diff --git a/src/flash/mflash.c b/src/flash/mflash.c
index 6f4a988ece4de275fa5d5185a79072c45e646304..d3a3aceac239b7c21513d58657b2ac4fbedea186 100644
--- a/src/flash/mflash.c
+++ b/src/flash/mflash.c
@@ -749,7 +749,7 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(mg_write_cmd)
 {
 	uint32_t address, cnt, res, i;
 	uint8_t *buffer;
-	struct fileio fileio;
+	struct fileio *fileio;
 	int ret;
 
 	if (CMD_ARGC != 3)
@@ -764,12 +764,12 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(mg_write_cmd)
 	size_t filesize;
 	buffer = malloc(MG_FILEIO_CHUNK);
 	if (!buffer) {
-		fileio_close(&fileio);
+		fileio_close(fileio);
 		return ERROR_FAIL;
 	}
-	int retval = fileio_size(&fileio, &filesize);
+	int retval = fileio_size(fileio, &filesize);
 	if (retval != ERROR_OK) {
-		fileio_close(&fileio);
+		fileio_close(fileio);
 		free(buffer);
 		return retval;
 	}
@@ -782,7 +782,7 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(mg_write_cmd)
 
 	size_t buf_cnt;
 	for (i = 0; i < cnt; i++) {
-		ret = fileio_read(&fileio, MG_FILEIO_CHUNK, buffer, &buf_cnt);
+		ret = fileio_read(fileio, MG_FILEIO_CHUNK, buffer, &buf_cnt);
 		if (ret != ERROR_OK)
 			goto mg_write_cmd_err;
 		ret = mg_mflash_write(address, buffer, MG_FILEIO_CHUNK);
@@ -792,7 +792,7 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(mg_write_cmd)
 	}
 
 	if (res) {
-		ret = fileio_read(&fileio, res, buffer, &buf_cnt);
+		ret = fileio_read(fileio, res, buffer, &buf_cnt);
 		if (ret != ERROR_OK)
 			goto mg_write_cmd_err;
 		ret = mg_mflash_write(address, buffer, res);
@@ -807,13 +807,13 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(mg_write_cmd)
 	}
 
 	free(buffer);
-	fileio_close(&fileio);
+	fileio_close(fileio);
 
 	return ERROR_OK;
 
 mg_write_cmd_err:
 	free(buffer);
-	fileio_close(&fileio);
+	fileio_close(fileio);
 
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -822,7 +822,7 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(mg_dump_cmd)
 {
 	uint32_t address, size, cnt, res, i;
 	uint8_t *buffer;
-	struct fileio fileio;
+	struct fileio *fileio;
 	int ret;
 
 	if (CMD_ARGC != 4)
@@ -837,7 +837,7 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(mg_dump_cmd)
 
 	buffer = malloc(MG_FILEIO_CHUNK);
 	if (!buffer) {
-		fileio_close(&fileio);
+		fileio_close(fileio);
 		return ERROR_FAIL;
 	}
 
@@ -852,7 +852,7 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(mg_dump_cmd)
 		ret = mg_mflash_read(address, buffer, MG_FILEIO_CHUNK);
 		if (ret != ERROR_OK)
 			goto mg_dump_cmd_err;
-		ret = fileio_write(&fileio, MG_FILEIO_CHUNK, buffer, &size_written);
+		ret = fileio_write(fileio, MG_FILEIO_CHUNK, buffer, &size_written);
 		if (ret != ERROR_OK)
 			goto mg_dump_cmd_err;
 		address += MG_FILEIO_CHUNK;
@@ -862,7 +862,7 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(mg_dump_cmd)
 		ret = mg_mflash_read(address, buffer, res);
 		if (ret != ERROR_OK)
 			goto mg_dump_cmd_err;
-		ret = fileio_write(&fileio, res, buffer, &size_written);
+		ret = fileio_write(fileio, res, buffer, &size_written);
 		if (ret != ERROR_OK)
 			goto mg_dump_cmd_err;
 	}
@@ -875,13 +875,13 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(mg_dump_cmd)
 	}
 
 	free(buffer);
-	fileio_close(&fileio);
+	fileio_close(fileio);
 
 	return ERROR_OK;
 
 mg_dump_cmd_err:
 	free(buffer);
-	fileio_close(&fileio);
+	fileio_close(fileio);
 
 	return ret;
 }
diff --git a/src/flash/nand/fileio.c b/src/flash/nand/fileio.c
index d84ef4f943759d53e3d2638cf5b4b42122d51e77..085e4af20bdcb3fd2b5e542239ee0f17ec39c69c 100644
--- a/src/flash/nand/fileio.c
+++ b/src/flash/nand/fileio.c
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ int nand_fileio_start(struct command_context *cmd_ctx,
 int nand_fileio_cleanup(struct nand_fileio_state *state)
 {
 	if (state->file_opened)
-		fileio_close(&state->fileio);
+		fileio_close(state->fileio);
 
 	if (state->oob) {
 		free(state->oob);
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ COMMAND_HELPER(nand_fileio_parse_args, struct nand_fileio_state *state,
 
 	if (!need_size) {
 		size_t filesize;
-		retval = fileio_size(&state->fileio, &filesize);
+		retval = fileio_size(state->fileio, &filesize);
 		if (retval != ERROR_OK)
 			return retval;
 		state->size = filesize;
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ int nand_fileio_read(struct nand_device *nand, struct nand_fileio_state *s)
 	size_t one_read;
 
 	if (NULL != s->page) {
-		fileio_read(&s->fileio, s->page_size, s->page, &one_read);
+		fileio_read(s->fileio, s->page_size, s->page, &one_read);
 		if (one_read < s->page_size)
 			memset(s->page + one_read, 0xff, s->page_size - one_read);
 		total_read += one_read;
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ int nand_fileio_read(struct nand_device *nand, struct nand_fileio_state *s)
 			ecc += 10;
 		}
 	} else if (NULL != s->oob)   {
-		fileio_read(&s->fileio, s->oob_size, s->oob, &one_read);
+		fileio_read(s->fileio, s->oob_size, s->oob, &one_read);
 		if (one_read < s->oob_size)
 			memset(s->oob + one_read, 0xff, s->oob_size - one_read);
 		total_read += one_read;
diff --git a/src/flash/nand/fileio.h b/src/flash/nand/fileio.h
index c92c644fbc5e99964698b743776ebfc2a794875c..f0483a7438d63f8eae28d0682e2d3a2426af44f7 100644
--- a/src/flash/nand/fileio.h
+++ b/src/flash/nand/fileio.h
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ struct nand_fileio_state {
 	const int *eccpos;
 
 	bool file_opened;
-	struct fileio fileio;
+	struct fileio *fileio;
 
 	struct duration bench;
 };
diff --git a/src/flash/nand/tcl.c b/src/flash/nand/tcl.c
index 750c1f005fde42503e6ea08f4b33cb2b19a9056e..d238e7a6945c314e9a1307a1c55d83d73afb861a 100644
--- a/src/flash/nand/tcl.c
+++ b/src/flash/nand/tcl.c
@@ -360,16 +360,16 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(handle_nand_dump_command)
 		}
 
 		if (NULL != s.page)
-			fileio_write(&s.fileio, s.page_size, s.page, &size_written);
+			fileio_write(s.fileio, s.page_size, s.page, &size_written);
 
 		if (NULL != s.oob)
-			fileio_write(&s.fileio, s.oob_size, s.oob, &size_written);
+			fileio_write(s.fileio, s.oob_size, s.oob, &size_written);
 
 		s.size -= nand->page_size;
 		s.address += nand->page_size;
 	}
 
-	retval = fileio_size(&s.fileio, &filesize);
+	retval = fileio_size(s.fileio, &filesize);
 	if (retval != ERROR_OK)
 		return retval;
 
diff --git a/src/flash/nor/lpc2900.c b/src/flash/nor/lpc2900.c
index 886842083b69732b92276d532dd5bfa485d68ca6..328232e662da94f0740e60ec90b58d16403bf763 100644
--- a/src/flash/nor/lpc2900.c
+++ b/src/flash/nor/lpc2900.c
@@ -556,7 +556,7 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(lpc2900_handle_read_custom_command)
 	target_write_u32(target, FCTR, FCTR_FS_CS | FCTR_FS_WEB);
 
 	/* Try and open the file */
-	struct fileio fileio;
+	struct fileio *fileio;
 	const char *filename = CMD_ARGV[1];
 	int ret = fileio_open(&fileio, filename, FILEIO_WRITE, FILEIO_BINARY);
 	if (ret != ERROR_OK) {
@@ -565,14 +565,14 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(lpc2900_handle_read_custom_command)
 	}
 
 	size_t nwritten;
-	ret = fileio_write(&fileio, sizeof(customer), customer, &nwritten);
+	ret = fileio_write(fileio, sizeof(customer), customer, &nwritten);
 	if (ret != ERROR_OK) {
 		LOG_ERROR("Write operation to file %s failed", filename);
-		fileio_close(&fileio);
+		fileio_close(fileio);
 		return ret;
 	}
 
-	fileio_close(&fileio);
+	fileio_close(fileio);
 
 	return ERROR_OK;
 }
diff --git a/src/flash/nor/tcl.c b/src/flash/nor/tcl.c
index 8a30e1cd995a95eb43755b2f6a904d30de100ed7..cf0daf34b77c5a37f61a1641fbad5c8601340572 100644
--- a/src/flash/nor/tcl.c
+++ b/src/flash/nor/tcl.c
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(handle_flash_write_bank_command)
 {
 	uint32_t offset;
 	uint8_t *buffer;
-	struct fileio fileio;
+	struct fileio *fileio;
 
 	if (CMD_ARGC != 3)
 		return ERROR_COMMAND_SYNTAX_ERROR;
@@ -574,22 +574,22 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(handle_flash_write_bank_command)
 		return ERROR_OK;
 
 	size_t filesize;
-	retval = fileio_size(&fileio, &filesize);
+	retval = fileio_size(fileio, &filesize);
 	if (retval != ERROR_OK) {
-		fileio_close(&fileio);
+		fileio_close(fileio);
 		return retval;
 	}
 
 	buffer = malloc(filesize);
 	if (buffer == NULL) {
-		fileio_close(&fileio);
+		fileio_close(fileio);
 		LOG_ERROR("Out of memory");
 		return ERROR_FAIL;
 	}
 	size_t buf_cnt;
-	if (fileio_read(&fileio, filesize, buffer, &buf_cnt) != ERROR_OK) {
+	if (fileio_read(fileio, filesize, buffer, &buf_cnt) != ERROR_OK) {
 		free(buffer);
-		fileio_close(&fileio);
+		fileio_close(fileio);
 		return ERROR_OK;
 	}
 
@@ -605,7 +605,7 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(handle_flash_write_bank_command)
 			duration_elapsed(&bench), duration_kbps(&bench, filesize));
 	}
 
-	fileio_close(&fileio);
+	fileio_close(fileio);
 
 	return retval;
 }
@@ -614,7 +614,7 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(handle_flash_read_bank_command)
 {
 	uint32_t offset;
 	uint8_t *buffer;
-	struct fileio fileio;
+	struct fileio *fileio;
 	uint32_t length;
 	size_t written;
 
@@ -652,8 +652,8 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(handle_flash_read_bank_command)
 		return retval;
 	}
 
-	retval = fileio_write(&fileio, length, buffer, &written);
-	fileio_close(&fileio);
+	retval = fileio_write(fileio, length, buffer, &written);
+	fileio_close(fileio);
 	free(buffer);
 	if (retval != ERROR_OK) {
 		LOG_ERROR("Could not write file");
@@ -674,7 +674,7 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(handle_flash_verify_bank_command)
 {
 	uint32_t offset;
 	uint8_t *buffer_file, *buffer_flash;
-	struct fileio fileio;
+	struct fileio *fileio;
 	size_t read_cnt;
 	size_t filesize;
 	int differ;
@@ -698,21 +698,21 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(handle_flash_verify_bank_command)
 		return retval;
 	}
 
-	retval = fileio_size(&fileio, &filesize);
+	retval = fileio_size(fileio, &filesize);
 	if (retval != ERROR_OK) {
-		fileio_close(&fileio);
+		fileio_close(fileio);
 		return retval;
 	}
 
 	buffer_file = malloc(filesize);
 	if (buffer_file == NULL) {
 		LOG_ERROR("Out of memory");
-		fileio_close(&fileio);
+		fileio_close(fileio);
 		return ERROR_FAIL;
 	}
 
-	retval = fileio_read(&fileio, filesize, buffer_file, &read_cnt);
-	fileio_close(&fileio);
+	retval = fileio_read(fileio, filesize, buffer_file, &read_cnt);
+	fileio_close(fileio);
 	if (retval != ERROR_OK) {
 		LOG_ERROR("File read failure");
 		free(buffer_file);
diff --git a/src/helper/fileio.c b/src/helper/fileio.c
index 2664bfa1160dd5be688384f382537a07af35f0b9..9864b5fbd09e631528d33247d3a471fedce1bbfa 100644
--- a/src/helper/fileio.c
+++ b/src/helper/fileio.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
 #include "configuration.h"
 #include "fileio.h"
 
-struct fileio_internal {
+struct fileio {
 	char *url;
 	size_t size;
 	enum fileio_type type;
@@ -40,8 +40,22 @@ struct fileio_internal {
 	FILE *file;
 };
 
-static inline int fileio_close_local(struct fileio_internal *fileio);
-static inline int fileio_open_local(struct fileio_internal *fileio)
+static inline int fileio_close_local(struct fileio *fileio)
+{
+	int retval = fclose(fileio->file);
+	if (retval != 0) {
+		if (retval == EBADF)
+			LOG_ERROR("BUG: fileio->file not a valid file descriptor");
+		else
+			LOG_ERROR("couldn't close %s: %s", fileio->url, strerror(errno));
+
+		return ERROR_FILEIO_OPERATION_FAILED;
+	}
+
+	return ERROR_OK;
+}
+
+static inline int fileio_open_local(struct fileio *fileio)
 {
 	char file_access[4];
 	ssize_t file_size;
@@ -104,69 +118,49 @@ static inline int fileio_open_local(struct fileio_internal *fileio)
 	return ERROR_OK;
 }
 
-int fileio_open(struct fileio *fileio_p,
-	const char *url,
-	enum fileio_access access_type,
-	enum fileio_type type)
+int fileio_open(struct fileio **fileio, const char *url,
+		enum fileio_access access_type, enum fileio_type type)
 {
 	int retval;
-	struct fileio_internal *fileio;
+	struct fileio *tmp;
 
-	fileio = malloc(sizeof(struct fileio_internal));
+	tmp = malloc(sizeof(struct fileio));
 
-	fileio->type = type;
-	fileio->access = access_type;
-	fileio->url = strdup(url);
+	tmp->type = type;
+	tmp->access = access_type;
+	tmp->url = strdup(url);
 
-	retval = fileio_open_local(fileio);
+	retval = fileio_open_local(tmp);
 
 	if (retval != ERROR_OK) {
-		free(fileio->url);
-		free(fileio);
+		free(tmp->url);
+		free(tmp);
 		return retval;
 	}
 
-	fileio_p->fp = fileio;
-
-	return ERROR_OK;
-}
-
-static inline int fileio_close_local(struct fileio_internal *fileio)
-{
-	int retval = fclose(fileio->file);
-	if (retval != 0) {
-		if (retval == EBADF)
-			LOG_ERROR("BUG: fileio_local->file not a valid file descriptor");
-		else
-			LOG_ERROR("couldn't close %s: %s", fileio->url, strerror(errno));
-
-		return ERROR_FILEIO_OPERATION_FAILED;
-	}
+	*fileio = tmp;
 
 	return ERROR_OK;
 }
 
-int fileio_close(struct fileio *fileio_p)
+int fileio_close(struct fileio *fileio)
 {
 	int retval;
-	struct fileio_internal *fileio = fileio_p->fp;
 
 	retval = fileio_close_local(fileio);
 
 	free(fileio->url);
-	fileio->url = NULL;
-
 	free(fileio);
-	fileio_p->fp = NULL;
 
 	return retval;
 }
 
-int fileio_seek(struct fileio *fileio_p, size_t position)
+int fileio_seek(struct fileio *fileio, size_t position)
 {
 	int retval;
-	struct fileio_internal *fileio = fileio_p->fp;
+
 	retval = fseek(fileio->file, position, SEEK_SET);
+
 	if (retval != 0) {
 		LOG_ERROR("couldn't seek file %s: %s", fileio->url, strerror(errno));
 		return ERROR_FILEIO_OPERATION_FAILED;
@@ -175,36 +169,40 @@ int fileio_seek(struct fileio *fileio_p, size_t position)
 	return ERROR_OK;
 }
 
-static int fileio_local_read(struct fileio_internal *fileio,
-	size_t size, void *buffer, size_t *size_read)
+static int fileio_local_read(struct fileio *fileio, size_t size, void *buffer,
+		size_t *size_read)
 {
-	ssize_t retval = fread(buffer, 1, size, fileio->file);
+	ssize_t retval;
+
+	retval = fread(buffer, 1, size, fileio->file);
 	*size_read = (retval >= 0) ? retval : 0;
+
 	return (retval < 0) ? retval : ERROR_OK;
 }
 
-int fileio_read(struct fileio *fileio_p, size_t size, void *buffer,
-	size_t *size_read)
+int fileio_read(struct fileio *fileio, size_t size, void *buffer,
+		size_t *size_read)
 {
-	struct fileio_internal *fileio = fileio_p->fp;
 	return fileio_local_read(fileio, size, buffer, size_read);
 }
 
-int fileio_read_u32(struct fileio *fileio_p, uint32_t *data)
+int fileio_read_u32(struct fileio *fileio, uint32_t *data)
 {
+	int retval;
 	uint8_t buf[4];
 	size_t size_read;
-	struct fileio_internal *fileio = fileio_p->fp;
-	int retval = fileio_local_read(fileio, sizeof(uint32_t), buf, &size_read);
+
+	retval = fileio_local_read(fileio, sizeof(uint32_t), buf, &size_read);
+
 	if (ERROR_OK == retval && sizeof(uint32_t) != size_read)
 		retval = -EIO;
 	if (ERROR_OK == retval)
 		*data = be_to_h_u32(buf);
+
 	return retval;
 }
 
-static int fileio_local_fgets(struct fileio_internal *fileio,
-	size_t size, void *buffer)
+static int fileio_local_fgets(struct fileio *fileio, size_t size, void *buffer)
 {
 	if (fgets(buffer, size, fileio->file) == NULL)
 		return ERROR_FILEIO_OPERATION_FAILED;
@@ -212,36 +210,44 @@ static int fileio_local_fgets(struct fileio_internal *fileio,
 	return ERROR_OK;
 }
 
-int fileio_fgets(struct fileio *fileio_p, size_t size, void *buffer)
+int fileio_fgets(struct fileio *fileio, size_t size, void *buffer)
 {
-	struct fileio_internal *fileio = fileio_p->fp;
 	return fileio_local_fgets(fileio, size, buffer);
 }
 
-static int fileio_local_write(struct fileio_internal *fileio,
-	size_t size, const void *buffer, size_t *size_written)
+static int fileio_local_write(struct fileio *fileio, size_t size,
+		const void *buffer, size_t *size_written)
 {
-	ssize_t retval = fwrite(buffer, 1, size, fileio->file);
+	ssize_t retval;
+
+	retval = fwrite(buffer, 1, size, fileio->file);
 	*size_written = (retval >= 0) ? retval : 0;
+
 	return (retval < 0) ? retval : ERROR_OK;
 }
 
-int fileio_write(struct fileio *fileio_p,
-	size_t size, const void *buffer, size_t *size_written)
+int fileio_write(struct fileio *fileio, size_t size, const void *buffer,
+		size_t *size_written)
 {
-	struct fileio_internal *fileio = fileio_p->fp;
-	int retval = fileio_local_write(fileio, size, buffer, size_written);
+	int retval;
+
+	retval = fileio_local_write(fileio, size, buffer, size_written);
+
 	if (retval == ERROR_OK)
 		fileio->size += *size_written;
+
 	return retval;
 }
 
-int fileio_write_u32(struct fileio *fileio_p, uint32_t data)
+int fileio_write_u32(struct fileio *fileio, uint32_t data)
 {
+	int retval;
 	uint8_t buf[4];
 	h_u32_to_be(buf, data);
 	size_t size_written;
-	int retval = fileio_write(fileio_p, 4, buf, &size_written);
+
+	retval = fileio_write(fileio, 4, buf, &size_written);
+
 	if (ERROR_OK == retval && size_written != sizeof(uint32_t))
 		retval = -EIO;
 
@@ -257,9 +263,8 @@ int fileio_write_u32(struct fileio *fileio_p, uint32_t data)
  * Avoiding the seek on startup opens up for using streams.
  *
  */
-int fileio_size(struct fileio *fileio_p, size_t *size)
+int fileio_size(struct fileio *fileio, size_t *size)
 {
-	struct fileio_internal *fileio = fileio_p->fp;
 	*size = fileio->size;
 
 	return ERROR_OK;
diff --git a/src/helper/fileio.h b/src/helper/fileio.h
index c3824ff8fe9bd358598b730b4717fda01a1b83de..f10e0c42edc6560faefd5f1a56f22f370b4136de 100644
--- a/src/helper/fileio.h
+++ b/src/helper/fileio.h
@@ -43,13 +43,10 @@ enum fileio_access {
 	FILEIO_APPENDREAD,	/* open for writing, position at end, allow reading */
 };
 
-struct fileio {
-	/* The structure is opaque */
-	struct fileio_internal *fp;
-};
+struct fileio;
 
-int fileio_open(struct fileio *fileio,
-		const char *url, enum fileio_access access_type, enum fileio_type type);
+int fileio_open(struct fileio **fileio, const char *url,
+		enum fileio_access access_type, enum fileio_type type);
 int fileio_close(struct fileio *fileio);
 
 int fileio_seek(struct fileio *fileio, size_t position);
diff --git a/src/server/gdb_server.c b/src/server/gdb_server.c
index 780359ea4510ac1ee344fcf6438834b9e338fdf2..4b9b634d1613d3f7bca5b5ceb9a9eae7a1db87ae 100644
--- a/src/server/gdb_server.c
+++ b/src/server/gdb_server.c
@@ -3063,7 +3063,7 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(handle_gdb_save_tdesc_command)
 
 	tdesc_length = strlen(tdesc);
 
-	struct fileio fileio;
+	struct fileio *fileio;
 	size_t size_written;
 
 	char *tdesc_filename = alloc_printf("%s.xml", target_type_name(target));
@@ -3079,9 +3079,9 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(handle_gdb_save_tdesc_command)
 		goto out;
 	}
 
-	retval = fileio_write(&fileio, tdesc_length, tdesc, &size_written);
+	retval = fileio_write(fileio, tdesc_length, tdesc, &size_written);
 
-	fileio_close(&fileio);
+	fileio_close(fileio);
 
 	if (retval != ERROR_OK)
 		LOG_ERROR("Error while writing the tdesc file");
diff --git a/src/target/etm.c b/src/target/etm.c
index 0246ae25e4ff93fccf9af716715bd906546138de..82bae0b62c582b73e6d0e0c8366f143b3c180a86 100644
--- a/src/target/etm.c
+++ b/src/target/etm.c
@@ -1701,7 +1701,7 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(handle_etm_image_command)
 
 COMMAND_HANDLER(handle_etm_dump_command)
 {
-	struct fileio file;
+	struct fileio *file;
 	struct target *target;
 	struct arm *arm;
 	struct etm_context *etm_ctx;
@@ -1741,24 +1741,24 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(handle_etm_dump_command)
 	if (fileio_open(&file, CMD_ARGV[0], FILEIO_WRITE, FILEIO_BINARY) != ERROR_OK)
 		return ERROR_FAIL;
 
-	fileio_write_u32(&file, etm_ctx->capture_status);
-	fileio_write_u32(&file, etm_ctx->control);
-	fileio_write_u32(&file, etm_ctx->trace_depth);
+	fileio_write_u32(file, etm_ctx->capture_status);
+	fileio_write_u32(file, etm_ctx->control);
+	fileio_write_u32(file, etm_ctx->trace_depth);
 
 	for (i = 0; i < etm_ctx->trace_depth; i++) {
-		fileio_write_u32(&file, etm_ctx->trace_data[i].pipestat);
-		fileio_write_u32(&file, etm_ctx->trace_data[i].packet);
-		fileio_write_u32(&file, etm_ctx->trace_data[i].flags);
+		fileio_write_u32(file, etm_ctx->trace_data[i].pipestat);
+		fileio_write_u32(file, etm_ctx->trace_data[i].packet);
+		fileio_write_u32(file, etm_ctx->trace_data[i].flags);
 	}
 
-	fileio_close(&file);
+	fileio_close(file);
 
 	return ERROR_OK;
 }
 
 COMMAND_HANDLER(handle_etm_load_command)
 {
-	struct fileio file;
+	struct fileio *file;
 	struct target *target;
 	struct arm *arm;
 	struct etm_context *etm_ctx;
@@ -1789,15 +1789,15 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(handle_etm_load_command)
 		return ERROR_FAIL;
 
 	size_t filesize;
-	int retval = fileio_size(&file, &filesize);
+	int retval = fileio_size(file, &filesize);
 	if (retval != ERROR_OK) {
-		fileio_close(&file);
+		fileio_close(file);
 		return retval;
 	}
 
 	if (filesize % 4) {
 		command_print(CMD_CTX, "size isn't a multiple of 4, no valid trace data");
-		fileio_close(&file);
+		fileio_close(file);
 		return ERROR_FAIL;
 	}
 
@@ -1808,28 +1808,28 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(handle_etm_load_command)
 
 	{
 		uint32_t tmp;
-		fileio_read_u32(&file, &tmp); etm_ctx->capture_status = tmp;
-		fileio_read_u32(&file, &tmp); etm_ctx->control = tmp;
-		fileio_read_u32(&file, &etm_ctx->trace_depth);
+		fileio_read_u32(file, &tmp); etm_ctx->capture_status = tmp;
+		fileio_read_u32(file, &tmp); etm_ctx->control = tmp;
+		fileio_read_u32(file, &etm_ctx->trace_depth);
 	}
 	etm_ctx->trace_data = malloc(sizeof(struct etmv1_trace_data) * etm_ctx->trace_depth);
 	if (etm_ctx->trace_data == NULL) {
 		command_print(CMD_CTX, "not enough memory to perform operation");
-		fileio_close(&file);
+		fileio_close(file);
 		return ERROR_FAIL;
 	}
 
 	for (i = 0; i < etm_ctx->trace_depth; i++) {
 		uint32_t pipestat, packet, flags;
-		fileio_read_u32(&file, &pipestat);
-		fileio_read_u32(&file, &packet);
-		fileio_read_u32(&file, &flags);
+		fileio_read_u32(file, &pipestat);
+		fileio_read_u32(file, &packet);
+		fileio_read_u32(file, &flags);
 		etm_ctx->trace_data[i].pipestat = pipestat & 0xff;
 		etm_ctx->trace_data[i].packet = packet & 0xffff;
 		etm_ctx->trace_data[i].flags = flags;
 	}
 
-	fileio_close(&file);
+	fileio_close(file);
 
 	return ERROR_OK;
 }
diff --git a/src/target/image.c b/src/target/image.c
index fa51ce33e49de5f937267c42efd97e122fe5551e..f316d77a46a770fe8feead891b27588713d6ab1c 100644
--- a/src/target/image.c
+++ b/src/target/image.c
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
 static int autodetect_image_type(struct image *image, const char *url)
 {
 	int retval;
-	struct fileio fileio;
+	struct fileio *fileio;
 	size_t read_bytes;
 	uint8_t buffer[9];
 
@@ -55,13 +55,13 @@ static int autodetect_image_type(struct image *image, const char *url)
 	retval = fileio_open(&fileio, url, FILEIO_READ, FILEIO_BINARY);
 	if (retval != ERROR_OK)
 		return retval;
-	retval = fileio_read(&fileio, 9, buffer, &read_bytes);
+	retval = fileio_read(fileio, 9, buffer, &read_bytes);
 
 	if (retval == ERROR_OK) {
 		if (read_bytes != 9)
 			retval = ERROR_FILEIO_OPERATION_FAILED;
 	}
-	fileio_close(&fileio);
+	fileio_close(fileio);
 
 	if (retval != ERROR_OK)
 		return retval;
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ static int image_ihex_buffer_complete_inner(struct image *image,
 	struct imagesection *section)
 {
 	struct image_ihex *ihex = image->type_private;
-	struct fileio *fileio = &ihex->fileio;
+	struct fileio *fileio = ihex->fileio;
 	uint32_t full_address = 0x0;
 	uint32_t cooked_bytes;
 	int i;
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ static int image_elf_read_headers(struct image *image)
 		return ERROR_FILEIO_OPERATION_FAILED;
 	}
 
-	retval = fileio_read(&elf->fileio, sizeof(Elf32_Ehdr), (uint8_t *)elf->header, &read_bytes);
+	retval = fileio_read(elf->fileio, sizeof(Elf32_Ehdr), (uint8_t *)elf->header, &read_bytes);
 	if (retval != ERROR_OK) {
 		LOG_ERROR("cannot read ELF file header, read failed");
 		return ERROR_FILEIO_OPERATION_FAILED;
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ static int image_elf_read_headers(struct image *image)
 		return ERROR_IMAGE_FORMAT_ERROR;
 	}
 
-	retval = fileio_seek(&elf->fileio, field32(elf, elf->header->e_phoff));
+	retval = fileio_seek(elf->fileio, field32(elf, elf->header->e_phoff));
 	if (retval != ERROR_OK) {
 		LOG_ERROR("cannot seek to ELF program header table, read failed");
 		return retval;
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ static int image_elf_read_headers(struct image *image)
 		return ERROR_FILEIO_OPERATION_FAILED;
 	}
 
-	retval = fileio_read(&elf->fileio, elf->segment_count*sizeof(Elf32_Phdr),
+	retval = fileio_read(elf->fileio, elf->segment_count*sizeof(Elf32_Phdr),
 			(uint8_t *)elf->segments, &read_bytes);
 	if (retval != ERROR_OK) {
 		LOG_ERROR("cannot read ELF segment headers, read failed");
@@ -486,12 +486,12 @@ static int image_elf_read_section(struct image *image,
 		LOG_DEBUG("read elf: size = 0x%zu at 0x%" PRIx32 "", read_size,
 			field32(elf, segment->p_offset) + offset);
 		/* read initialized area of the segment */
-		retval = fileio_seek(&elf->fileio, field32(elf, segment->p_offset) + offset);
+		retval = fileio_seek(elf->fileio, field32(elf, segment->p_offset) + offset);
 		if (retval != ERROR_OK) {
 			LOG_ERROR("cannot find ELF segment content, seek failed");
 			return retval;
 		}
-		retval = fileio_read(&elf->fileio, read_size, buffer, &really_read);
+		retval = fileio_read(elf->fileio, read_size, buffer, &really_read);
 		if (retval != ERROR_OK) {
 			LOG_ERROR("cannot read ELF segment content, read failed");
 			return retval;
@@ -511,7 +511,7 @@ static int image_mot_buffer_complete_inner(struct image *image,
 	struct imagesection *section)
 {
 	struct image_mot *mot = image->type_private;
-	struct fileio *fileio = &mot->fileio;
+	struct fileio *fileio = mot->fileio;
 	uint32_t full_address = 0x0;
 	uint32_t cooked_bytes;
 	int i;
@@ -708,9 +708,9 @@ int image_open(struct image *image, const char *url, const char *type_string)
 		if (retval != ERROR_OK)
 			return retval;
 		size_t filesize;
-		retval = fileio_size(&image_binary->fileio, &filesize);
+		retval = fileio_size(image_binary->fileio, &filesize);
 		if (retval != ERROR_OK) {
-			fileio_close(&image_binary->fileio);
+			fileio_close(image_binary->fileio);
 			return retval;
 		}
 
@@ -732,7 +732,7 @@ int image_open(struct image *image, const char *url, const char *type_string)
 		if (retval != ERROR_OK) {
 			LOG_ERROR(
 				"failed buffering IHEX image, check daemon output for additional information");
-			fileio_close(&image_ihex->fileio);
+			fileio_close(image_ihex->fileio);
 			return retval;
 		}
 	} else if (image->type == IMAGE_ELF) {
@@ -746,7 +746,7 @@ int image_open(struct image *image, const char *url, const char *type_string)
 
 		retval = image_elf_read_headers(image);
 		if (retval != ERROR_OK) {
-			fileio_close(&image_elf->fileio);
+			fileio_close(image_elf->fileio);
 			return retval;
 		}
 	} else if (image->type == IMAGE_MEMORY) {
@@ -783,7 +783,7 @@ int image_open(struct image *image, const char *url, const char *type_string)
 		if (retval != ERROR_OK) {
 			LOG_ERROR(
 				"failed buffering S19 image, check daemon output for additional information");
-			fileio_close(&image_mot->fileio);
+			fileio_close(image_mot->fileio);
 			return retval;
 		}
 	} else if (image->type == IMAGE_BUILDER) {
@@ -835,12 +835,12 @@ int image_read_section(struct image *image,
 			return ERROR_COMMAND_SYNTAX_ERROR;
 
 		/* seek to offset */
-		retval = fileio_seek(&image_binary->fileio, offset);
+		retval = fileio_seek(image_binary->fileio, offset);
 		if (retval != ERROR_OK)
 			return retval;
 
 		/* return requested bytes */
-		retval = fileio_read(&image_binary->fileio, size, buffer, size_read);
+		retval = fileio_read(image_binary->fileio, size, buffer, size_read);
 		if (retval != ERROR_OK)
 			return retval;
 	} else if (image->type == IMAGE_IHEX) {
@@ -945,11 +945,11 @@ void image_close(struct image *image)
 	if (image->type == IMAGE_BINARY) {
 		struct image_binary *image_binary = image->type_private;
 
-		fileio_close(&image_binary->fileio);
+		fileio_close(image_binary->fileio);
 	} else if (image->type == IMAGE_IHEX) {
 		struct image_ihex *image_ihex = image->type_private;
 
-		fileio_close(&image_ihex->fileio);
+		fileio_close(image_ihex->fileio);
 
 		if (image_ihex->buffer) {
 			free(image_ihex->buffer);
@@ -958,7 +958,7 @@ void image_close(struct image *image)
 	} else if (image->type == IMAGE_ELF) {
 		struct image_elf *image_elf = image->type_private;
 
-		fileio_close(&image_elf->fileio);
+		fileio_close(image_elf->fileio);
 
 		if (image_elf->header) {
 			free(image_elf->header);
@@ -979,7 +979,7 @@ void image_close(struct image *image)
 	} else if (image->type == IMAGE_SRECORD) {
 		struct image_mot *image_mot = image->type_private;
 
-		fileio_close(&image_mot->fileio);
+		fileio_close(image_mot->fileio);
 
 		if (image_mot->buffer) {
 			free(image_mot->buffer);
diff --git a/src/target/image.h b/src/target/image.h
index 5aeba2f7937c2ddfd70a5f60442c201b72ec6d64..cd9ee08d2a8b912934416986abbbcfa3087d5e66 100644
--- a/src/target/image.h
+++ b/src/target/image.h
@@ -66,11 +66,11 @@ struct image {
 };
 
 struct image_binary {
-	struct fileio fileio;
+	struct fileio *fileio;
 };
 
 struct image_ihex {
-	struct fileio fileio;
+	struct fileio *fileio;
 	uint8_t *buffer;
 };
 
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ struct image_memory {
 };
 
 struct image_elf {
-	struct fileio fileio;
+	struct fileio *fileio;
 	Elf32_Ehdr *header;
 	Elf32_Phdr *segments;
 	uint32_t segment_count;
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ struct image_elf {
 };
 
 struct image_mot {
-	struct fileio fileio;
+	struct fileio *fileio;
 	uint8_t *buffer;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/target/target.c b/src/target/target.c
index b6442c5e1ca1bb725a2a48a211103b307ce4d8ea..d634a12ed04815d1d557ff257c056697bcd34509 100644
--- a/src/target/target.c
+++ b/src/target/target.c
@@ -3221,7 +3221,7 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(handle_load_image_command)
 
 COMMAND_HANDLER(handle_dump_image_command)
 {
-	struct fileio fileio;
+	struct fileio *fileio;
 	uint8_t *buffer;
 	int retval, retvaltemp;
 	uint32_t address, size;
@@ -3254,7 +3254,7 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(handle_dump_image_command)
 		if (retval != ERROR_OK)
 			break;
 
-		retval = fileio_write(&fileio, this_run_size, buffer, &size_written);
+		retval = fileio_write(fileio, this_run_size, buffer, &size_written);
 		if (retval != ERROR_OK)
 			break;
 
@@ -3266,7 +3266,7 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(handle_dump_image_command)
 
 	if ((ERROR_OK == retval) && (duration_measure(&bench) == ERROR_OK)) {
 		size_t filesize;
-		retval = fileio_size(&fileio, &filesize);
+		retval = fileio_size(fileio, &filesize);
 		if (retval != ERROR_OK)
 			return retval;
 		command_print(CMD_CTX,
@@ -3274,7 +3274,7 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(handle_dump_image_command)
 				duration_elapsed(&bench), duration_kbps(&bench, filesize));
 	}
 
-	retvaltemp = fileio_close(&fileio);
+	retvaltemp = fileio_close(fileio);
 	if (retvaltemp != ERROR_OK)
 		return retvaltemp;
 
diff --git a/src/target/xscale.c b/src/target/xscale.c
index f9962cff3c9e8e5c275ed040f807fe7ca80502af..8799e5c499786d25522b767dbfbb38c6325b94ac 100644
--- a/src/target/xscale.c
+++ b/src/target/xscale.c
@@ -3425,7 +3425,7 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(xscale_handle_dump_trace_command)
 	struct target *target = get_current_target(CMD_CTX);
 	struct xscale_common *xscale = target_to_xscale(target);
 	struct xscale_trace_data *trace_data;
-	struct fileio file;
+	struct fileio *file;
 	int retval;
 
 	retval = xscale_verify_pointer(CMD_CTX, xscale);
@@ -3453,19 +3453,19 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(xscale_handle_dump_trace_command)
 	while (trace_data) {
 		int i;
 
-		fileio_write_u32(&file, trace_data->chkpt0);
-		fileio_write_u32(&file, trace_data->chkpt1);
-		fileio_write_u32(&file, trace_data->last_instruction);
-		fileio_write_u32(&file, trace_data->depth);
+		fileio_write_u32(file, trace_data->chkpt0);
+		fileio_write_u32(file, trace_data->chkpt1);
+		fileio_write_u32(file, trace_data->last_instruction);
+		fileio_write_u32(file, trace_data->depth);
 
 		for (i = 0; i < trace_data->depth; i++)
-			fileio_write_u32(&file, trace_data->entries[i].data |
+			fileio_write_u32(file, trace_data->entries[i].data |
 				((trace_data->entries[i].type & 0xffff) << 16));
 
 		trace_data = trace_data->next;
 	}
 
-	fileio_close(&file);
+	fileio_close(file);
 
 	return ERROR_OK;
 }