diff --git a/ascon.c b/ascon.c
index 6269a356..799417dc 100644
--- a/ascon.c
+++ b/ascon.c
@@ -53,16 +53,6 @@ static int CreateSocketAdress(struct sockaddr_in *sockaddrPtr,  /* Socket addres
   return 1;
 }
 
-double DoubleTime(void)
-{
-  struct timeval now;
-  /* the resolution of this function is usec, if the machine supports this
-     and the mantissa of a double is 51 bits or more (31 for sec and 20 for micro)
-   */
-  gettimeofday(&now, NULL);
-  return now.tv_sec + now.tv_usec / 1e6;
-}
-
 void AsconError(Ascon *a, char *msg, int errorno)
 {
   static char *stateText[]={
@@ -455,6 +445,10 @@ int AsconStdHandler(Ascon * a)
     if (result == 0)
       return 0;
     chr = a->lastChar;
+    if (chr == '\0') { /* skip NUL characters */
+      DynStringBackspace(a->rdBuffer); /* remove NUL */
+      return 1;
+    }
     if (a->replyTerminator != NULL) {
       if (strchr(a->replyTerminator, chr) != NULL) {
         a->state = AsconReadDone;
diff --git a/ascon.h b/ascon.h
index b1974282..46372191 100644
--- a/ascon.h
+++ b/ascon.h
@@ -79,11 +79,6 @@ char *AsconGetError(Ascon *a);
  */
 char *ConcatArgs(int argc, char *argv[]);
 
-/** \brief function for dealing with times with microsec resolution
- *  \return absolute time as double value
- */
-double DoubleTime(void);
-
 /** \brief emit an error message. The state switches to AsconFailed.
  *  \param a the connection
  *  \param msg, a message to be emitted