--- old/compress42.c	1992-10-28 06:10:53.000000000 -0500
+++ fixed/compress42.c	2003-11-12 19:42:49.000000000 -0500
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@
 #define FIRST	257					/* first free entry 							*/
 #define	CLEAR	256					/* table clear output code 						*/
 
-#define INIT_BITS 9			/* initial number of bits/code */
+#define INIT_BITS 8			/* initial number of bits/code */
 
 #ifndef SACREDMEM
 	/*
@@ -819,7 +819,7 @@
 nextarg:	continue;
     	}
 
-    	if (maxbits < INIT_BITS)	maxbits = INIT_BITS;
+    	if (maxbits <= INIT_BITS)	maxbits = INIT_BITS + 1;
     	if (maxbits > BITS) 		maxbits = BITS;
 
     	if (*filelist != NULL)