How about setting local $/ to a reference to integer before the call, and then read one scalar from the handle? 

{
    local $/ = \get_next_length();
    $foo = <FH>;
}

[download]

Are you decoding RIFF files, by chance? You may want to think about unpack's 'C4 V/A*' format ( I think that's correct for RIFF)

After Compline,
Zaxo

In reply to Re: Length-limiting handle by Zaxo
in thread Length-limiting handle by John M. Dlugosz

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