diff --git a/osx/boe.fileio.cpp b/osx/boe.fileio.cpp
index c8b20371..4f7a1f0b 100644
--- a/osx/boe.fileio.cpp
+++ b/osx/boe.fileio.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
 
-#include <CoreFoundation/CoreFoundation.h>
-
 #include <iostream>
 #include <fstream>
 
@@ -77,7 +75,7 @@ fs::path file_to_load;
 fs::path store_file_reply;
 short jl;
 
-bool cur_scen_is_mac = true;
+extern bool cur_scen_is_mac;
 
 void print_write_position ();
 void save_outdoor_maps();
diff --git a/osx/boe.main.cpp b/osx/boe.main.cpp
index 125e8751..39ea0f36 100644
--- a/osx/boe.main.cpp
+++ b/osx/boe.main.cpp
@@ -29,8 +29,6 @@
 #include "boe.menus.h"
 #include "cursors.h"
 
-#include <CoreFoundation/CFByteOrder.h>
-
 extern cursor_type arrow_curs[3][3];
 extern cursor_type current_cursor;
 
@@ -144,8 +142,6 @@ bool sleep_field;
 //
 //	Main body of program Exile
 //
-void check_for_intel();
-bool mac_is_intel;
 
 int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
 #if 0
@@ -217,16 +213,6 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
 	}
 }
 
-void check_for_intel(){
-	int response = CFByteOrderGetCurrent();
-	if(response == CFByteOrderUnknown){
-		printf("Gestalt error\n");
-		exit(1);
-	}
-	if(response == CFByteOrderLittleEndian) mac_is_intel = true;
-	else mac_is_intel = false;
-}
-
 //
 //	Initialize everything for the program, make sure we can run
 //
diff --git a/osx/pcedit/pc.main.cpp b/osx/pcedit/pc.main.cpp
index f2f0d429..6c2d304d 100644
--- a/osx/pcedit/pc.main.cpp
+++ b/osx/pcedit/pc.main.cpp
@@ -16,9 +16,6 @@
 #include "pc.menus.h"
 #include "winutil.h"
 #include "cursors.h"
-#ifdef __APPLE__
-#include <CoreFoundation/CFByteOrder.h>
-#endif
 
 extern std::string get_str(std::string, short);
 
@@ -92,7 +89,7 @@ bool verify_restore_quit(bool mode);
 void set_up_apple_events();
 void handle_item_menu(int item_hit);
 //item_record_type convert_item (short_item_record_type s_item);
-bool cur_scen_is_mac, mac_is_intel;
+extern bool cur_scen_is_mac;
 extern fs::path progDir;
 // File io
 short specials_res_id;
@@ -132,7 +129,6 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
 //
 
 //MW specified argument and return type.
-void check_for_intel();
 void Initialize(void)
 {
 	
@@ -241,16 +237,6 @@ void handle_file_menu(int item_hit)
 		}
 }
 
-void check_for_intel(){
-	int response = CFByteOrderGetCurrent();
-	if(response == CFByteOrderUnknown){
-		printf("Gestalt error\n");
-		exit(1);
-	}
-	if(response == CFByteOrderLittleEndian) mac_is_intel = true;
-	else mac_is_intel = false;
-}
-
 static void display_strings(short nstr, pic_num_t pic) {
 	cStrDlog display_strings(get_str("pcedit", nstr), "", "Editing party", pic, PIC_DLOG);
 	display_strings.setSound(57);
diff --git a/osx/scenedit/scen.fileio.cpp b/osx/scenedit/scen.fileio.cpp
index 05f35961..312ba84f 100644
--- a/osx/scenedit/scen.fileio.cpp
+++ b/osx/scenedit/scen.fileio.cpp
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ short start_volume,data_volume,jl = 0;
 fs::path temp_file_to_load;
 std::string last_load_file = "Blades of Exile Scenario";
 extern fs::path progDir;
-bool cur_scen_is_mac = true;
+extern bool cur_scen_is_mac;
 
 void print_write_position ();
 void load_spec_graphics();
diff --git a/osx/scenedit/scen.main.cpp b/osx/scenedit/scen.main.cpp
index 7b8ffdaf..48141a04 100644
--- a/osx/scenedit/scen.main.cpp
+++ b/osx/scenedit/scen.main.cpp
@@ -21,8 +21,6 @@
 #include "dlogutil.h"
 #include "scen.menus.h"
 
-#include <CoreFoundation/CFByteOrder.h>
-
 cUniverse univ; // not needed; just to silence the compiler
 
 /* Globals */
@@ -75,8 +73,6 @@ void ding();
 cScenario scenario;
 //piles_of_stuff_dumping_type *data_store;
 RECT right_sbar_rect;
-void check_for_intel();
-bool mac_is_intel;
 
 // 
 //	Main body of program Exileedit
@@ -185,16 +181,6 @@ void Initialize(void) {
 	right_sbar->hide();
 }
 
-void check_for_intel(){
-	int response = CFByteOrderGetCurrent();
-	if(response == CFByteOrderUnknown){
-		printf("Gestalt error\n");
-		exit(1);
-	}
-	if(response == CFByteOrderLittleEndian) mac_is_intel = true;
-	else mac_is_intel = false;
-}
-
 void Handle_One_Event() {
 	short chr,chr2;
 	long menu_choice;
diff --git a/osx/tools/fileio.cpp b/osx/tools/fileio.cpp
index 3a8dbeb0..bc63a132 100644
--- a/osx/tools/fileio.cpp
+++ b/osx/tools/fileio.cpp
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 #include "restypes.hpp"
 #include "tarball.hpp"
 
-extern bool cur_scen_is_mac, mac_is_intel;
+bool cur_scen_is_mac =  true, mac_is_intel;
 extern cScenario scenario;
 extern sf::Texture items_gworld,tiny_obj_gworld,fields_gworld,roads_gworld,boom_gworld,missiles_gworld;
 extern sf::Texture dlogpics_gworld,monst_gworld[],terrain_gworld[],anim_gworld,talkfaces_gworld,pc_gworld;
@@ -70,6 +70,12 @@ void init_directories(const char* exec_path) {
 	tempDir /= "Temporary Files";
 }
 
+void check_for_intel() {
+	union {uint16_t x; uint8_t c;} endian;
+	endian.x = 1;
+	mac_is_intel = endian.c;
+}
+
 bool load_scenario(fs::path file_to_load, bool skip_strings){
 	short i,n;
 	bool file_ok = false;
diff --git a/osx/tools/fileio.h b/osx/tools/fileio.h
index 1fa9aa92..53b9f309 100644
--- a/osx/tools/fileio.h
+++ b/osx/tools/fileio.h
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ bool load_party(fs::path file_to_load);
 bool save_party(fs::path dest_file);
 
 void init_directories(const char* exec_path);
+void check_for_intel();
 
 std::string read_maybe_quoted_string(std::istream& from);
 std::string maybe_quote_string(std::string which);