diff --git a/examples/veinlook.cpp b/examples/veinlook.cpp
index a77f284c1..87832944c 100644
--- a/examples/veinlook.cpp
+++ b/examples/veinlook.cpp
@@ -272,11 +272,12 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
         finish(0);
     }
 
+    // FIXME: could fail on small forts
     int cursorX = x_max/2 - 1;
     int cursorY = y_max/2 - 1;
     int cursorZ = z_max/2 - 1;
     
-    // FIXME: could fail on small forts
+    
     
     int vein = 0;
     // walk the map!
@@ -318,13 +319,15 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
         cursorY = max(cursorY, 0);
         cursorZ = max(cursorZ, 0);
         
-        cursorX = min(cursorX, x_max - 3);
-        cursorY = min(cursorY, y_max - 3);
-        cursorZ = min(cursorZ, z_max - 3);        
+        cursorX = min(cursorX, x_max - 1);
+        cursorY = min(cursorY, y_max - 1);
+        cursorZ = min(cursorZ, z_max - 1);        
 
         DF.Suspend();
-        for(int i = 0; i < 3; i++)
-            for(int j = 0; j < 3; j++)
+        for(int i = -1; i <= 1; i++)
+        {
+            for(int j = -1; j <= 1; j++)
+            {
                 if(DF.isValidBlock(cursorX+i,cursorY+j,cursorZ))
                 {
                     // read data
@@ -338,22 +341,24 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
                             color = pickColor(tiletypes[x][y]);
                             if(designations[x][y].bits.hidden)
                             {
-                                puttile(x+i*16,y+j*16,tiletypes[x][y], color);
+                                puttile(x+(i+1)*16,y+(j+1)*16,tiletypes[x][y], color);
                             }
                             else
                             {
                                 attron(A_STANDOUT);
-                                puttile(x+i*16,y+j*16,tiletypes[x][y], color);
+                                puttile(x+(i+1)*16,y+(j+1)*16,tiletypes[x][y], color);
                                 attroff(A_STANDOUT);
                             }
                         }
                     }
-                    if(i == 1 && j == 1)
+                    if(i == 0 && j == 0)
                     {
                         veinVector.clear();
                         DF.ReadVeins(cursorX+i,cursorY+j,cursorZ,veinVector);
                     }
                 }
+            }
+        }
         gotoxy(0,48);
         cprintf("arrow keys, PGUP, PGDN = navigate");
         gotoxy(0,49);
@@ -361,7 +366,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
         gotoxy(0,50);
         if(vein == veinVector.size()) vein = veinVector.size() - 1;
         if(vein < -1) vein = -1;
-        cprintf("X %d/%d, Y %d/%d, Z %d/%d. Vein %d of %d",cursorX + 1,x_max,cursorY + 1,y_max,cursorZ + 1,z_max,vein+1,veinVector.size());
+        cprintf("X %d/%d, Y %d/%d, Z %d/%d. Vein %d of %d",cursorX+1,x_max,cursorY+1,y_max,cursorZ,z_max,vein+1,veinVector.size());
         if(!veinVector.empty())
         {
             if(vein != -1 && vein < veinVector.size())
diff --git a/library/DFHackAPI.cpp b/library/DFHackAPI.cpp
index ecab52de3..4b66cd5e4 100644
--- a/library/DFHackAPI.cpp
+++ b/library/DFHackAPI.cpp
@@ -207,9 +207,18 @@ bool API::DestroyMap()
 
 bool API::isValidBlock (uint32_t x, uint32_t y, uint32_t z)
 {
+    if (x < 0 || x >= d->x_block_count || y < 0 || y >= d->y_block_count || z < 0 || z >= d->z_block_count)
+        return false;
     return d->block[x*d->y_block_count*d->z_block_count + y*d->z_block_count + z] != 0;
 }
 
+uint32_t API::getBlockPtr (uint32_t x, uint32_t y, uint32_t z)
+{
+    if (x < 0 || x >= d->x_block_count || y < 0 || y >= d->y_block_count || z < 0 || z >= d->z_block_count)
+        return 0;
+    return d->block[x*d->y_block_count*d->z_block_count + y*d->z_block_count + z];
+}
+
 // 256 * sizeof(uint16_t)
 bool API::ReadTileTypes (uint32_t x, uint32_t y, uint32_t z, uint16_t *buffer)
 {
diff --git a/library/DFHackAPI.h b/library/DFHackAPI.h
index 21e3999cc..aebce4590 100644
--- a/library/DFHackAPI.h
+++ b/library/DFHackAPI.h
@@ -128,6 +128,10 @@ namespace DFHack
          * Return false/0 on failure, buffer allocated by client app, 256 items long
          */
         bool isValidBlock(uint32_t blockx, uint32_t blocky, uint32_t blockz);
+        /**
+         * Get the address of a block or 0 if block is not valid
+         */
+        uint32_t getBlockPtr (uint32_t x, uint32_t y, uint32_t z);
         
         bool ReadTileTypes(uint32_t blockx, uint32_t blocky, uint32_t blockz, uint16_t *buffer); // 256 * sizeof(uint16_t)
         bool WriteTileTypes(uint32_t blockx, uint32_t blocky, uint32_t blockz, uint16_t *buffer); // 256 * sizeof(uint16_t)