diff --git a/src/server/telnet_server.c b/src/server/telnet_server.c
index e84d0454b0c2b0b21ce47c21983e80082422d3a4..b40daca8a1b266ab17f4bc094ecddf9d81e158e7 100644
--- a/src/server/telnet_server.c
+++ b/src/server/telnet_server.c
@@ -93,10 +93,21 @@ void telnet_log_callback(void *priv, const char *file, int line,
 {
 	connection_t *connection = priv;
 	char *t = allocPrintf(format, args);
+	char *t2;
 	if (t == NULL)
 		return;
+	t2=t;
+	char *endline;
+	do 
+	{
+		if ((endline=strchr(t2, '\n'))!=NULL)
+		{
+			*endline=0;
+		}
+		telnet_outputline(connection, t2);
+		t2=endline+1;
+	} while (endline);
 	
-	telnet_outputline(connection, t);
 	
 	free(t);
 }
@@ -106,15 +117,12 @@ int telnet_target_callback_event_handler(struct target_s *target, enum target_ev
 	struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx = priv;
 	connection_t *connection = cmd_ctx->output_handler_priv;
 	telnet_connection_t *t_con = connection->priv;
-	char buffer[512];
 	
 	switch (event)
 	{
 		case TARGET_EVENT_HALTED:
 			command_print(cmd_ctx, "Target %i halted", get_num_by_target(target));
-			target->type->arch_state(target, buffer, 512);
-			buffer[511] = 0;
-			command_print(cmd_ctx, "%s", buffer);
+			target_arch_state(target);
 			if (!t_con->suppress_prompt)
 				telnet_prompt(connection);
 			break;
diff --git a/src/target/arm720t.c b/src/target/arm720t.c
index 05cc30f4cecccbce0827a72794b60ecf276e6cd5..62b70e3b6a657aa5c734d7ec20495d0aad8d439d 100644
--- a/src/target/arm720t.c
+++ b/src/target/arm720t.c
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ int arm720t_handle_mw_phys_command(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx, char *cmd,
 int arm720t_target_command(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx, char *cmd, char **args, int argc, struct target_s *target);
 int arm720t_init_target(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx, struct target_s *target);
 int arm720t_quit();
-int arm720t_arch_state(struct target_s *target, char *buf, int buf_size);
+int arm720t_arch_state(struct target_s *target);
 int arm720t_read_memory(struct target_s *target, u32 address, u32 size, u32 count, u8 *buffer);
 int arm720t_write_memory(struct target_s *target, u32 address, u32 size, u32 count, u8 *buffer);
 int arm720t_soft_reset_halt(struct target_s *target);
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ int arm720t_get_arch_pointers(target_t *target, armv4_5_common_t **armv4_5_p, ar
 	return ERROR_OK;
 }
 
-int arm720t_arch_state(struct target_s *target, char *buf, int buf_size)
+int arm720t_arch_state(struct target_s *target)
 {
 	armv4_5_common_t *armv4_5 = target->arch_info;
 	arm7_9_common_t *arm7_9 = armv4_5->arch_info;
@@ -315,8 +315,7 @@ int arm720t_arch_state(struct target_s *target, char *buf, int buf_size)
 		exit(-1);
 	}
 	
-	snprintf(buf, buf_size,
-			"target halted in %s state due to %s, current mode: %s\n"
+	USER("target halted in %s state due to %s, current mode: %s\n"
 			"cpsr: 0x%8.8x pc: 0x%8.8x\n"
 			"MMU: %s, Cache: %s",
 			 armv4_5_state_strings[armv4_5->core_state],
diff --git a/src/target/arm7_9_common.c b/src/target/arm7_9_common.c
index 3a0eb7b0865a375e373721ddce5c27f6a907c75e..2a149425be613df70eb6cf9e90aa434f43b59f92 100644
--- a/src/target/arm7_9_common.c
+++ b/src/target/arm7_9_common.c
@@ -676,7 +676,7 @@ int arm7_9_handle_target_request(void *priv)
 	return ERROR_OK;
 }
 
-enum target_state arm7_9_poll(target_t *target)
+int arm7_9_poll(target_t *target)
 {
 	int retval;
 	armv4_5_common_t *armv4_5 = target->arch_info;
@@ -692,24 +692,15 @@ enum target_state arm7_9_poll(target_t *target)
 	embeddedice_read_reg(dbg_stat);
 	if ((retval = jtag_execute_queue()) != ERROR_OK)
 	{
-		switch (retval)
-		{
-			case ERROR_JTAG_QUEUE_FAILED:
-				ERROR("JTAG queue failed while reading EmbeddedICE status register");
-				exit(-1);
-				break;
-			default:
-				break;
-		}
+		return retval;
 	}
 	
 	if (buf_get_u32(dbg_stat->value, EICE_DBG_STATUS_DBGACK, 1))
 	{
 		DEBUG("DBGACK set, dbg_state->value: 0x%x", buf_get_u32(dbg_stat->value, 0, 32));
-		if ((target->state == TARGET_UNKNOWN))
+		if (target->state == TARGET_UNKNOWN)
 		{
-			WARNING("DBGACK set while target was in unknown state. Reset or initialize target before resuming");
-			target->state = TARGET_RUNNING;
+			WARNING("DBGACK set while target was in unknown state. Reset or initialize target.");
 		}
 		if ((target->state == TARGET_RUNNING) || (target->state == TARGET_RESET))
 		{
@@ -727,14 +718,18 @@ enum target_state arm7_9_poll(target_t *target)
 			
 			target_call_event_callbacks(target, TARGET_EVENT_DEBUG_HALTED);
 		}
-	}
+		if (target->state != TARGET_HALTED)
+		{
+			WARNING("DBGACK set, but the target did not end up in the halted stated %d", target->state);
+		}
+	}
 	else
 	{
 		if (target->state != TARGET_DEBUG_RUNNING)
 			target->state = TARGET_RUNNING;
 	}
 	
-	return target->state;
+	return ERROR_OK;
 }
 
 int arm7_9_assert_reset(target_t *target)
@@ -1307,7 +1302,6 @@ int arm7_9_restore_context(target_t *target)
 				else
 				{
 					ERROR("BUG: dirty register '%s', but no valid data", reg->name);
-					exit(-1);
 				}
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/src/target/arm7_9_common.h b/src/target/arm7_9_common.h
index 01b9242a5e301db6a605f5c839d1268f040fd5dc..b95516e6e5b96f4b6dd13ca808dd580c084bb0bb 100644
--- a/src/target/arm7_9_common.h
+++ b/src/target/arm7_9_common.h
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ typedef struct arm7_9_common_s
 
 int arm7_9_register_commands(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx);
 
-enum target_state arm7_9_poll(target_t *target);
+int arm7_9_poll(target_t *target);
 
 int arm7_9_target_request_data(target_t *target, u32 size, u8 *buffer);
 
diff --git a/src/target/arm7tdmi.c b/src/target/arm7tdmi.c
index 9a9a2450595ba0a85e87a19e90e81ee8d174e2a5..c308380a6a160960581896e84c5e7a0f99ad2b77 100644
--- a/src/target/arm7tdmi.c
+++ b/src/target/arm7tdmi.c
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ int arm7tdmi_init_target(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx, struct target_s *tar
 int arm7tdmi_quit();
 
 /* target function declarations */
-enum target_state arm7tdmi_poll(struct target_s *target);
+int arm7tdmi_poll(struct target_s *target);
 int arm7tdmi_halt(target_t *target);
 		
 target_type_t arm7tdmi_target =
diff --git a/src/target/arm920t.c b/src/target/arm920t.c
index ef95581008ea365d879dc48a236ac1af8ba2f3f2..bf159dbeb388606d488fee6f4a98b32ab41df9a6 100644
--- a/src/target/arm920t.c
+++ b/src/target/arm920t.c
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ int arm920t_handle_read_mmu_command(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx, char *cmd
 int arm920t_target_command(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx, char *cmd, char **args, int argc, struct target_s *target);
 int arm920t_init_target(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx, struct target_s *target);
 int arm920t_quit();
-int arm920t_arch_state(struct target_s *target, char *buf, int buf_size);
+int arm920t_arch_state(struct target_s *target);
 int arm920t_read_memory(struct target_s *target, u32 address, u32 size, u32 count, u8 *buffer);
 int arm920t_write_memory(struct target_s *target, u32 address, u32 size, u32 count, u8 *buffer);
 int arm920t_soft_reset_halt(struct target_s *target);
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ int arm920t_get_arch_pointers(target_t *target, armv4_5_common_t **armv4_5_p, ar
 	return ERROR_OK;
 }
 
-int arm920t_arch_state(struct target_s *target, char *buf, int buf_size)
+int arm920t_arch_state(struct target_s *target)
 {
 	armv4_5_common_t *armv4_5 = target->arch_info;
 	arm7_9_common_t *arm7_9 = armv4_5->arch_info;
@@ -554,8 +554,7 @@ int arm920t_arch_state(struct target_s *target, char *buf, int buf_size)
 		exit(-1);
 	}
 	
-	snprintf(buf, buf_size,
-			"target halted in %s state due to %s, current mode: %s\n"
+	USER(	"target halted in %s state due to %s, current mode: %s\n"
 			"cpsr: 0x%8.8x pc: 0x%8.8x\n"
 			"MMU: %s, D-Cache: %s, I-Cache: %s",
 			 armv4_5_state_strings[armv4_5->core_state],
diff --git a/src/target/arm926ejs.c b/src/target/arm926ejs.c
index ba974eb975184ca1ba969c471b265d355dae1c79..10061530019e61a0c0d5a117cd20d729c3891e09 100644
--- a/src/target/arm926ejs.c
+++ b/src/target/arm926ejs.c
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ int arm926ejs_handle_read_mmu_command(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx, char *c
 int arm926ejs_target_command(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx, char *cmd, char **args, int argc, struct target_s *target);
 int arm926ejs_init_target(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx, struct target_s *target);
 int arm926ejs_quit();
-int arm926ejs_arch_state(struct target_s *target, char *buf, int buf_size);
+int arm926ejs_arch_state(struct target_s *target);
 int arm926ejs_read_memory(struct target_s *target, u32 address, u32 size, u32 count, u8 *buffer);
 int arm926ejs_write_memory(struct target_s *target, u32 address, u32 size, u32 count, u8 *buffer);
 int arm926ejs_soft_reset_halt(struct target_s *target);
@@ -530,7 +530,7 @@ int arm926ejs_get_arch_pointers(target_t *target, armv4_5_common_t **armv4_5_p,
 	return ERROR_OK;
 }
 
-int arm926ejs_arch_state(struct target_s *target, char *buf, int buf_size)
+int arm926ejs_arch_state(struct target_s *target)
 {
 	armv4_5_common_t *armv4_5 = target->arch_info;
 	arm7_9_common_t *arm7_9 = armv4_5->arch_info;
@@ -548,7 +548,7 @@ int arm926ejs_arch_state(struct target_s *target, char *buf, int buf_size)
 		exit(-1);
 	}
 	
-	snprintf(buf, buf_size,
+	USER(
 			"target halted in %s state due to %s, current mode: %s\n"
 			"cpsr: 0x%8.8x pc: 0x%8.8x\n"
 			"MMU: %s, D-Cache: %s, I-Cache: %s",
diff --git a/src/target/arm926ejs.h b/src/target/arm926ejs.h
index 65e67c5d610e5f2dcbbede4ca31169983ecb2d8b..178fc2298e9d18c7c6ce815dec970006967cd43b 100644
--- a/src/target/arm926ejs.h
+++ b/src/target/arm926ejs.h
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ typedef struct arm926ejs_common_s
 
 extern int arm926ejs_init_arch_info(target_t *target, arm926ejs_common_t *arm926ejs, int chain_pos, char *variant);
 extern int arm926ejs_register_commands(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx); 
-extern int arm926ejs_arch_state(struct target_s *target, char *buf, int buf_size); 
+extern int arm926ejs_arch_state(struct target_s *target); 
 extern int arm926ejs_write_memory(struct target_s *target, u32 address, u32 size, u32 count, u8 *buffer); 
 extern int arm926ejs_soft_reset_halt(struct target_s *target);
 
diff --git a/src/target/armv4_5.c b/src/target/armv4_5.c
index 02a731cac423e4ad627abae066eb822ce24341e6..2528f1072cfc875996b905b4104c745de9772248 100644
--- a/src/target/armv4_5.c
+++ b/src/target/armv4_5.c
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ reg_cache_t* armv4_5_build_reg_cache(target_t *target, armv4_5_common_t *armv4_5
 	return cache;
 }
 
-int armv4_5_arch_state(struct target_s *target, char *buf, int buf_size)
+int armv4_5_arch_state(struct target_s *target)
 {
 	armv4_5_common_t *armv4_5 = target->arch_info;
 	
@@ -332,8 +332,7 @@ int armv4_5_arch_state(struct target_s *target, char *buf, int buf_size)
 		exit(-1);
 	}
 	
-	snprintf(buf, buf_size,
-			 "target halted in %s state due to %s, current mode: %s\ncpsr: 0x%8.8x pc: 0x%8.8x",
+	USER("target halted in %s state due to %s, current mode: %s\ncpsr: 0x%8.8x pc: 0x%8.8x",
 			 armv4_5_state_strings[armv4_5->core_state],
 			 target_debug_reason_strings[target->debug_reason],
 			 armv4_5_mode_strings[armv4_5_mode_to_number(armv4_5->core_mode)],
diff --git a/src/target/armv4_5.h b/src/target/armv4_5.h
index 36264f3583bcb5c29b4f20bfa6a0da71207352f2..f04a41137fdeb0dd54103ee730bb4db1fc0885e7 100644
--- a/src/target/armv4_5.h
+++ b/src/target/armv4_5.h
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ extern reg_cache_t* armv4_5_build_reg_cache(target_t *target, armv4_5_common_t *
 extern enum armv4_5_mode armv4_5_number_to_mode(int number);
 extern int armv4_5_mode_to_number(enum armv4_5_mode mode);
 
-extern int armv4_5_arch_state(struct target_s *target, char *buf, int buf_size);
+extern int armv4_5_arch_state(struct target_s *target);
 extern int armv4_5_get_gdb_reg_list(target_t *target, reg_t **reg_list[], int *reg_list_size);
 extern int armv4_5_invalidate_core_regs(target_t *target);
 
diff --git a/src/target/cortex_m3.c b/src/target/cortex_m3.c
index db9dd0547fa7e24214cc1b02cb006f62803a5edc..bdb405039df0590441d3f8674494a62748c4401c 100644
--- a/src/target/cortex_m3.c
+++ b/src/target/cortex_m3.c
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ int cortex_m3_debug_entry(target_t *target)
 	return ERROR_OK;
 }
 
-enum target_state cortex_m3_poll(target_t *target)
+int cortex_m3_poll(target_t *target)
 {
 	int retval;
 	u32 prev_target_state = target->state;
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ enum target_state cortex_m3_poll(target_t *target)
 	if (retval != ERROR_OK)
 	{
 		target->state = TARGET_UNKNOWN;
-		return TARGET_UNKNOWN;
+		return retval;
 	}
 	
 	if (cortex_m3->dcb_dhcsr & S_RESET_ST)
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ enum target_state cortex_m3_poll(target_t *target)
 		if (cortex_m3->dcb_dhcsr & S_RESET_ST)
 		{
 			target->state = TARGET_RESET;
-			return target->state;
+			return ERROR_OK;
 		}
 	}
 	
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ enum target_state cortex_m3_poll(target_t *target)
 		if ((prev_target_state == TARGET_RUNNING) || (prev_target_state == TARGET_RESET))
 		{
 			if ((retval = cortex_m3_debug_entry(target)) != ERROR_OK)
-				return TARGET_UNKNOWN;
+				return retval;
 			
 			target_call_event_callbacks(target, TARGET_EVENT_HALTED);
 		}
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ enum target_state cortex_m3_poll(target_t *target)
 		{
 			DEBUG(" ");
 			if ((retval = cortex_m3_debug_entry(target)) != ERROR_OK)
-				return TARGET_UNKNOWN;
+				return retval;
 
 			target_call_event_callbacks(target, TARGET_EVENT_DEBUG_HALTED);
 		}
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ enum target_state cortex_m3_poll(target_t *target)
     /* Read Debug Fault Status Register, added to figure out the lockup when running flashtest.script  */
     ahbap_read_system_atomic_u32(swjdp, NVIC_DFSR, &cortex_m3->nvic_dfsr);
 	DEBUG("dcb_dhcsr 0x%x, nvic_dfsr 0x%x, target->state: %s", cortex_m3->dcb_dhcsr, cortex_m3->nvic_dfsr, target_state_strings[target->state]);	
-	return target->state;
+	return ERROR_OK;
 }
 
 int cortex_m3_halt(target_t *target)
diff --git a/src/target/cortex_m3.h b/src/target/cortex_m3.h
index 7932dff861a1926fb5798d7bf662b6e8371a953a..0ed3b0adb1d26b04615cd6b54551dcfdce1c1950 100644
--- a/src/target/cortex_m3.h
+++ b/src/target/cortex_m3.h
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ typedef struct cortex_m3_common_s
 
 extern void cortex_m3_build_reg_cache(target_t *target);
 
-enum target_state cortex_m3_poll(target_t *target);
+int cortex_m3_poll(target_t *target);
 int cortex_m3_halt(target_t *target);
 int cortex_m3_resume(struct target_s *target, int current, u32 address, int handle_breakpoints, int debug_execution);
 int cortex_m3_step(struct target_s *target, int current, u32 address, int handle_breakpoints);
diff --git a/src/target/target.c b/src/target/target.c
index ce2d08564307bee2d72b4ba2472f231c943aeb48..fc1adb096ac2e2478d6d3777bc9d1b524d31c8e3 100644
--- a/src/target/target.c
+++ b/src/target/target.c
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@
 
 int cli_target_callback_event_handler(struct target_s *target, enum target_event event, void *priv);
 
+
+int handle_arch_state_command(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx, char *cmd, char **args, int argc);
 int handle_target_command(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx, char *cmd, char **args, int argc);
 int handle_daemon_startup_command(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx, char *cmd, char **args, int argc);
 int handle_targets_command(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx, char *cmd, char **args, int argc);
@@ -387,7 +389,6 @@ static int default_virt2phys(struct target_s *target, u32 virtual, u32 *physical
 
 static int default_mmu(struct target_s *target, int *enabled)
 {
-	USER("No MMU present");
 	*enabled = 0;
 	return ERROR_OK;
 }
@@ -748,10 +749,29 @@ int target_register_commands(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx)
 	register_command(cmd_ctx, NULL, "run_and_halt_time", handle_run_and_halt_time_command, COMMAND_CONFIG, NULL);
 	register_command(cmd_ctx, NULL, "working_area", handle_working_area_command, COMMAND_ANY, "working_area <target#> <address> <size> <'backup'|'nobackup'> [virtual address]");
 	register_command(cmd_ctx, NULL, "virt2phys", handle_virt2phys_command, COMMAND_ANY, "virt2phys <virtual address>");
+	register_command(cmd_ctx, NULL, "arch_state", handle_arch_state_command, COMMAND_ANY, "prints CPU state information");
 
 	return ERROR_OK;
 }
 
+int target_arch_state(struct target_s *target)
+{
+	int retval;
+	if (target==NULL)
+	{
+		USER("No target has been configured");
+		return ERROR_OK;
+	}
+	
+	USER("target state: %s", target_state_strings[target->state]);
+	
+	if (target->state!=TARGET_HALTED)
+		return ERROR_OK;
+	
+	retval=target->type->arch_state(target);
+	return retval;
+}
+
 /* Single aligned words are guaranteed to use 16 or 32 bit access 
  * mode respectively, otherwise data is handled as quickly as 
  * possible
@@ -1325,9 +1345,9 @@ int handle_target(void *priv)
 		if (target->state != TARGET_HALTED)
 		{
 			if (target_continous_poll)
-				if ((retval = target->type->poll(target)) < 0)
+				if ((retval = target->type->poll(target)) != ERROR_OK)
 				{
-					ERROR("couldn't poll target. It's due for a reset.");
+					ERROR("couldn't poll target(%d). It's due for a reset.", retval);
 				}
 		}
 	
@@ -1464,16 +1484,14 @@ static int wait_state(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx, char *cmd, enum target_
 int handle_poll_command(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx, char *cmd, char **args, int argc)
 {
 	target_t *target = get_current_target(cmd_ctx);
-	char buffer[512];
 
 	if (argc == 0)
 	{
-		command_print(cmd_ctx, "target state: %s", target_state_strings[target->type->poll(target)]);
+		target->type->poll(target);
+		command_print(cmd_ctx, "target state: %s", target_state_strings[target->state]);
 		if (target->state == TARGET_HALTED)
 		{
-			target->type->arch_state(target, buffer, 512);
-			buffer[511] = 0;
-			command_print(cmd_ctx, "%s", buffer);
+			target_arch_state(target);
 		}
 	}
 	else
@@ -1524,6 +1542,7 @@ static void target_process_events(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx)
 
 static int wait_state(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx, char *cmd, enum target_state state, int ms)
 {
+	int retval;
 	struct timeval timeout, now;
 	
 	gettimeofday(&timeout, NULL);
@@ -1531,8 +1550,10 @@ static int wait_state(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx, char *cmd, enum target_
 	command_print(cmd_ctx, "waiting for target %s...", target_state_strings[state]);
 	
 	target_t *target = get_current_target(cmd_ctx);
-	while (target->type->poll(target))
+	for (;;)
 	{
+		if ((retval=target->type->poll(target))!=ERROR_OK)
+			return retval;
 		target_call_timer_callbacks();
 		if (target->state == state)
 		{
@@ -2330,3 +2351,13 @@ int handle_virt2phys_command(command_context_t *cmd_ctx, char *cmd, char **args,
 	}
 	return retval;
 }
+int handle_arch_state_command(command_context_t *cmd_ctx, char *cmd, char **args, int argc)
+{
+	int retval;
+	if (argc!=0)
+		return ERROR_COMMAND_SYNTAX_ERROR;
+	
+	target_t *target = get_target_by_num(cmd_ctx->current_target);
+	retval=target_arch_state(target);
+	return retval;
+}
diff --git a/src/target/target.h b/src/target/target.h
index 29de1e98043ad97daa80e6c67286583754534b2f..7c07288bfe2299cbe656e473864ea4b7314fde9c 100644
--- a/src/target/target.h
+++ b/src/target/target.h
@@ -98,9 +98,10 @@ typedef struct target_type_s
 	char *name;
 
 	/* poll current target status */
-	enum target_state (*poll)(struct target_s *target);
-	/* architecture specific status reply */
-	int (*arch_state)(struct target_s *target, char *buf, int buf_size);
+	int (*poll)(struct target_s *target);
+	/* Invoked only from target_arch_state().
+	 * Issue USER() w/architecture specific status.  */
+	int (*arch_state)(struct target_s *target);
 
 	/* target request support */
 	int (*target_request_data)(struct target_s *target, u32 size, u8 *buffer);
diff --git a/src/target/xscale.c b/src/target/xscale.c
index 6a5aabb8afb1c3bdec2782aea0ebe8f2ba8e7389..4e11152180a5e8d17aac15738bee27285df7dd29 100644
--- a/src/target/xscale.c
+++ b/src/target/xscale.c
@@ -53,8 +53,8 @@ int xscale_target_command(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx, char *cmd, char **a
 int xscale_init_target(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx, struct target_s *target);
 int xscale_quit();
 
-int xscale_arch_state(struct target_s *target, char *buf, int buf_size);
-enum target_state xscale_poll(target_t *target);
+int xscale_arch_state(struct target_s *target);
+int xscale_poll(target_t *target);
 int xscale_halt(target_t *target);
 int xscale_resume(struct target_s *target, int current, u32 address, int handle_breakpoints, int debug_execution);
 int xscale_step(struct target_s *target, int current, u32 address, int handle_breakpoints);
@@ -955,7 +955,7 @@ int xscale_update_vectors(target_t *target)
 	return ERROR_OK;
 }
 
-int xscale_arch_state(struct target_s *target, char *buf, int buf_size)
+int xscale_arch_state(struct target_s *target)
 {
 	armv4_5_common_t *armv4_5 = target->arch_info;
 	xscale_common_t *xscale = armv4_5->arch_info;
@@ -976,8 +976,7 @@ int xscale_arch_state(struct target_s *target, char *buf, int buf_size)
 		exit(-1);
 	}
 
-	snprintf(buf, buf_size,
-			"target halted in %s state due to %s, current mode: %s\n"
+	USER("target halted in %s state due to %s, current mode: %s\n"
 			"cpsr: 0x%8.8x pc: 0x%8.8x\n"
 			"MMU: %s, D-Cache: %s, I-Cache: %s"
 			"%s",
@@ -994,17 +993,17 @@ int xscale_arch_state(struct target_s *target, char *buf, int buf_size)
 	return ERROR_OK;
 }
 
-enum target_state xscale_poll(target_t *target)
+int xscale_poll(target_t *target)
 {
-	int retval;
+	int retval=ERROR_OK;
 	armv4_5_common_t *armv4_5 = target->arch_info;
 	xscale_common_t *xscale = armv4_5->arch_info;
 
 	if ((target->state == TARGET_RUNNING) || (target->state == TARGET_DEBUG_RUNNING))
 	{
+		enum target_state previous_state = target->state;
 		if ((retval = xscale_read_tx(target, 0)) == ERROR_OK)
 		{
-			enum target_state previous_state = target->state;
 
 			/* there's data to read from the tx register, we entered debug state */
 			xscale->handler_running = 1;
@@ -1012,30 +1011,29 @@ enum target_state xscale_poll(target_t *target)
 			target->state = TARGET_HALTED;
 
 			/* process debug entry, fetching current mode regs */
-			if ((retval = xscale_debug_entry(target)) != ERROR_OK)
-				return retval;
+			retval = xscale_debug_entry(target);
+		}
+		else if (retval != ERROR_TARGET_RESOURCE_NOT_AVAILABLE)
+		{
+			USER("error while polling TX register, reset CPU");
+			/* here we "lie" so GDB won't get stuck and a reset can be perfomed */
+			target->state = TARGET_HALTED;
+		}
 
 			/* debug_entry could have overwritten target state (i.e. immediate resume)
 			 * don't signal event handlers in that case
 			 */
-			if (target->state != TARGET_HALTED)
-				return target->state;
+		if (target->state != TARGET_HALTED)
+			return ERROR_OK;
 
-			/* if target was running, signal that we halted
-			 * otherwise we reentered from debug execution */
-			if (previous_state == TARGET_RUNNING)
-				target_call_event_callbacks(target, TARGET_EVENT_HALTED);
-			else
-				target_call_event_callbacks(target, TARGET_EVENT_DEBUG_HALTED);
-		}
-		else if (retval != ERROR_TARGET_RESOURCE_NOT_AVAILABLE)
-		{
-			ERROR("error while polling TX register");
-			return retval;
-		}
+		/* if target was running, signal that we halted
+		 * otherwise we reentered from debug execution */
+		if (previous_state == TARGET_RUNNING)
+			target_call_event_callbacks(target, TARGET_EVENT_HALTED);
+		else
+			target_call_event_callbacks(target, TARGET_EVENT_DEBUG_HALTED);
 	}
-
-	return target->state;
+	return retval;
 }
 
 int xscale_debug_entry(target_t *target)