accept6(int s,char *ip,uint16 *port,uint32 *scope_id);
-extern int socket_recv4(int s,char *buf,unsigned int len,char *ip,uint16 *port);
-extern int socket_recv6(int s,char *buf,unsigned int len,char *ip,uint16 *port,uint32 *scope_id);
-extern int socket_send4(int s,const char *buf,unsigned int len,const char *ip,uint16 port);
-extern int socket_send6(int s,const char *buf,unsigned int len,const char *ip,uint16 port,uint32 scope_id);
-extern int socket_local4(int s,char *ip,uint16 *port);
-extern int socket_local6(int s,char *ip,uint16 *port,uint32 *scope_id);
-extern int socket_remote4(int s,char *ip,uint16 *port);
-extern int socket_remote6(int s,char *ip,uint16 *port,uint32 *scope_id);
+extern int socket_accept4(int s,char* ip,uint16* port);
+extern int socket_accept6(int s,char* ip,uint16* port,uint32* scope_id);
+extern int socket_recv4(int s,char* buf,unsigned int len,char* ip,uint16* port);
+extern int socket_recv6(int s,char* buf,unsigned int len,char* ip,uint16* port,uint32* scope_id);
+extern int socket_send4(int s,const char* buf,unsigned int len,const char* ip,uint16 port);
+extern int socket_send6(int s,const char* buf,unsigned int len,const char* ip,uint16 port,uint32 scope_id);
+extern int socket_local4(int s,char* ip,uint16* port);
+extern int socket_local6(int s,char* ip,uint16* port,uint32* scope_id);
+extern int socket_remote4(int s,char* ip,uint16* port);
+extern int socket_remote6(int s,char* ip,uint16* port,uint32* scope_id);
 
 /* enable sending udp packets to the broadcast address */
 extern int socket_broadcast(int s);
 /* join a multicast group on the given interface */
-extern int socket_mcjoin4(int s,const char *groupip,const char *interface);
-extern int socket_mcjoin6(int s,const char *groupip,int interface);
+extern int socket_mcjoin4(int s,const char* groupip,const char* interface);
+extern int socket_mcjoin6(int s,const char* groupip,int interface);
 /* leave a multicast group on the given interface */
-extern int socket_mcleave4(int s,const char *groupip);
-extern int socket_mcleave6(int s,const char *groupip);
+extern int socket_mcleave4(int s,const char* groupip);
+extern int socket_mcleave6(int s,const char* groupip);
 /* set multicast TTL/hop count for outgoing packets */
 extern int socket_mcttl4(int s,char hops);
 extern int socket_mchopcount6(int s,char hops);
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ extern int socket_mcloop6(int s,char hops);
 extern void socket_tryreservein(int s,int size);
 
 extern const char* socket_getifname(uint32 interface);
-extern uint32 socket_getifidx(const char *ifname);
+extern uint32 socket_getifidx(const char* ifname);
 
 extern int socket_sendfile(int out,int in,uint32 offset,uint32 bytes);
 
diff --git a/socket/socket_accept6.c b/socket/socket_accept6.c
index e4bd1e0..2ff1627 100644
--- a/socket/socket_accept6.c
+++ b/socket/socket_accept6.c
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 #include "haveip6.h"
 #include "havesl.h"
 
-int socket_accept6(int s,char ip[16],uint16 *port,uint32 *scope_id)
+int socket_accept6(int s,char* ip,uint16* port,uint32* scope_id)
 {
 #ifdef LIBC_HAS_IP6
   struct sockaddr_in6 sa;
@@ -24,20 +24,24 @@ int socket_accept6(int s,char ip[16],uint16 *port,uint32 *scope_id)
 #ifdef LIBC_HAS_IP6
   if (sa.sin6_family==AF_INET) {
     struct sockaddr_in *sa4=(struct sockaddr_in*)&sa;
-    byte_copy(ip,12,V4mappedprefix);
-    byte_copy(ip+12,4,(char *) &sa4->sin_addr);
-    uint16_unpack_big((char *) &sa4->sin_port,port);
+    if (ip) {
+      byte_copy(ip,12,V4mappedprefix);
+      byte_copy(ip+12,4,(char *) &sa4->sin_addr);
+    }
+    if (port) uint16_unpack_big((char *) &sa4->sin_port,port);
     return fd;
   }
-  byte_copy(ip,16,(char *) &sa.sin6_addr);
-  uint16_unpack_big((char *) &sa.sin6_port,port);
+  if (ip) byte_copy(ip,16,(char *) &sa.sin6_addr);
+  if (port) uint16_unpack_big((char *) &sa.sin6_port,port);
   if (scope_id) *scope_id=sa.sin6_scope_id;
 
   return fd;
 #else
-  byte_copy(ip,12,V4mappedprefix);
-  byte_copy(ip+12,4,(char *) &sa.sin_addr);
-  uint16_unpack_big((char *) &sa.sin_port,port);
+  if (ip) {
+    byte_copy(ip,12,V4mappedprefix);
+    byte_copy(ip+12,4,(char *) &sa.sin_addr);
+  }
+  if (port) uint16_unpack_big((char *) &sa.sin_port,port);
   if (scope_id) *scope_id=0;
   return fd;
 #endif
diff --git a/socket/socket_bind4.c b/socket/socket_bind4.c
index 3f43e49..566dbc2 100644
--- a/socket/socket_bind4.c
+++ b/socket/socket_bind4.c
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ int socket_bind4(int s,const char *ip,uint16 port) {
   byte_zero(&si,sizeof si);
   si.sin_family = AF_INET;
   uint16_pack_big((char*) &si.sin_port,port);
-  *(uint32*)&si.sin_addr = *(uint32*)ip;
+  if (ip)
+    *(uint32*)&si.sin_addr = *(uint32*)ip;
+  else
+    si.sin_addr.s_addr=INADDR_ANY;
   return bind(s,(struct sockaddr*)&si,sizeof si);
 }
diff --git a/socket/socket_bind6.c b/socket/socket_bind6.c
index fd02c4a..4cadfac 100644
--- a/socket/socket_bind6.c
+++ b/socket/socket_bind6.c
@@ -11,7 +11,11 @@ int socket_bind6(int s,const char ip[16],uint16 port,uint32 scope_id)
 {
 #ifdef LIBC_HAS_IP6
   struct sockaddr_in6 sa;
+#endif
+
+  if (!ip) ip=V6any;
 
+#ifdef LIBC_HAS_IP6
   if (noipv6) {
 #endif
     int i;
diff --git a/socket/socket_local4.c b/socket/socket_local4.c
index e36cfcb..52db123 100644
--- a/socket/socket_local4.c
+++ b/socket/socket_local4.c
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ int socket_local4(int s,char ip[4],uint16 *port)
   socklen_t len = sizeof si;
 
   if (getsockname(s,(struct sockaddr *) &si,&len) == -1) return -1;
-  *(uint32*)ip = *(uint32*)&si.sin_addr;
-  uint16_unpack_big((char *) &si.sin_port,port);
+  if (ip) *(uint32*)ip = *(uint32*)&si.sin_addr;
+  if (port) uint16_unpack_big((char *) &si.sin_port,port);
   return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/socket/socket_local6.c b/socket/socket_local6.c
index 1a72477..37689b1 100644
--- a/socket/socket_local6.c
+++ b/socket/socket_local6.c
@@ -22,18 +22,22 @@ int socket_local6(int s,char ip[16],uint16 *port,uint32 *scope_id)
 #ifdef LIBC_HAS_IP6
   if (si.sin6_family==AF_INET) {
     struct sockaddr_in *si4=(struct sockaddr_in*)&si;
-    byte_copy(ip,12,V4mappedprefix);
-    byte_copy(ip+12,4,(char *) &si4->sin_addr);
-    uint16_unpack_big((char *) &si4->sin_port,port);
+    if (ip) {
+      byte_copy(ip,12,V4mappedprefix);
+      byte_copy(ip+12,4,(char *) &si4->sin_addr);
+    }
+    if (port) uint16_unpack_big((char *) &si4->sin_port,port);
     return 0;
   }
-  byte_copy(ip,16,(char *) &si.sin6_addr);
-  uint16_unpack_big((char *) &si.sin6_port,port);
+  if (ip) byte_copy(ip,16,(char *) &si.sin6_addr);
+  if (port) uint16_unpack_big((char *) &si.sin6_port,port);
   if (scope_id) *scope_id=si.sin6_scope_id;
 #else
-  byte_copy(ip,12,V4mappedprefix);
-  byte_copy(ip+12,4,(char *) &si.sin_addr);
-  uint16_unpack_big((char *) &si.sin_port,port);
+  if (ip) {
+    byte_copy(ip,12,V4mappedprefix);
+    byte_copy(ip+12,4,(char *) &si.sin_addr);
+  }
+  if (port) uint16_unpack_big((char *) &si.sin_port,port);
   if (scope_id) *scope_id=0;
 #endif
   return 0;
diff --git a/socket/socket_recv4.c b/socket/socket_recv4.c
index 61b45d7..f48f640 100644
--- a/socket/socket_recv4.c
+++ b/socket/socket_recv4.c
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ int socket_recv4(int s,char *buf,unsigned int len,char ip[4],uint16 *port) {
   int r;
 
   if ((r = recvfrom(s,buf,len,0,(struct sockaddr *) &si,&Len))<0) return -1;
-  *(uint32*)ip = *(uint32*)&si.sin_addr;
-  uint16_unpack_big((char *) &si.sin_port,port);
+  if (ip) *(uint32*)ip = *(uint32*)&si.sin_addr;
+  if (port) uint16_unpack_big((char *) &si.sin_port,port);
   return r;
 }
diff --git a/socket/socket_recv6.c b/socket/socket_recv6.c
index 7372246..b04acc2 100644
--- a/socket/socket_recv6.c
+++ b/socket/socket_recv6.c
@@ -24,18 +24,22 @@ int socket_recv6(int s,char *buf,unsigned int len,char ip[16],uint16 *port,uint3
 #ifdef LIBC_HAS_IP6
   if (noipv6) {
     struct sockaddr_in *si4=(struct sockaddr_in *)&si;
-    byte_copy(ip,12,V4mappedprefix);
-    byte_copy(ip+12,4,(char *) &si4->sin_addr);
-    uint16_unpack_big((char *) &si4->sin_port,port);
+    if (ip) {
+      byte_copy(ip,12,V4mappedprefix);
+      byte_copy(ip+12,4,(char *) &si4->sin_addr);
+    }
+    if (port) uint16_unpack_big((char *) &si4->sin_port,port);
     return r;
   }
-  byte_copy(ip,16,(char *) &si.sin6_addr);
-  uint16_unpack_big((char *) &si.sin6_port,port);
+  if (ip) byte_copy(ip,16,(char *) &si.sin6_addr);
+  if (port) uint16_unpack_big((char *) &si.sin6_port,port);
   if (scope_id) *scope_id=si.sin6_scope_id;
 #else
-  byte_copy(ip,12,(char *)V4mappedprefix);
-  byte_copy(ip+12,4,(char *) &si.sin_addr);
-  uint16_unpack_big((char *) &si.sin_port,port);
+  if (ip) {
+    byte_copy(ip,12,(char *)V4mappedprefix);
+    byte_copy(ip+12,4,(char *) &si.sin_addr);
+  }
+  if (port) uint16_unpack_big((char *) &si.sin_port,port);
   if (scope_id) *scope_id=0;
 #endif
 
diff --git a/socket/socket_remote4.c b/socket/socket_remote4.c
index d8be55b..4ab4028 100644
--- a/socket/socket_remote4.c
+++ b/socket/socket_remote4.c
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ int socket_remote4(int s,char ip[4],uint16 *port)
   socklen_t len = sizeof si;
 
   if (getpeername(s,(struct sockaddr *) &si,&len) == -1) return -1;
-  *(uint32*)ip = *(uint32*)&si.sin_addr;
-  uint16_unpack_big((char *) &si.sin_port,port);
+  if (ip) *(uint32*)ip = *(uint32*)&si.sin_addr;
+  if (port) uint16_unpack_big((char *) &si.sin_port,port);
   return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/socket/socket_remote6.c b/socket/socket_remote6.c
index 5b0e514..0f3f4a7 100644
--- a/socket/socket_remote6.c
+++ b/socket/socket_remote6.c
@@ -22,18 +22,22 @@ int socket_remote6(int s,char ip[16],uint16 *port,uint32 *scope_id)
 #ifdef LIBC_HAS_IP6
   if (si.sin6_family==AF_INET) {
     struct sockaddr_in *si4=(struct sockaddr_in*)&si;
-    byte_copy(ip,12,V4mappedprefix);
-    byte_copy(ip+12,4,(char *) &si4->sin_addr);
-    uint16_unpack_big((char *) &si4->sin_port,port);
+    if (ip) {
+      byte_copy(ip,12,V4mappedprefix);
+      byte_copy(ip+12,4,(char *) &si4->sin_addr);
+    }
+    if (port) uint16_unpack_big((char *) &si4->sin_port,port);
     return 0;
   }
-  byte_copy(ip,16,(char *) &si.sin6_addr);
-  uint16_unpack_big((char *) &si.sin6_port,port);
+  if (ip) byte_copy(ip,16,(char *) &si.sin6_addr);
+  if (port) uint16_unpack_big((char *) &si.sin6_port,port);
   if (scope_id) *scope_id=si.sin6_scope_id;
 #else
-  byte_copy(ip,12,V4mappedprefix);
-  byte_copy(ip+12,4,(char *) &si.sin_addr);
-  uint16_unpack_big((char *) &si.sin_port,port);
+  if (ip) {
+    byte_copy(ip,12,V4mappedprefix);
+    byte_copy(ip+12,4,(char *) &si.sin_addr);
+  }
+  if (port) uint16_unpack_big((char *) &si.sin_port,port);
   if (scope_id) *scope_id=0;
 #endif
   return 0;