diff --git a/blockservice/blockservice.go b/blockservice/blockservice.go
index 86e0c776b..96234c12a 100644
--- a/blockservice/blockservice.go
+++ b/blockservice/blockservice.go
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ func (s *BlockService) AddBlock(b *blocks.Block) (u.Key, error) {
 	// consider moving this to an sync process.
 	if s.Remote != nil {
 		ctx := context.TODO()
-		err = s.Remote.HasBlock(ctx, *b)
+		err = s.Remote.HasBlock(ctx, b)
 	}
 	return k, err
 }
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ func (s *BlockService) GetBlock(ctx context.Context, k u.Key) (*blocks.Block, er
 func (s *BlockService) GetBlocks(ctx context.Context, ks []u.Key) <-chan *blocks.Block {
 	out := make(chan *blocks.Block, 32)
 	go func() {
+		defer close(out)
 		var toFetch []u.Key
 		for _, k := range ks {
 			block, err := s.Blockstore.Get(k)
@@ -108,6 +109,15 @@ func (s *BlockService) GetBlocks(ctx context.Context, ks []u.Key) <-chan *blocks
 			log.Debug("Blockservice: Got data in datastore.")
 			out <- block
 		}
+
+		nblocks, err := s.Remote.GetBlocks(ctx, toFetch)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Errorf("Error with GetBlocks: %s", err)
+			return
+		}
+		for blk := range nblocks {
+			out <- blk
+		}
 	}()
 	return out
 }
diff --git a/exchange/bitswap/bitswap.go b/exchange/bitswap/bitswap.go
index 05ed27eb3..604cfa21a 100644
--- a/exchange/bitswap/bitswap.go
+++ b/exchange/bitswap/bitswap.go
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ func (bs *bitswap) GetBlock(parent context.Context, k u.Key) (*blocks.Block, err
 
 	select {
 	case block := <-promise:
-		return &block, nil
+		return block, nil
 	case <-parent.Done():
 		return nil, parent.Err()
 	}
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ func (bs *bitswap) GetBlock(parent context.Context, k u.Key) (*blocks.Block, err
 // NB: Your request remains open until the context expires. To conserve
 // resources, provide a context with a reasonably short deadline (ie. not one
 // that lasts throughout the lifetime of the server)
-func (bs *bitswap) GetBlocks(ctx context.Context, keys []u.Key) (<-chan blocks.Block, error) {
+func (bs *bitswap) GetBlocks(ctx context.Context, keys []u.Key) (<-chan *blocks.Block, error) {
 	// TODO log the request
 
 	promise := bs.notifications.Subscribe(ctx, keys...)
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ func (bs *bitswap) loop(parent context.Context) {
 
 // HasBlock announces the existance of a block to this bitswap service. The
 // service will potentially notify its peers.
-func (bs *bitswap) HasBlock(ctx context.Context, blk blocks.Block) error {
+func (bs *bitswap) HasBlock(ctx context.Context, blk *blocks.Block) error {
 	log.Debugf("Has Block %v", blk.Key())
 	bs.wantlist.Remove(blk.Key())
 	bs.sendToPeersThatWant(ctx, blk)
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ func (bs *bitswap) ReceiveMessage(ctx context.Context, p peer.Peer, incoming bsm
 
 	for _, block := range incoming.Blocks() {
 		// TODO verify blocks?
-		if err := bs.blockstore.Put(&block); err != nil {
+		if err := bs.blockstore.Put(block); err != nil {
 			log.Criticalf("error putting block: %s", err)
 			continue // FIXME(brian): err ignored
 		}
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ func (bs *bitswap) ReceiveMessage(ctx context.Context, p peer.Peer, incoming bsm
 			if block, errBlockNotFound := bs.blockstore.Get(key); errBlockNotFound != nil {
 				continue
 			} else {
-				message.AddBlock(*block)
+				message.AddBlock(block)
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ func (bs *bitswap) send(ctx context.Context, p peer.Peer, m bsmsg.BitSwapMessage
 	bs.strategy.MessageSent(p, m)
 }
 
-func (bs *bitswap) sendToPeersThatWant(ctx context.Context, block blocks.Block) {
+func (bs *bitswap) sendToPeersThatWant(ctx context.Context, block *blocks.Block) {
 	log.Debugf("Sending %v to peers that want it", block.Key())
 
 	for _, p := range bs.strategy.Peers() {
diff --git a/exchange/bitswap/bitswap_test.go b/exchange/bitswap/bitswap_test.go
index a8483c3bd..4f5755ae0 100644
--- a/exchange/bitswap/bitswap_test.go
+++ b/exchange/bitswap/bitswap_test.go
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ func TestGetBlockFromPeerAfterPeerAnnounces(t *testing.T) {
 	if err := hasBlock.blockstore.Put(block); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	if err := hasBlock.exchange.HasBlock(context.Background(), *block); err != nil {
+	if err := hasBlock.exchange.HasBlock(context.Background(), block); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ func PerformDistributionTest(t *testing.T, numInstances, numBlocks int) {
 	first := instances[0]
 	for _, b := range blocks {
 		first.blockstore.Put(b)
-		first.exchange.HasBlock(context.Background(), *b)
+		first.exchange.HasBlock(context.Background(), b)
 		rs.Announce(first.peer, b.Key())
 	}
 
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ func TestSendToWantingPeer(t *testing.T) {
 	beta := bg.Next()
 	t.Logf("Peer %v announes availability  of %v\n", w.peer, beta.Key())
 	ctx, _ = context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), timeout)
-	if err := w.blockstore.Put(&beta); err != nil {
+	if err := w.blockstore.Put(beta); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	w.exchange.HasBlock(ctx, beta)
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ func TestSendToWantingPeer(t *testing.T) {
 
 	t.Logf("%v announces availability of %v\n", o.peer, alpha.Key())
 	ctx, _ = context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), timeout)
-	if err := o.blockstore.Put(&alpha); err != nil {
+	if err := o.blockstore.Put(alpha); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	o.exchange.HasBlock(ctx, alpha)
@@ -254,16 +254,16 @@ type BlockGenerator struct {
 	seq int
 }
 
-func (bg *BlockGenerator) Next() blocks.Block {
+func (bg *BlockGenerator) Next() *blocks.Block {
 	bg.seq++
-	return *blocks.NewBlock([]byte(string(bg.seq)))
+	return blocks.NewBlock([]byte(string(bg.seq)))
 }
 
 func (bg *BlockGenerator) Blocks(n int) []*blocks.Block {
 	blocks := make([]*blocks.Block, 0)
 	for i := 0; i < n; i++ {
 		b := bg.Next()
-		blocks = append(blocks, &b)
+		blocks = append(blocks, b)
 	}
 	return blocks
 }
diff --git a/exchange/bitswap/message/message.go b/exchange/bitswap/message/message.go
index e0aea227d..b69450a6f 100644
--- a/exchange/bitswap/message/message.go
+++ b/exchange/bitswap/message/message.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ type BitSwapMessage interface {
 	Wantlist() []u.Key
 
 	// Blocks returns a slice of unique blocks
-	Blocks() []blocks.Block
+	Blocks() []*blocks.Block
 
 	// AddWanted adds the key to the Wantlist.
 	//
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ type BitSwapMessage interface {
 	// implies Priority(A) > Priority(B)
 	AddWanted(u.Key)
 
-	AddBlock(blocks.Block)
+	AddBlock(*blocks.Block)
 	Exportable
 }
 
@@ -42,14 +42,14 @@ type Exportable interface {
 }
 
 type impl struct {
-	existsInWantlist map[u.Key]struct{}     // map to detect duplicates
-	wantlist         []u.Key                // slice to preserve ordering
-	blocks           map[u.Key]blocks.Block // map to detect duplicates
+	existsInWantlist map[u.Key]struct{}      // map to detect duplicates
+	wantlist         []u.Key                 // slice to preserve ordering
+	blocks           map[u.Key]*blocks.Block // map to detect duplicates
 }
 
 func New() BitSwapMessage {
 	return &impl{
-		blocks:           make(map[u.Key]blocks.Block),
+		blocks:           make(map[u.Key]*blocks.Block),
 		existsInWantlist: make(map[u.Key]struct{}),
 		wantlist:         make([]u.Key, 0),
 	}
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func newMessageFromProto(pbm pb.Message) BitSwapMessage {
 	}
 	for _, d := range pbm.GetBlocks() {
 		b := blocks.NewBlock(d)
-		m.AddBlock(*b)
+		m.AddBlock(b)
 	}
 	return m
 }
@@ -71,8 +71,8 @@ func (m *impl) Wantlist() []u.Key {
 	return m.wantlist
 }
 
-func (m *impl) Blocks() []blocks.Block {
-	bs := make([]blocks.Block, 0)
+func (m *impl) Blocks() []*blocks.Block {
+	bs := make([]*blocks.Block, 0)
 	for _, block := range m.blocks {
 		bs = append(bs, block)
 	}
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ func (m *impl) AddWanted(k u.Key) {
 	m.wantlist = append(m.wantlist, k)
 }
 
-func (m *impl) AddBlock(b blocks.Block) {
+func (m *impl) AddBlock(b *blocks.Block) {
 	m.blocks[b.Key()] = b
 }
 
diff --git a/exchange/bitswap/message/message_test.go b/exchange/bitswap/message/message_test.go
index 9c69136cd..de64b7925 100644
--- a/exchange/bitswap/message/message_test.go
+++ b/exchange/bitswap/message/message_test.go
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func TestAppendBlock(t *testing.T) {
 	m := New()
 	for _, str := range strs {
 		block := blocks.NewBlock([]byte(str))
-		m.AddBlock(*block)
+		m.AddBlock(block)
 	}
 
 	// assert strings are in proto message
@@ -133,10 +133,10 @@ func TestToNetFromNetPreservesWantList(t *testing.T) {
 func TestToAndFromNetMessage(t *testing.T) {
 
 	original := New()
-	original.AddBlock(*blocks.NewBlock([]byte("W")))
-	original.AddBlock(*blocks.NewBlock([]byte("E")))
-	original.AddBlock(*blocks.NewBlock([]byte("F")))
-	original.AddBlock(*blocks.NewBlock([]byte("M")))
+	original.AddBlock(blocks.NewBlock([]byte("W")))
+	original.AddBlock(blocks.NewBlock([]byte("E")))
+	original.AddBlock(blocks.NewBlock([]byte("F")))
+	original.AddBlock(blocks.NewBlock([]byte("M")))
 
 	p := peer.WithIDString("X")
 	netmsg, err := original.ToNet(p)
@@ -180,8 +180,8 @@ func TestDuplicates(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("Duplicate in BitSwapMessage")
 	}
 
-	msg.AddBlock(*b)
-	msg.AddBlock(*b)
+	msg.AddBlock(b)
+	msg.AddBlock(b)
 	if len(msg.Blocks()) != 1 {
 		t.Fatal("Duplicate in BitSwapMessage")
 	}
diff --git a/exchange/bitswap/notifications/notifications.go b/exchange/bitswap/notifications/notifications.go
index a2646c814..2497f6316 100644
--- a/exchange/bitswap/notifications/notifications.go
+++ b/exchange/bitswap/notifications/notifications.go
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ import (
 const bufferSize = 16
 
 type PubSub interface {
-	Publish(block blocks.Block)
-	Subscribe(ctx context.Context, keys ...u.Key) <-chan blocks.Block
+	Publish(block *blocks.Block)
+	Subscribe(ctx context.Context, keys ...u.Key) <-chan *blocks.Block
 	Shutdown()
 }
 
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ type impl struct {
 	wrapped pubsub.PubSub
 }
 
-func (ps *impl) Publish(block blocks.Block) {
+func (ps *impl) Publish(block *blocks.Block) {
 	topic := string(block.Key())
 	ps.wrapped.Pub(block, topic)
 }
@@ -32,18 +32,18 @@ func (ps *impl) Publish(block blocks.Block) {
 // Subscribe returns a one-time use |blockChannel|. |blockChannel| returns nil
 // if the |ctx| times out or is cancelled. Then channel is closed after the
 // blocks given by |keys| are sent.
-func (ps *impl) Subscribe(ctx context.Context, keys ...u.Key) <-chan blocks.Block {
+func (ps *impl) Subscribe(ctx context.Context, keys ...u.Key) <-chan *blocks.Block {
 	topics := make([]string, 0)
 	for _, key := range keys {
 		topics = append(topics, string(key))
 	}
 	subChan := ps.wrapped.SubOnce(topics...)
-	blockChannel := make(chan blocks.Block, 1) // buffered so the sender doesn't wait on receiver
+	blockChannel := make(chan *blocks.Block, 1) // buffered so the sender doesn't wait on receiver
 	go func() {
 		defer close(blockChannel)
 		select {
 		case val := <-subChan:
-			block, ok := val.(blocks.Block)
+			block, ok := val.(*blocks.Block)
 			if ok {
 				blockChannel <- block
 			}
diff --git a/exchange/bitswap/notifications/notifications_test.go b/exchange/bitswap/notifications/notifications_test.go
index 063634f61..ebbae2a51 100644
--- a/exchange/bitswap/notifications/notifications_test.go
+++ b/exchange/bitswap/notifications/notifications_test.go
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@ func TestPublishSubscribe(t *testing.T) {
 	defer n.Shutdown()
 	ch := n.Subscribe(context.Background(), blockSent.Key())
 
-	n.Publish(*blockSent)
+	n.Publish(blockSent)
 	blockRecvd, ok := <-ch
 	if !ok {
 		t.Fail()
 	}
 
-	assertBlocksEqual(t, blockRecvd, *blockSent)
+	assertBlocksEqual(t, blockRecvd, blockSent)
 
 }
 
@@ -39,14 +39,14 @@ func TestCarryOnWhenDeadlineExpires(t *testing.T) {
 	assertBlockChannelNil(t, blockChannel)
 }
 
-func assertBlockChannelNil(t *testing.T, blockChannel <-chan blocks.Block) {
+func assertBlockChannelNil(t *testing.T, blockChannel <-chan *blocks.Block) {
 	_, ok := <-blockChannel
 	if ok {
 		t.Fail()
 	}
 }
 
-func assertBlocksEqual(t *testing.T, a, b blocks.Block) {
+func assertBlocksEqual(t *testing.T, a, b *blocks.Block) {
 	if !bytes.Equal(a.Data, b.Data) {
 		t.Fail()
 	}
diff --git a/exchange/bitswap/strategy/strategy_test.go b/exchange/bitswap/strategy/strategy_test.go
index ef93d9827..d07af601b 100644
--- a/exchange/bitswap/strategy/strategy_test.go
+++ b/exchange/bitswap/strategy/strategy_test.go
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ func TestConsistentAccounting(t *testing.T) {
 
 		m := message.New()
 		content := []string{"this", "is", "message", "i"}
-		m.AddBlock(*blocks.NewBlock([]byte(strings.Join(content, " "))))
+		m.AddBlock(blocks.NewBlock([]byte(strings.Join(content, " "))))
 
 		sender.MessageSent(receiver.Peer, m)
 		receiver.MessageReceived(sender.Peer, m)
diff --git a/exchange/bitswap/testnet/network_test.go b/exchange/bitswap/testnet/network_test.go
index 3930c2a8c..6f57aad50 100644
--- a/exchange/bitswap/testnet/network_test.go
+++ b/exchange/bitswap/testnet/network_test.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ func TestSendRequestToCooperativePeer(t *testing.T) {
 		// TODO test contents of incoming message
 
 		m := bsmsg.New()
-		m.AddBlock(*blocks.NewBlock([]byte(expectedStr)))
+		m.AddBlock(blocks.NewBlock([]byte(expectedStr)))
 
 		return from, m
 	}))
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ func TestSendRequestToCooperativePeer(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Log("Build a message and send a synchronous request to recipient")
 
 	message := bsmsg.New()
-	message.AddBlock(*blocks.NewBlock([]byte("data")))
+	message.AddBlock(blocks.NewBlock([]byte("data")))
 	response, err := initiator.SendRequest(
 		context.Background(), peer.WithID(idOfRecipient), message)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ func TestSendMessageAsyncButWaitForResponse(t *testing.T) {
 		peer.Peer, bsmsg.BitSwapMessage) {
 
 		msgToWaiter := bsmsg.New()
-		msgToWaiter.AddBlock(*blocks.NewBlock([]byte(expectedStr)))
+		msgToWaiter.AddBlock(blocks.NewBlock([]byte(expectedStr)))
 
 		return fromWaiter, msgToWaiter
 	}))
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ func TestSendMessageAsyncButWaitForResponse(t *testing.T) {
 	}))
 
 	messageSentAsync := bsmsg.New()
-	messageSentAsync.AddBlock(*blocks.NewBlock([]byte("data")))
+	messageSentAsync.AddBlock(blocks.NewBlock([]byte("data")))
 	errSending := waiter.SendMessage(
 		context.Background(), peer.WithID(idOfResponder), messageSentAsync)
 	if errSending != nil {
diff --git a/exchange/interface.go b/exchange/interface.go
index 1f126eed3..aa2e2431c 100644
--- a/exchange/interface.go
+++ b/exchange/interface.go
@@ -16,9 +16,11 @@ type Interface interface {
 	// GetBlock returns the block associated with a given key.
 	GetBlock(context.Context, u.Key) (*blocks.Block, error)
 
+	GetBlocks(context.Context, []u.Key) (<-chan *blocks.Block, error)
+
 	// TODO Should callers be concerned with whether the block was made
 	// available on the network?
-	HasBlock(context.Context, blocks.Block) error
+	HasBlock(context.Context, *blocks.Block) error
 
 	io.Closer
 }
diff --git a/exchange/offline/offline.go b/exchange/offline/offline.go
index 893f546a9..24a89e038 100644
--- a/exchange/offline/offline.go
+++ b/exchange/offline/offline.go
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ func (_ *offlineExchange) GetBlock(context.Context, u.Key) (*blocks.Block, error
 }
 
 // HasBlock always returns nil.
-func (_ *offlineExchange) HasBlock(context.Context, blocks.Block) error {
+func (_ *offlineExchange) HasBlock(context.Context, *blocks.Block) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -38,3 +38,7 @@ func (_ *offlineExchange) HasBlock(context.Context, blocks.Block) error {
 func (_ *offlineExchange) Close() error {
 	return nil
 }
+
+func (_ *offlineExchange) GetBlocks(context.Context, []u.Key) (<-chan *blocks.Block, error) {
+	return nil, OfflineMode
+}
diff --git a/exchange/offline/offline_test.go b/exchange/offline/offline_test.go
index 98b6e1a8c..ac02d2101 100644
--- a/exchange/offline/offline_test.go
+++ b/exchange/offline/offline_test.go
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ func TestBlockReturnsErr(t *testing.T) {
 func TestHasBlockReturnsNil(t *testing.T) {
 	off := Exchange()
 	block := blocks.NewBlock([]byte("data"))
-	err := off.HasBlock(context.Background(), *block)
+	err := off.HasBlock(context.Background(), block)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal("")
 	}
diff --git a/importer/importer_test.go b/importer/importer_test.go
index e8177aa91..21af40670 100644
--- a/importer/importer_test.go
+++ b/importer/importer_test.go
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ func testFileConsistency(t *testing.T, bs chunk.BlockSplitter, nbytes int) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
+
 	r, err := uio.NewDagReader(nd, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
diff --git a/merkledag/merkledag.go b/merkledag/merkledag.go
index bdb258444..2fba2f5fa 100644
--- a/merkledag/merkledag.go
+++ b/merkledag/merkledag.go
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ func (ds *dagService) BatchFetch(ctx context.Context, root *Node) <-chan *Node {
 				if next == i {
 					sig <- nd
 					next++
-					for ; nodes[next] != nil; next++ {
+					for ; next < len(nodes) && nodes[next] != nil; next++ {
 						sig <- nodes[next]
 					}
 				}
diff --git a/unixfs/io/dagreader.go b/unixfs/io/dagreader.go
index ec1b21bfe..7f8720cf1 100644
--- a/unixfs/io/dagreader.go
+++ b/unixfs/io/dagreader.go
@@ -17,10 +17,11 @@ var ErrIsDir = errors.New("this dag node is a directory")
 
 // DagReader provides a way to easily read the data contained in a dag.
 type DagReader struct {
-	serv      mdag.DAGService
-	node      *mdag.Node
-	buf       io.Reader
-	fetchChan <-chan *mdag.Node
+	serv         mdag.DAGService
+	node         *mdag.Node
+	buf          io.Reader
+	fetchChan    <-chan *mdag.Node
+	linkPosition int
 }
 
 // NewDagReader creates a new reader object that reads the data represented by the given
@@ -37,11 +38,15 @@ func NewDagReader(n *mdag.Node, serv mdag.DAGService) (io.Reader, error) {
 		// Dont allow reading directories
 		return nil, ErrIsDir
 	case ftpb.Data_File:
+		var fetchChan <-chan *mdag.Node
+		if serv != nil {
+			fetchChan = serv.BatchFetch(context.TODO(), n)
+		}
 		return &DagReader{
 			node:      n,
 			serv:      serv,
 			buf:       bytes.NewBuffer(pb.GetData()),
-			fetchChan: serv.BatchFetch(context.TODO(), n),
+			fetchChan: fetchChan,
 		}, nil
 	case ftpb.Data_Raw:
 		// Raw block will just be a single level, return a byte buffer
@@ -61,6 +66,17 @@ func (dr *DagReader) precalcNextBuf() error {
 		if !ok {
 			return io.EOF
 		}
+	default:
+		// Only used when fetchChan is nil,
+		// which only happens when passed in a nil dagservice
+		// TODO: this logic is hard to follow, do it better.
+		// NOTE: the only time this code is used, is during the
+		//			importer tests, consider just changing those tests
+		if dr.linkPosition >= len(dr.node.Links) {
+			return io.EOF
+		}
+		nxt = dr.node.Links[dr.linkPosition].Node
+		dr.linkPosition++
 	}
 
 	pb := new(ftpb.Data)