diff --git a/src/libCom/misc/cantProceed.c b/src/libCom/misc/cantProceed.c
index b03d43cc4..f1bb60dd4 100644
--- a/src/libCom/misc/cantProceed.c
+++ b/src/libCom/misc/cantProceed.c
@@ -7,15 +7,12 @@
 * and higher are distributed subject to a Software License Agreement found
 * in file LICENSE that is included with this distribution. 
 \*************************************************************************/
-/* callocMustSucceed.c */
+/* $Id$ */
 
 /* Author:  Marty Kraimer Date:    04JAN99 */
 
 #include <stddef.h>
-#include <string.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
-#include <stddef.h>
-#include <stdio.h>
 
 #define epicsExportSharedSymbols
 #include "errlog.h"
@@ -24,31 +21,38 @@
 
 epicsShareFunc void * callocMustSucceed(size_t count, size_t size, const char *errorMessage)
 {
-    void *mem = calloc(count,size);
-    if(mem==0 && count!=0 && size!=0) {
-        errlogPrintf("%s callocMustSucceed failed count %lu size %lu\n",
-            errorMessage,(unsigned long)count,(unsigned long)size);
+    void * mem = NULL;
+    if (count != 0 && size != 0)
+        mem = calloc(count, size);
+    if (mem == NULL) {
+        errlogPrintf("%s: callocMustSucceed(count=%lu, size=%lu) failed\n",
+            errorMessage, (unsigned long)count, (unsigned long)size);
         cantProceed(0);
     }
-    return(mem);
+    return mem;
 }
 
 epicsShareFunc void * mallocMustSucceed(size_t size, const char *errorMessage)
 {
-    void *mem = malloc(size);
-    if(mem==0 && size!=0) {
-        errlogPrintf("%s mallocMustSucceed failed size %lu\n",
-            errorMessage,(unsigned long)size);
+    void * mem = NULL;
+    if (size != 0)
+        mem = malloc(size);
+    if (mem == NULL) {
+        errlogPrintf("%s: mallocMustSucceed(size=%lu) failed\n",
+            errorMessage, (unsigned long)size);
         cantProceed(0);
     }
-    return(mem);
+    return mem;
 }
 
 epicsShareFunc void cantProceed(const char *errorMessage)
 {
-    if(errorMessage) errlogPrintf("fatal error: %s\n",errorMessage);
-    else errlogPrintf("fatal error\n");
+    if (errorMessage)
+        errlogPrintf("fatal error: %s\n",errorMessage);
+    else
+        errlogPrintf("fatal error, task suspended\n");
     errlogFlush();
     epicsThreadSleep(1.0);
-    epicsThreadSuspendSelf();
+    while (1)
+        epicsThreadSuspendSelf();
 }