diff --git a/base/time.cc b/base/time.cc
index d1427c3..2672023 100644
--- a/base/time.cc
+++ b/base/time.cc
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
 }
 
 // Make sure someone calls it so that it gets initialized
-static uint32 ignore = StartTime();
+static uint32 __attribute__((used)) ignore = StartTime();
 
 uint32 TimeAfter(int32 elapsed) {
   ASSERT(elapsed >= 0);
diff --git a/speedtest/utils.cc b/speedtest/utils.cc
index 580b54b..8144174 100644
--- a/speedtest/utils.cc
+++ b/speedtest/utils.cc
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@
     return false;
   }
   std::istringstream n(str);
-  return n >> *result;
+  return !(n >> *result).fail();
 }
 
 // Trim from start in place