diff --git a/binutils/dwarf.c b/binutils/dwarf.c
index 74f28f563ce..7ab4785b4a6 100644
--- a/binutils/dwarf.c
+++ b/binutils/dwarf.c
@@ -4500,7 +4500,7 @@ display_debug_lines_raw (struct dwarf_section *  section,
       unsigned char *end_of_sequence;
       int i;
 
-      if (const_strneq (section->name, ".debug_line.")
+      if (startswith (section->name, ".debug_line.")
 	  /* Note: the following does not apply to .debug_line.dwo sections.
 	     These are full debug_line sections.  */
 	  && strcmp (section->name, ".debug_line.dwo") != 0)
@@ -4924,7 +4924,7 @@ display_debug_lines_decoded (struct dwarf_section *  section,
       unsigned char **directory_table = NULL;
       dwarf_vma n_directories = 0;
 
-      if (const_strneq (section->name, ".debug_line.")
+      if (startswith (section->name, ".debug_line.")
 	  /* Note: the following does not apply to .debug_line.dwo sections.
 	     These are full debug_line sections.  */
 	  && strcmp (section->name, ".debug_line.dwo") != 0)
@@ -10031,7 +10031,7 @@ display_debug_links (struct dwarf_section *  section,
 
   printf (_("  Separate debug info file: %s\n"), filename);
 
-  if (const_strneq (section->name, ".gnu_debuglink"))
+  if (startswith (section->name, ".gnu_debuglink"))
     {
       unsigned int          crc32;
       unsigned int          crc_offset;
@@ -10055,7 +10055,7 @@ display_debug_links (struct dwarf_section *  section,
 	  return 0;
 	}
     }
-  else /* const_strneq (section->name, ".gnu_debugaltlink") */
+  else /* startswith (section->name, ".gnu_debugaltlink") */
     {
       const unsigned char * build_id = section->start + filelen + 1;
       bfd_size_type         build_id_len = section->size - (filelen + 1);
diff --git a/binutils/elfcomm.c b/binutils/elfcomm.c
index 5cf4c24360e..c5092c64377 100644
--- a/binutils/elfcomm.c
+++ b/binutils/elfcomm.c
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 
 #include "sysdep.h"
 #include "libiberty.h"
+#include "bfd.h"
 #include "filenames.h"
 #include "aout/ar.h"
 #include "elfcomm.h"
@@ -611,12 +612,12 @@ setup_archive (struct archive_info *arch, const char *file_name,
     }
 
   /* See if this is the archive symbol table.  */
-  if (const_strneq (arch->arhdr.ar_name, "/               "))
+  if (startswith (arch->arhdr.ar_name, "/               "))
     {
       if (! process_archive_index_and_symbols (arch, 4, read_symbols))
 	return 1;
     }
-  else if (const_strneq (arch->arhdr.ar_name, "/SYM64/         "))
+  else if (startswith (arch->arhdr.ar_name, "/SYM64/         "))
     {
       arch->uses_64bit_indices = 1;
       if (! process_archive_index_and_symbols (arch, 8, read_symbols))
@@ -625,7 +626,7 @@ setup_archive (struct archive_info *arch, const char *file_name,
   else if (read_symbols)
     printf (_("%s has no archive index\n"), file_name);
 
-  if (const_strneq (arch->arhdr.ar_name, "//              "))
+  if (startswith (arch->arhdr.ar_name, "//              "))
     {
       /* This is the archive string table holding long member names.  */
       char fmag_save = arch->arhdr.ar_fmag[0];
diff --git a/binutils/elfcomm.h b/binutils/elfcomm.h
index 9754ce1ca09..04e909c2da3 100644
--- a/binutils/elfcomm.h
+++ b/binutils/elfcomm.h
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@ extern void byte_get_64 (const unsigned char *, elf_vma *, elf_vma *);
 /* This is just a bit of syntatic sugar.  */
 #define streq(a,b)	  (strcmp ((a), (b)) == 0)
 #define strneq(a,b,n)	  (strncmp ((a), (b), (n)) == 0)
-#define const_strneq(a,b) (strncmp ((a), (b), sizeof (b) - 1) == 0)
 
 /* Structure to hold information about an archive file.  */
 
diff --git a/binutils/readelf.c b/binutils/readelf.c
index 7370aa9358a..f638b77e146 100644
--- a/binutils/readelf.c
+++ b/binutils/readelf.c
@@ -6589,8 +6589,8 @@ process_section_headers (Filedata * filedata)
 	   || do_debug_str || do_debug_str_offsets || do_debug_loc
 	   || do_debug_ranges
 	   || do_debug_addr || do_debug_cu_index || do_debug_links)
-	  && (const_strneq (name, ".debug_")
-	      || const_strneq (name, ".zdebug_")))
+	  && (startswith (name, ".debug_")
+	      || startswith (name, ".zdebug_")))
 	{
           if (name[1] == 'z')
             name += sizeof (".zdebug_") - 1;
@@ -6598,35 +6598,35 @@ process_section_headers (Filedata * filedata)
             name += sizeof (".debug_") - 1;
 
 	  if (do_debugging
-	      || (do_debug_info     && const_strneq (name, "info"))
-	      || (do_debug_info     && const_strneq (name, "types"))
-	      || (do_debug_abbrevs  && const_strneq (name, "abbrev"))
+	      || (do_debug_info     && startswith (name, "info"))
+	      || (do_debug_info     && startswith (name, "types"))
+	      || (do_debug_abbrevs  && startswith (name, "abbrev"))
 	      || (do_debug_lines    && strcmp (name, "line") == 0)
-	      || (do_debug_lines    && const_strneq (name, "line."))
-	      || (do_debug_pubnames && const_strneq (name, "pubnames"))
-	      || (do_debug_pubtypes && const_strneq (name, "pubtypes"))
-	      || (do_debug_pubnames && const_strneq (name, "gnu_pubnames"))
-	      || (do_debug_pubtypes && const_strneq (name, "gnu_pubtypes"))
-	      || (do_debug_aranges  && const_strneq (name, "aranges"))
-	      || (do_debug_ranges   && const_strneq (name, "ranges"))
-	      || (do_debug_ranges   && const_strneq (name, "rnglists"))
-	      || (do_debug_frames   && const_strneq (name, "frame"))
-	      || (do_debug_macinfo  && const_strneq (name, "macinfo"))
-	      || (do_debug_macinfo  && const_strneq (name, "macro"))
-	      || (do_debug_str      && const_strneq (name, "str"))
-	      || (do_debug_links    && const_strneq (name, "sup"))
-	      || (do_debug_str_offsets && const_strneq (name, "str_offsets"))
-	      || (do_debug_loc      && const_strneq (name, "loc"))
-	      || (do_debug_loc      && const_strneq (name, "loclists"))
-	      || (do_debug_addr     && const_strneq (name, "addr"))
-	      || (do_debug_cu_index && const_strneq (name, "cu_index"))
-	      || (do_debug_cu_index && const_strneq (name, "tu_index"))
+	      || (do_debug_lines    && startswith (name, "line."))
+	      || (do_debug_pubnames && startswith (name, "pubnames"))
+	      || (do_debug_pubtypes && startswith (name, "pubtypes"))
+	      || (do_debug_pubnames && startswith (name, "gnu_pubnames"))
+	      || (do_debug_pubtypes && startswith (name, "gnu_pubtypes"))
+	      || (do_debug_aranges  && startswith (name, "aranges"))
+	      || (do_debug_ranges   && startswith (name, "ranges"))
+	      || (do_debug_ranges   && startswith (name, "rnglists"))
+	      || (do_debug_frames   && startswith (name, "frame"))
+	      || (do_debug_macinfo  && startswith (name, "macinfo"))
+	      || (do_debug_macinfo  && startswith (name, "macro"))
+	      || (do_debug_str      && startswith (name, "str"))
+	      || (do_debug_links    && startswith (name, "sup"))
+	      || (do_debug_str_offsets && startswith (name, "str_offsets"))
+	      || (do_debug_loc      && startswith (name, "loc"))
+	      || (do_debug_loc      && startswith (name, "loclists"))
+	      || (do_debug_addr     && startswith (name, "addr"))
+	      || (do_debug_cu_index && startswith (name, "cu_index"))
+	      || (do_debug_cu_index && startswith (name, "tu_index"))
 	      )
 	    request_dump_bynumber (&filedata->dump, i, DEBUG_DUMP);
 	}
       /* Linkonce section to be combined with .debug_info at link time.  */
       else if ((do_debugging || do_debug_info)
-	       && const_strneq (name, ".gnu.linkonce.wi."))
+	       && startswith (name, ".gnu.linkonce.wi."))
 	request_dump_bynumber (&filedata->dump, i, DEBUG_DUMP);
       else if (do_debug_frames && streq (name, ".eh_frame"))
 	request_dump_bynumber (&filedata->dump, i, DEBUG_DUMP);
@@ -6636,7 +6636,7 @@ process_section_headers (Filedata * filedata)
       /* Trace sections for Itanium VMS.  */
       else if ((do_debugging || do_trace_info || do_trace_abbrevs
                 || do_trace_aranges)
-	       && const_strneq (name, ".trace_"))
+	       && startswith (name, ".trace_"))
 	{
           name += sizeof (".trace_") - 1;
 
@@ -6648,8 +6648,8 @@ process_section_headers (Filedata * filedata)
 	    request_dump_bynumber (&filedata->dump, i, DEBUG_DUMP);
 	}
       else if ((do_debugging || do_debug_links)
-	       && (const_strneq (name, ".gnu_debuglink")
-		   || const_strneq (name, ".gnu_debugaltlink")))
+	       && (startswith (name, ".gnu_debuglink")
+		   || startswith (name, ".gnu_debugaltlink")))
 	request_dump_bynumber (&filedata->dump, i, DEBUG_DUMP);
     }
 
@@ -8107,7 +8107,7 @@ slurp_ia64_unwind_table (Filedata *                  filedata,
 	      continue;
 	    }
 
-	  if (! const_strneq (relname, "R_IA64_SEGREL"))
+	  if (! startswith (relname, "R_IA64_SEGREL"))
 	    {
 	      warn (_("Skipping unexpected relocation type: %s\n"), relname);
 	      continue;
@@ -8574,7 +8574,7 @@ slurp_hppa_unwind_table (Filedata *                  filedata,
 	    }
 
 	  /* R_PARISC_SEGREL32 or R_PARISC_SEGREL64.  */
-	  if (! const_strneq (relname, "R_PARISC_SEGREL"))
+	  if (! startswith (relname, "R_PARISC_SEGREL"))
 	    {
 	      warn (_("Skipping unexpected relocation type: %s\n"), relname);
 	      continue;
@@ -9476,10 +9476,10 @@ decode_arm_unwind (Filedata *                 filedata,
 	 encoding, starting with one byte giving the number of
 	 words.  */
       if (procname != NULL
-	  && (const_strneq (procname, "__gcc_personality_v0")
-	      || const_strneq (procname, "__gxx_personality_v0")
-	      || const_strneq (procname, "__gcj_personality_v0")
-	      || const_strneq (procname, "__gnu_objc_personality_v0")))
+	  && (startswith (procname, "__gcc_personality_v0")
+	      || startswith (procname, "__gxx_personality_v0")
+	      || startswith (procname, "__gcj_personality_v0")
+	      || startswith (procname, "__gnu_objc_personality_v0")))
 	{
 	  remaining = 0;
 	  more_words = 1;
@@ -15298,7 +15298,7 @@ malformed note encountered in section %s whilst scanning for build-id note\n"),
       /* Check if this is the build-id note. If so then convert the build-id
          bytes to a hex string.  */
       if (inote.namesz > 0
-          && const_strneq (inote.namedata, "GNU")
+          && startswith (inote.namedata, "GNU")
           && inote.type == NT_GNU_BUILD_ID)
         {
           unsigned long j;
@@ -15426,7 +15426,7 @@ display_debug_section (int shndx, Elf_Internal_Shdr * section, Filedata * fileda
       return FALSE;
     }
 
-  if (const_strneq (name, ".gnu.linkonce.wi."))
+  if (startswith (name, ".gnu.linkonce.wi."))
     name = ".debug_info";
 
   /* See if we know how to display the contents of this section.  */
@@ -15437,7 +15437,7 @@ display_debug_section (int shndx, Elf_Internal_Shdr * section, Filedata * fileda
       struct dwarf_section *           sec = & display->section;
 
       if (streq (sec->uncompressed_name, name)
-	  || (id == line && const_strneq (name, ".debug_line."))
+	  || (id == line && startswith (name, ".debug_line."))
 	  || streq (sec->compressed_name, name))
 	{
 	  bfd_boolean secondary = (section != find_section (filedata, name));
@@ -15445,7 +15445,7 @@ display_debug_section (int shndx, Elf_Internal_Shdr * section, Filedata * fileda
 	  if (secondary)
 	    free_debug_section (id);
 
-	  if (i == line && const_strneq (name, ".debug_line."))
+	  if (i == line && startswith (name, ".debug_line."))
 	    sec->name = name;
 	  else if (streq (sec->uncompressed_name, name))
 	    sec->name = sec->uncompressed_name;
@@ -20430,23 +20430,23 @@ process_note (Elf_Internal_Note *  pnote,
        note type strings.  */
     nt = get_note_type (filedata, pnote->type);
 
-  else if (const_strneq (pnote->namedata, "GNU"))
+  else if (startswith (pnote->namedata, "GNU"))
     /* GNU-specific object file notes.  */
     nt = get_gnu_elf_note_type (pnote->type);
 
-  else if (const_strneq (pnote->namedata, "FreeBSD"))
+  else if (startswith (pnote->namedata, "FreeBSD"))
     /* FreeBSD-specific core file notes.  */
     nt = get_freebsd_elfcore_note_type (filedata, pnote->type);
 
-  else if (const_strneq (pnote->namedata, "NetBSD-CORE"))
+  else if (startswith (pnote->namedata, "NetBSD-CORE"))
     /* NetBSD-specific core file notes.  */
     nt = get_netbsd_elfcore_note_type (filedata, pnote->type);
 
-  else if (const_strneq (pnote->namedata, "NetBSD"))
+  else if (startswith (pnote->namedata, "NetBSD"))
     /* NetBSD-specific core file notes.  */
     return process_netbsd_elf_note (pnote);
 
-  else if (const_strneq (pnote->namedata, "PaX"))
+  else if (startswith (pnote->namedata, "PaX"))
     /* NetBSD-specific core file notes.  */
     return process_netbsd_elf_note (pnote);
 
@@ -20457,11 +20457,11 @@ process_note (Elf_Internal_Note *  pnote,
       name = "SPU";
     }
 
-  else if (const_strneq (pnote->namedata, "IPF/VMS"))
+  else if (startswith (pnote->namedata, "IPF/VMS"))
     /* VMS/ia64-specific file notes.  */
     nt = get_ia64_vms_note_type (pnote->type);
 
-  else if (const_strneq (pnote->namedata, "stapsdt"))
+  else if (startswith (pnote->namedata, "stapsdt"))
     nt = get_stapsdt_note_type (pnote->type);
 
   else
@@ -20471,7 +20471,7 @@ process_note (Elf_Internal_Note *  pnote,
 
   printf ("  ");
 
-  if (((const_strneq (pnote->namedata, "GA")
+  if (((startswith (pnote->namedata, "GA")
 	&& strchr ("*$!+", pnote->namedata[2]) != NULL)
        || strchr ("*$!+", pnote->namedata[0]) != NULL)
       && (pnote->type == NT_GNU_BUILD_ATTRIBUTE_OPEN
@@ -20485,15 +20485,15 @@ process_note (Elf_Internal_Note *  pnote,
   else
     printf (" 0x%08lx\t%s\n", pnote->descsz, nt);
 
-  if (const_strneq (pnote->namedata, "IPF/VMS"))
+  if (startswith (pnote->namedata, "IPF/VMS"))
     return print_ia64_vms_note (pnote);
-  else if (const_strneq (pnote->namedata, "GNU"))
+  else if (startswith (pnote->namedata, "GNU"))
     return print_gnu_note (filedata, pnote);
-  else if (const_strneq (pnote->namedata, "stapsdt"))
+  else if (startswith (pnote->namedata, "stapsdt"))
     return print_stapsdt_note (pnote);
-  else if (const_strneq (pnote->namedata, "CORE"))
+  else if (startswith (pnote->namedata, "CORE"))
     return print_core_note (pnote);
-  else if (((const_strneq (pnote->namedata, "GA")
+  else if (((startswith (pnote->namedata, "GA")
 	     && strchr ("*$!+", pnote->namedata[2]) != NULL)
 	    || strchr ("*$!+", pnote->namedata[0]) != NULL)
 	   && (pnote->type == NT_GNU_BUILD_ATTRIBUTE_OPEN