diff --git a/scsh/newports.scm b/scsh/newports.scm
index 97ee805..78c9d48 100644
--- a/scsh/newports.scm
+++ b/scsh/newports.scm
@@ -608,6 +608,10 @@
 (define-r4rs-output (force-output) output s48-force-output
   (values)) ; Do nothing if applied to a file descriptor.
 
+;;; extend channel-i/o's version to fdports
+;;; WARNING: evil procedure, bypasses port-lock
+(define (port->channel port)
+  (fdport-data:channel (fdport-data port)))
 
 (define (format dest cstring . args)
   (if (integer? dest)
diff --git a/scsh/scsh-interfaces.scm b/scsh/scsh-interfaces.scm
index d893ad8..9eaa9df 100644
--- a/scsh/scsh-interfaces.scm
+++ b/scsh/scsh-interfaces.scm
@@ -126,7 +126,8 @@
 			      set-fdes-status
 
 			      init-fdports!  ;added by JMG
-			     
+			      port->channel  ;overwrites channel-i/o
+
 			      force-output
 			      set-port-buffering
 			      bufpol/block