diff --git a/src/network.c b/src/network.c
index 7bae20b..224f924 100644
--- a/src/network.c
+++ b/src/network.c
@@ -32,10 +32,11 @@
  * Write the buffer to the socket. If an EINTR occurs, pick up and try
  * again. Keep sending until the buffer has been sent.
  */
-ssize_t safe_write (int fd, const char *buffer, size_t count)
+ssize_t safe_write (int fd, const void *buf, size_t count)
 {
         ssize_t len;
         size_t bytestosend;
+	const char *buffer = buf;
 
         assert (fd >= 0);
         assert (buffer != NULL);
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@ ssize_t safe_write (int fd, const char *buffer, size_t count)
  * Matched pair for safe_write(). If an EINTR occurs, pick up and try
  * again.
  */
-ssize_t safe_read (int fd, char *buffer, size_t count)
+ssize_t safe_read (int fd, void *buffer, size_t count)
 {
         ssize_t len;
 
diff --git a/src/network.h b/src/network.h
index 15af481..37c0fba 100644
--- a/src/network.h
+++ b/src/network.h
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@
 #ifndef TINYPROXY_NETWORK_H
 #define TINYPROXY_NETWORK_H
 
-extern ssize_t safe_write (int fd, const char *buffer, size_t count);
-extern ssize_t safe_read (int fd, char *buffer, size_t count);
+extern ssize_t safe_write (int fd, const void *buf, size_t count);
+extern ssize_t safe_read (int fd, void *buf, size_t count);
 
 extern int write_message (int fd, const char *fmt, ...);
 extern ssize_t readline (int fd, char **whole_buffer);