diff --git a/src/cmd/internal/obj/link.go b/src/cmd/internal/obj/link.go
index cfe7c958cdd..24f028f7378 100644
--- a/src/cmd/internal/obj/link.go
+++ b/src/cmd/internal/obj/link.go
@@ -658,7 +658,6 @@ type Link struct {
 	Textp         *LSym
 	Etextp        *LSym
 	Errors        int
-	RefsWritten   int // Number of symbol references already written to object file.
 
 	// state for writing objects
 	Text []*LSym
diff --git a/src/cmd/internal/obj/objfile.go b/src/cmd/internal/obj/objfile.go
index aba832f27b4..a8d86b52cdf 100644
--- a/src/cmd/internal/obj/objfile.go
+++ b/src/cmd/internal/obj/objfile.go
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@
 package obj
 
 import (
+	"bufio"
 	"fmt"
 	"log"
 	"path/filepath"
@@ -120,7 +121,7 @@ import (
 // does not write out object files.
 func Writeobjdirect(ctxt *Link, b *Biobuf) {
 	Flushplist(ctxt)
-	Writeobjfile(ctxt, b)
+	WriteObjFile(ctxt, b)
 }
 
 func Flushplist(ctxt *Link) {
@@ -309,18 +310,32 @@ func flushplist(ctxt *Link, freeProgs bool) {
 	}
 }
 
-type sectionLengths struct {
-	data     int
-	reloc    int
-	pcdata   int
-	autom    int
-	funcdata int
-	file     int
+// objWriter writes Go object files.
+type objWriter struct {
+	wr   *bufio.Writer
+	ctxt *Link
+	// Temporary buffer for zigzag int writing.
+	varintbuf [10]uint8
+
+	// Provide the the index of a symbol reference by symbol name.
+	// One map for versioned symbols and one for unversioned symbols.
+	// Used for deduplicating the symbol reference list.
+	refIdx  map[string]int
+	vrefIdx map[string]int
+
+	// Number of objects written of each type.
+	nRefs     int
+	nData     int
+	nReloc    int
+	nPcdata   int
+	nAutom    int
+	nFuncdata int
+	nFile     int
 }
 
-func (l *sectionLengths) add(s *LSym) {
-	l.data += len(s.P)
-	l.reloc += len(s.R)
+func (w *objWriter) addLengths(s *LSym) {
+	w.nData += len(s.P)
+	w.nReloc += len(s.R)
 
 	if s.Type != STEXT {
 		return
@@ -336,102 +351,106 @@ func (l *sectionLengths) add(s *LSym) {
 		data += len(pc.Pcdata[i].P)
 	}
 
-	l.data += data
-	l.pcdata += len(pc.Pcdata)
+	w.nData += data
+	w.nPcdata += len(pc.Pcdata)
 
 	autom := 0
 	for a := s.Autom; a != nil; a = a.Link {
 		autom++
 	}
-	l.autom += autom
-	l.funcdata += len(pc.Funcdataoff)
-	l.file += len(pc.File)
+	w.nAutom += autom
+	w.nFuncdata += len(pc.Funcdataoff)
+	w.nFile += len(pc.File)
 }
 
-func wrlengths(b *Biobuf, sl sectionLengths) {
-	wrint(b, int64(sl.data))
-	wrint(b, int64(sl.reloc))
-	wrint(b, int64(sl.pcdata))
-	wrint(b, int64(sl.autom))
-	wrint(b, int64(sl.funcdata))
-	wrint(b, int64(sl.file))
+func (w *objWriter) writeLengths() {
+	w.writeInt(int64(w.nData))
+	w.writeInt(int64(w.nReloc))
+	w.writeInt(int64(w.nPcdata))
+	w.writeInt(int64(w.nAutom))
+	w.writeInt(int64(w.nFuncdata))
+	w.writeInt(int64(w.nFile))
 }
 
-func Writeobjfile(ctxt *Link, b *Biobuf) {
-	// Emit header.
-	Bputc(b, 0)
-
-	Bputc(b, 0)
-	fmt.Fprintf(b, "go13ld")
-	Bputc(b, 1) // version
-
-	// Emit autolib.
-	for _, pkg := range ctxt.Imports {
-		wrstring(b, pkg)
+func newObjWriter(ctxt *Link, b *Biobuf) *objWriter {
+	return &objWriter{
+		ctxt:    ctxt,
+		wr:      b.w,
+		vrefIdx: make(map[string]int),
+		refIdx:  make(map[string]int),
 	}
-	wrstring(b, "")
+}
 
-	var lengths sectionLengths
+func WriteObjFile(ctxt *Link, b *Biobuf) {
+	w := newObjWriter(ctxt, b)
 
-	// Emit symbol references.
+	// Magic header
+	w.wr.WriteString("\x00\x00go13ld")
+
+	// Version
+	w.wr.WriteByte(1)
+
+	// Autolib
+	for _, pkg := range ctxt.Imports {
+		w.writeString(pkg)
+	}
+	w.writeString("")
+
+	// Symbol references
 	for _, s := range ctxt.Text {
-		writerefs(ctxt, b, s)
-		lengths.add(s)
+		w.writeRefs(s)
+		w.addLengths(s)
 	}
 	for _, s := range ctxt.Data {
-		writerefs(ctxt, b, s)
-		lengths.add(s)
+		w.writeRefs(s)
+		w.addLengths(s)
 	}
-	Bputc(b, 0xff)
+	// End symbol references
+	w.wr.WriteByte(0xff)
 
-	wrlengths(b, lengths)
+	// Lengths
+	w.writeLengths()
 
-	// Write data block
+	// Data block
 	for _, s := range ctxt.Text {
-		b.w.Write(s.P)
+		w.wr.Write(s.P)
 		pc := s.Pcln
-		b.w.Write(pc.Pcsp.P)
-		b.w.Write(pc.Pcfile.P)
-		b.w.Write(pc.Pcline.P)
+		w.wr.Write(pc.Pcsp.P)
+		w.wr.Write(pc.Pcfile.P)
+		w.wr.Write(pc.Pcline.P)
 		for i := 0; i < len(pc.Pcdata); i++ {
-			b.w.Write(pc.Pcdata[i].P)
+			w.wr.Write(pc.Pcdata[i].P)
 		}
 	}
 	for _, s := range ctxt.Data {
-		b.w.Write(s.P)
+		w.wr.Write(s.P)
 	}
 
-	// Emit symbols.
+	// Symbols
 	for _, s := range ctxt.Text {
-		writesym(ctxt, b, s)
+		w.writeSym(s)
 	}
 	for _, s := range ctxt.Data {
-		writesym(ctxt, b, s)
+		w.writeSym(s)
 	}
 
-	// Emit footer.
-	Bputc(b, 0xff)
-
-	Bputc(b, 0xff)
-	fmt.Fprintf(b, "go13ld")
+	// Magic footer
+	w.wr.WriteString("\xff\xffgo13ld")
 }
 
-// Provide the the index of a symbol reference by symbol name.
-// One map for versioned symbols and one for unversioned symbols.
-// Used for deduplicating the symbol reference list.
-var refIdx = make(map[string]int)
-var vrefIdx = make(map[string]int)
+// Symbols are prefixed so their content doesn't get confused with the magic footer.
+const symPrefix = 0xfe
 
-func wrref(ctxt *Link, b *Biobuf, s *LSym, isPath bool) {
+func (w *objWriter) writeRef(s *LSym, isPath bool) {
 	if s == nil || s.RefIdx != 0 {
 		return
 	}
 	var m map[string]int
 	switch s.Version {
 	case 0:
-		m = refIdx
+		m = w.refIdx
 	case 1:
-		m = vrefIdx
+		m = w.vrefIdx
 	default:
 		log.Fatalf("%s: invalid version number %d", s.Name, s.Version)
 	}
@@ -441,111 +460,117 @@ func wrref(ctxt *Link, b *Biobuf, s *LSym, isPath bool) {
 		s.RefIdx = idx
 		return
 	}
-	Bputc(b, 0xfe)
+	w.wr.WriteByte(symPrefix)
 	if isPath {
-		wrstring(b, filepath.ToSlash(s.Name))
+		w.writeString(filepath.ToSlash(s.Name))
 	} else {
-		wrstring(b, s.Name)
+		w.writeString(s.Name)
 	}
-	wrint(b, int64(s.Version))
-	ctxt.RefsWritten++
-	s.RefIdx = ctxt.RefsWritten
-	m[s.Name] = ctxt.RefsWritten
+	w.writeInt(int64(s.Version))
+	w.nRefs++
+	s.RefIdx = w.nRefs
+	m[s.Name] = w.nRefs
 }
 
-func writerefs(ctxt *Link, b *Biobuf, s *LSym) {
-	wrref(ctxt, b, s, false)
-	wrref(ctxt, b, s.Gotype, false)
+func (w *objWriter) writeRefs(s *LSym) {
+	w.writeRef(s, false)
+	w.writeRef(s.Gotype, false)
 	for i := range s.R {
-		wrref(ctxt, b, s.R[i].Sym, false)
+		w.writeRef(s.R[i].Sym, false)
 	}
 
 	if s.Type == STEXT {
 		for a := s.Autom; a != nil; a = a.Link {
-			wrref(ctxt, b, a.Asym, false)
-			wrref(ctxt, b, a.Gotype, false)
+			w.writeRef(a.Asym, false)
+			w.writeRef(a.Gotype, false)
 		}
 		pc := s.Pcln
 		for _, d := range pc.Funcdata {
-			wrref(ctxt, b, d, false)
+			w.writeRef(d, false)
 		}
 		for _, f := range pc.File {
-			wrref(ctxt, b, f, true)
+			w.writeRef(f, true)
 		}
 	}
 }
 
-func writesym(ctxt *Link, b *Biobuf, s *LSym) {
-	if ctxt.Debugasm != 0 {
-		fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "%s ", s.Name)
-		if s.Version != 0 {
-			fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "v=%d ", s.Version)
+func (w *objWriter) writeSymDebug(s *LSym) {
+	ctxt := w.ctxt
+	fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "%s ", s.Name)
+	if s.Version != 0 {
+		fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "v=%d ", s.Version)
+	}
+	if s.Type != 0 {
+		fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "t=%d ", s.Type)
+	}
+	if s.Dupok {
+		fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "dupok ")
+	}
+	if s.Cfunc {
+		fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "cfunc ")
+	}
+	if s.Nosplit {
+		fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "nosplit ")
+	}
+	fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "size=%d", s.Size)
+	if s.Type == STEXT {
+		fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, " args=%#x locals=%#x", uint64(s.Args), uint64(s.Locals))
+		if s.Leaf {
+			fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, " leaf")
 		}
-		if s.Type != 0 {
-			fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "t=%d ", s.Type)
+	}
+
+	fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "\n")
+	for p := s.Text; p != nil; p = p.Link {
+		fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "\t%#04x %v\n", uint(int(p.Pc)), p)
+	}
+	var c int
+	var j int
+	for i := 0; i < len(s.P); {
+		fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "\t%#04x", uint(i))
+		for j = i; j < i+16 && j < len(s.P); j++ {
+			fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, " %02x", s.P[j])
 		}
-		if s.Dupok {
-			fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "dupok ")
+		for ; j < i+16; j++ {
+			fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "   ")
 		}
-		if s.Cfunc {
-			fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "cfunc ")
-		}
-		if s.Nosplit {
-			fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "nosplit ")
-		}
-		fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "size=%d", s.Size)
-		if s.Type == STEXT {
-			fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, " args=%#x locals=%#x", uint64(s.Args), uint64(s.Locals))
-			if s.Leaf {
-				fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, " leaf")
+		fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "  ")
+		for j = i; j < i+16 && j < len(s.P); j++ {
+			c = int(s.P[j])
+			if ' ' <= c && c <= 0x7e {
+				fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "%c", c)
+			} else {
+				fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, ".")
 			}
 		}
 
 		fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "\n")
-		for p := s.Text; p != nil; p = p.Link {
-			fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "\t%#04x %v\n", uint(int(p.Pc)), p)
-		}
-		var c int
-		var j int
-		for i := 0; i < len(s.P); {
-			fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "\t%#04x", uint(i))
-			for j = i; j < i+16 && j < len(s.P); j++ {
-				fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, " %02x", s.P[j])
-			}
-			for ; j < i+16; j++ {
-				fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "   ")
-			}
-			fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "  ")
-			for j = i; j < i+16 && j < len(s.P); j++ {
-				c = int(s.P[j])
-				if ' ' <= c && c <= 0x7e {
-					fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "%c", c)
-				} else {
-					fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, ".")
-				}
-			}
-
-			fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "\n")
-			i += 16
-		}
-
-		sort.Sort(relocByOff(s.R)) // generate stable output
-		for _, r := range s.R {
-			name := ""
-			if r.Sym != nil {
-				name = r.Sym.Name
-			}
-			if ctxt.Arch.Thechar == '5' || ctxt.Arch.Thechar == '9' {
-				fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "\trel %d+%d t=%d %s+%x\n", int(r.Off), r.Siz, r.Type, name, uint64(int64(r.Add)))
-			} else {
-				fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "\trel %d+%d t=%d %s+%d\n", int(r.Off), r.Siz, r.Type, name, int64(r.Add))
-			}
-		}
+		i += 16
 	}
 
-	Bputc(b, 0xfe)
-	wrint(b, int64(s.Type))
-	wrsym(b, s)
+	sort.Sort(relocByOff(s.R)) // generate stable output
+	for _, r := range s.R {
+		name := ""
+		if r.Sym != nil {
+			name = r.Sym.Name
+		}
+		if ctxt.Arch.Thechar == '5' || ctxt.Arch.Thechar == '9' {
+			fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "\trel %d+%d t=%d %s+%x\n", int(r.Off), r.Siz, r.Type, name, uint64(int64(r.Add)))
+		} else {
+			fmt.Fprintf(ctxt.Bso, "\trel %d+%d t=%d %s+%d\n", int(r.Off), r.Siz, r.Type, name, int64(r.Add))
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (w *objWriter) writeSym(s *LSym) {
+	ctxt := w.ctxt
+	if ctxt.Debugasm != 0 {
+		w.writeSymDebug(s)
+	}
+
+	w.wr.WriteByte(symPrefix)
+	w.writeInt(int64(s.Type))
+	w.writeRefIndex(s)
 	flags := int64(0)
 	if s.Dupok {
 		flags |= 1
@@ -553,112 +578,110 @@ func writesym(ctxt *Link, b *Biobuf, s *LSym) {
 	if s.Local {
 		flags |= 1 << 1
 	}
-	wrint(b, flags)
-	wrint(b, s.Size)
-	wrsym(b, s.Gotype)
-	wrint(b, int64(len(s.P)))
+	w.writeInt(flags)
+	w.writeInt(s.Size)
+	w.writeRefIndex(s.Gotype)
+	w.writeInt(int64(len(s.P)))
 
-	wrint(b, int64(len(s.R)))
+	w.writeInt(int64(len(s.R)))
 	var r *Reloc
 	for i := 0; i < len(s.R); i++ {
 		r = &s.R[i]
-		wrint(b, int64(r.Off))
-		wrint(b, int64(r.Siz))
-		wrint(b, int64(r.Type))
-		wrint(b, r.Add)
-		wrsym(b, r.Sym)
+		w.writeInt(int64(r.Off))
+		w.writeInt(int64(r.Siz))
+		w.writeInt(int64(r.Type))
+		w.writeInt(r.Add)
+		w.writeRefIndex(r.Sym)
 	}
 
-	if s.Type == STEXT {
-		wrint(b, int64(s.Args))
-		wrint(b, int64(s.Locals))
-		if s.Nosplit {
-			wrint(b, 1)
-		} else {
-			wrint(b, 0)
-		}
-		flags := int64(0)
-		if s.Leaf {
-			flags |= 1
-		}
-		if s.Cfunc {
-			flags |= 1 << 1
-		}
-		if s.ReflectMethod {
-			flags |= 1 << 2
-		}
-		wrint(b, flags)
-		n := 0
-		for a := s.Autom; a != nil; a = a.Link {
-			n++
-		}
-		wrint(b, int64(n))
-		for a := s.Autom; a != nil; a = a.Link {
-			wrsym(b, a.Asym)
-			wrint(b, int64(a.Aoffset))
-			if a.Name == NAME_AUTO {
-				wrint(b, A_AUTO)
-			} else if a.Name == NAME_PARAM {
-				wrint(b, A_PARAM)
-			} else {
-				log.Fatalf("%s: invalid local variable type %d", s.Name, a.Name)
-			}
-			wrsym(b, a.Gotype)
-		}
+	if s.Type != STEXT {
+		return
+	}
 
-		pc := s.Pcln
-		wrint(b, int64(len(pc.Pcsp.P)))
-		wrint(b, int64(len(pc.Pcfile.P)))
-		wrint(b, int64(len(pc.Pcline.P)))
-		wrint(b, int64(len(pc.Pcdata)))
-		for i := 0; i < len(pc.Pcdata); i++ {
-			wrint(b, int64(len(pc.Pcdata[i].P)))
-		}
-		wrint(b, int64(len(pc.Funcdataoff)))
-		for i := 0; i < len(pc.Funcdataoff); i++ {
-			wrsym(b, pc.Funcdata[i])
-		}
-		for i := 0; i < len(pc.Funcdataoff); i++ {
-			wrint(b, pc.Funcdataoff[i])
-		}
-		wrint(b, int64(len(pc.File)))
-		for _, f := range pc.File {
-			wrsym(b, f)
+	w.writeInt(int64(s.Args))
+	w.writeInt(int64(s.Locals))
+	if s.Nosplit {
+		w.writeInt(1)
+	} else {
+		w.writeInt(0)
+	}
+	flags = int64(0)
+	if s.Leaf {
+		flags |= 1
+	}
+	if s.Cfunc {
+		flags |= 1 << 1
+	}
+	if s.ReflectMethod {
+		flags |= 1 << 2
+	}
+	w.writeInt(flags)
+	n := 0
+	for a := s.Autom; a != nil; a = a.Link {
+		n++
+	}
+	w.writeInt(int64(n))
+	for a := s.Autom; a != nil; a = a.Link {
+		w.writeRefIndex(a.Asym)
+		w.writeInt(int64(a.Aoffset))
+		if a.Name == NAME_AUTO {
+			w.writeInt(A_AUTO)
+		} else if a.Name == NAME_PARAM {
+			w.writeInt(A_PARAM)
+		} else {
+			log.Fatalf("%s: invalid local variable type %d", s.Name, a.Name)
 		}
+		w.writeRefIndex(a.Gotype)
+	}
+
+	pc := s.Pcln
+	w.writeInt(int64(len(pc.Pcsp.P)))
+	w.writeInt(int64(len(pc.Pcfile.P)))
+	w.writeInt(int64(len(pc.Pcline.P)))
+	w.writeInt(int64(len(pc.Pcdata)))
+	for i := 0; i < len(pc.Pcdata); i++ {
+		w.writeInt(int64(len(pc.Pcdata[i].P)))
+	}
+	w.writeInt(int64(len(pc.Funcdataoff)))
+	for i := 0; i < len(pc.Funcdataoff); i++ {
+		w.writeRefIndex(pc.Funcdata[i])
+	}
+	for i := 0; i < len(pc.Funcdataoff); i++ {
+		w.writeInt(pc.Funcdataoff[i])
+	}
+	w.writeInt(int64(len(pc.File)))
+	for _, f := range pc.File {
+		w.writeRefIndex(f)
 	}
 }
 
-// Reusable buffer to avoid allocations.
-// This buffer was responsible for 15% of gc's allocations.
-var varintbuf [10]uint8
-
-func wrint(b *Biobuf, sval int64) {
+func (w *objWriter) writeInt(sval int64) {
 	var v uint64
 	uv := (uint64(sval) << 1) ^ uint64(int64(sval>>63))
-	p := varintbuf[:]
+	p := w.varintbuf[:]
 	for v = uv; v >= 0x80; v >>= 7 {
 		p[0] = uint8(v | 0x80)
 		p = p[1:]
 	}
 	p[0] = uint8(v)
 	p = p[1:]
-	b.Write(varintbuf[:len(varintbuf)-len(p)])
+	w.wr.Write(w.varintbuf[:len(w.varintbuf)-len(p)])
 }
 
-func wrstring(b *Biobuf, s string) {
-	wrint(b, int64(len(s)))
-	b.w.WriteString(s)
+func (w *objWriter) writeString(s string) {
+	w.writeInt(int64(len(s)))
+	w.wr.WriteString(s)
 }
 
-func wrsym(b *Biobuf, s *LSym) {
+func (w *objWriter) writeRefIndex(s *LSym) {
 	if s == nil {
-		wrint(b, 0)
+		w.writeInt(0)
 		return
 	}
 	if s.RefIdx == 0 {
 		log.Fatalln("writing an unreferenced symbol", s.Name)
 	}
-	wrint(b, int64(s.RefIdx))
+	w.writeInt(int64(s.RefIdx))
 }
 
 // relocByOff sorts relocations by their offsets.