diff --git a/builtin-apply.c b/builtin-apply.c
index 3b6cd6dfae..b31007ba99 100644
--- a/builtin-apply.c
+++ b/builtin-apply.c
@@ -1253,8 +1253,9 @@ static char *inflate_it(const void *data, unsigned long size,
 	stream.avail_in = size;
 	stream.next_out = out = xmalloc(inflated_size);
 	stream.avail_out = inflated_size;
-	inflateInit(&stream);
-	st = inflate(&stream, Z_FINISH);
+	git_inflate_init(&stream);
+	st = git_inflate(&stream, Z_FINISH);
+	git_inflate_end(&stream);
 	if ((st != Z_STREAM_END) || stream.total_out != inflated_size) {
 		free(out);
 		return NULL;
diff --git a/builtin-pack-objects.c b/builtin-pack-objects.c
index cedef52fd3..b616994f45 100644
--- a/builtin-pack-objects.c
+++ b/builtin-pack-objects.c
@@ -195,16 +195,16 @@ static int check_pack_inflate(struct packed_git *p,
 	int st;
 
 	memset(&stream, 0, sizeof(stream));
-	inflateInit(&stream);
+	git_inflate_init(&stream);
 	do {
 		in = use_pack(p, w_curs, offset, &stream.avail_in);
 		stream.next_in = in;
 		stream.next_out = fakebuf;
 		stream.avail_out = sizeof(fakebuf);
-		st = inflate(&stream, Z_FINISH);
+		st = git_inflate(&stream, Z_FINISH);
 		offset += stream.next_in - in;
 	} while (st == Z_OK || st == Z_BUF_ERROR);
-	inflateEnd(&stream);
+	git_inflate_end(&stream);
 	return (st == Z_STREAM_END &&
 		stream.total_out == expect &&
 		stream.total_in == len) ? 0 : -1;
diff --git a/builtin-unpack-objects.c b/builtin-unpack-objects.c
index 47ed610677..9a773239ca 100644
--- a/builtin-unpack-objects.c
+++ b/builtin-unpack-objects.c
@@ -99,10 +99,10 @@ static void *get_data(unsigned long size)
 	stream.avail_out = size;
 	stream.next_in = fill(1);
 	stream.avail_in = len;
-	inflateInit(&stream);
+	git_inflate_init(&stream);
 
 	for (;;) {
-		int ret = inflate(&stream, 0);
+		int ret = git_inflate(&stream, 0);
 		use(len - stream.avail_in);
 		if (stream.total_out == size && ret == Z_STREAM_END)
 			break;
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ static void *get_data(unsigned long size)
 		stream.next_in = fill(1);
 		stream.avail_in = len;
 	}
-	inflateEnd(&stream);
+	git_inflate_end(&stream);
 	return buf;
 }
 
diff --git a/cache.h b/cache.h
index 231c06d772..49e54fbe67 100644
--- a/cache.h
+++ b/cache.h
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@
 #define deflateBound(c,s)  ((s) + (((s) + 7) >> 3) + (((s) + 63) >> 6) + 11)
 #endif
 
+void git_inflate_init(z_streamp strm);
+void git_inflate_end(z_streamp strm);
+int git_inflate(z_streamp strm, int flush);
+
 #if defined(DT_UNKNOWN) && !defined(NO_D_TYPE_IN_DIRENT)
 #define DTYPE(de)	((de)->d_type)
 #else
diff --git a/http-push.c b/http-push.c
index 6ad853e2d0..cb5bf95a73 100644
--- a/http-push.c
+++ b/http-push.c
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ static size_t fwrite_sha1_file(void *ptr, size_t eltsize, size_t nmemb,
 	do {
 		request->stream.next_out = expn;
 		request->stream.avail_out = sizeof(expn);
-		request->zret = inflate(&request->stream, Z_SYNC_FLUSH);
+		request->zret = git_inflate(&request->stream, Z_SYNC_FLUSH);
 		git_SHA1_Update(&request->c, expn,
 			    sizeof(expn) - request->stream.avail_out);
 	} while (request->stream.avail_in && request->zret == Z_OK);
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ static void start_fetch_loose(struct transfer_request *request)
 
 	memset(&request->stream, 0, sizeof(request->stream));
 
-	inflateInit(&request->stream);
+	git_inflate_init(&request->stream);
 
 	git_SHA1_Init(&request->c);
 
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ static void start_fetch_loose(struct transfer_request *request)
 	   file; also rewind to the beginning of the local file. */
 	if (prev_read == -1) {
 		memset(&request->stream, 0, sizeof(request->stream));
-		inflateInit(&request->stream);
+		git_inflate_init(&request->stream);
 		git_SHA1_Init(&request->c);
 		if (prev_posn>0) {
 			prev_posn = 0;
@@ -742,7 +742,7 @@ static void finish_request(struct transfer_request *request)
 			if (request->http_code == 416)
 				fprintf(stderr, "Warning: requested range invalid; we may already have all the data.\n");
 
-			inflateEnd(&request->stream);
+			git_inflate_end(&request->stream);
 			git_SHA1_Final(request->real_sha1, &request->c);
 			if (request->zret != Z_STREAM_END) {
 				unlink(request->tmpfile);
diff --git a/http-walker.c b/http-walker.c
index 7271c7d19d..0dbad3c888 100644
--- a/http-walker.c
+++ b/http-walker.c
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ static size_t fwrite_sha1_file(void *ptr, size_t eltsize, size_t nmemb,
 	do {
 		obj_req->stream.next_out = expn;
 		obj_req->stream.avail_out = sizeof(expn);
-		obj_req->zret = inflate(&obj_req->stream, Z_SYNC_FLUSH);
+		obj_req->zret = git_inflate(&obj_req->stream, Z_SYNC_FLUSH);
 		git_SHA1_Update(&obj_req->c, expn,
 			    sizeof(expn) - obj_req->stream.avail_out);
 	} while (obj_req->stream.avail_in && obj_req->zret == Z_OK);
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ static void start_object_request(struct walker *walker,
 
 	memset(&obj_req->stream, 0, sizeof(obj_req->stream));
 
-	inflateInit(&obj_req->stream);
+	git_inflate_init(&obj_req->stream);
 
 	git_SHA1_Init(&obj_req->c);
 
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ static void start_object_request(struct walker *walker,
 	   file; also rewind to the beginning of the local file. */
 	if (prev_read == -1) {
 		memset(&obj_req->stream, 0, sizeof(obj_req->stream));
-		inflateInit(&obj_req->stream);
+		git_inflate_init(&obj_req->stream);
 		git_SHA1_Init(&obj_req->c);
 		if (prev_posn>0) {
 			prev_posn = 0;
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ static void finish_object_request(struct object_request *obj_req)
 		return;
 	}
 
-	inflateEnd(&obj_req->stream);
+	git_inflate_end(&obj_req->stream);
 	git_SHA1_Final(obj_req->real_sha1, &obj_req->c);
 	if (obj_req->zret != Z_STREAM_END) {
 		unlink(obj_req->tmpfile);
diff --git a/index-pack.c b/index-pack.c
index 60ed41a993..c0a3d97a12 100644
--- a/index-pack.c
+++ b/index-pack.c
@@ -275,10 +275,10 @@ static void *unpack_entry_data(unsigned long offset, unsigned long size)
 	stream.avail_out = size;
 	stream.next_in = fill(1);
 	stream.avail_in = input_len;
-	inflateInit(&stream);
+	git_inflate_init(&stream);
 
 	for (;;) {
-		int ret = inflate(&stream, 0);
+		int ret = git_inflate(&stream, 0);
 		use(input_len - stream.avail_in);
 		if (stream.total_out == size && ret == Z_STREAM_END)
 			break;
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ static void *unpack_entry_data(unsigned long offset, unsigned long size)
 		stream.next_in = fill(1);
 		stream.avail_in = input_len;
 	}
-	inflateEnd(&stream);
+	git_inflate_end(&stream);
 	return buf;
 }
 
@@ -382,9 +382,9 @@ static void *get_data_from_pack(struct object_entry *obj)
 	stream.avail_out = obj->size;
 	stream.next_in = src;
 	stream.avail_in = len;
-	inflateInit(&stream);
-	while ((st = inflate(&stream, Z_FINISH)) == Z_OK);
-	inflateEnd(&stream);
+	git_inflate_init(&stream);
+	while ((st = git_inflate(&stream, Z_FINISH)) == Z_OK);
+	git_inflate_end(&stream);
 	if (st != Z_STREAM_END || stream.total_out != obj->size)
 		die("serious inflate inconsistency");
 	free(src);
diff --git a/sha1_file.c b/sha1_file.c
index ce5ea12c44..ced33e837b 100644
--- a/sha1_file.c
+++ b/sha1_file.c
@@ -1196,8 +1196,8 @@ static int unpack_sha1_header(z_stream *stream, unsigned char *map, unsigned lon
 	stream->avail_out = bufsiz;
 
 	if (legacy_loose_object(map)) {
-		inflateInit(stream);
-		return inflate(stream, 0);
+		git_inflate_init(stream);
+		return git_inflate(stream, 0);
 	}
 
 
@@ -1217,7 +1217,7 @@ static int unpack_sha1_header(z_stream *stream, unsigned char *map, unsigned lon
 	/* Set up the stream for the rest.. */
 	stream->next_in = map;
 	stream->avail_in = mapsize;
-	inflateInit(stream);
+	git_inflate_init(stream);
 
 	/* And generate the fake traditional header */
 	stream->total_out = 1 + snprintf(buffer, bufsiz, "%s %lu",
@@ -1254,11 +1254,11 @@ static void *unpack_sha1_rest(z_stream *stream, void *buffer, unsigned long size
 		stream->next_out = buf + bytes;
 		stream->avail_out = size - bytes;
 		while (status == Z_OK)
-			status = inflate(stream, Z_FINISH);
+			status = git_inflate(stream, Z_FINISH);
 	}
 	buf[size] = 0;
 	if (status == Z_STREAM_END && !stream->avail_in) {
-		inflateEnd(stream);
+		git_inflate_end(stream);
 		return buf;
 	}
 
@@ -1348,15 +1348,15 @@ unsigned long get_size_from_delta(struct packed_git *p,
 	stream.next_out = delta_head;
 	stream.avail_out = sizeof(delta_head);
 
-	inflateInit(&stream);
+	git_inflate_init(&stream);
 	do {
 		in = use_pack(p, w_curs, curpos, &stream.avail_in);
 		stream.next_in = in;
-		st = inflate(&stream, Z_FINISH);
+		st = git_inflate(&stream, Z_FINISH);
 		curpos += stream.next_in - in;
 	} while ((st == Z_OK || st == Z_BUF_ERROR) &&
 		 stream.total_out < sizeof(delta_head));
-	inflateEnd(&stream);
+	git_inflate_end(&stream);
 	if ((st != Z_STREAM_END) && stream.total_out != sizeof(delta_head)) {
 		error("delta data unpack-initial failed");
 		return 0;
@@ -1585,14 +1585,14 @@ static void *unpack_compressed_entry(struct packed_git *p,
 	stream.next_out = buffer;
 	stream.avail_out = size;
 
-	inflateInit(&stream);
+	git_inflate_init(&stream);
 	do {
 		in = use_pack(p, w_curs, curpos, &stream.avail_in);
 		stream.next_in = in;
-		st = inflate(&stream, Z_FINISH);
+		st = git_inflate(&stream, Z_FINISH);
 		curpos += stream.next_in - in;
 	} while (st == Z_OK || st == Z_BUF_ERROR);
-	inflateEnd(&stream);
+	git_inflate_end(&stream);
 	if ((st != Z_STREAM_END) || stream.total_out != size) {
 		free(buffer);
 		return NULL;
@@ -2017,7 +2017,7 @@ static int sha1_loose_object_info(const unsigned char *sha1, unsigned long *size
 		status = error("unable to parse %s header", sha1_to_hex(sha1));
 	else if (sizep)
 		*sizep = size;
-	inflateEnd(&stream);
+	git_inflate_end(&stream);
 	munmap(map, mapsize);
 	return status;
 }
diff --git a/wrapper.c b/wrapper.c
index 93562f03ee..c85ca52ec6 100644
--- a/wrapper.c
+++ b/wrapper.c
@@ -196,3 +196,63 @@ int xmkstemp(char *template)
 		die("Unable to create temporary file: %s", strerror(errno));
 	return fd;
 }
+
+/*
+ * zlib wrappers to make sure we don't silently miss errors
+ * at init time.
+ */
+void git_inflate_init(z_streamp strm)
+{
+	const char *err;
+
+	switch (inflateInit(strm)) {
+	case Z_OK:
+		return;
+
+	case Z_MEM_ERROR:
+		err = "out of memory";
+		break;
+	case Z_VERSION_ERROR:
+		err = "wrong version";
+		break;
+	default:
+		err = "error";
+	}
+	die("inflateInit: %s (%s)", err, strm->msg ? strm->msg : "no message");
+}
+
+void git_inflate_end(z_streamp strm)
+{
+	if (inflateEnd(strm) != Z_OK)
+		error("inflateEnd: %s", strm->msg ? strm->msg : "failed");
+}
+
+int git_inflate(z_streamp strm, int flush)
+{
+	int ret = inflate(strm, flush);
+	const char *err;
+
+	switch (ret) {
+	/* Out of memory is fatal. */
+	case Z_MEM_ERROR:
+		die("inflate: out of memory");
+
+	/* Data corruption errors: we may want to recover from them (fsck) */
+	case Z_NEED_DICT:
+		err = "needs dictionary"; break;
+	case Z_DATA_ERROR:
+		err = "data stream error"; break;
+	case Z_STREAM_ERROR:
+		err = "stream consistency error"; break;
+	default:
+		err = "unknown error"; break;
+
+	/* Z_BUF_ERROR: normal, needs more space in the output buffer */
+	case Z_BUF_ERROR:
+	case Z_OK:
+	case Z_STREAM_END:
+		return ret;
+	}
+	error("inflate: %s (%s)", err, strm->msg ? strm->msg : "no message");
+	return ret;
+}