diff --git a/utils/binv.f90 b/utils/binv.f90
index f3bb67db..5cfc6812 100644
--- a/utils/binv.f90
+++ b/utils/binv.f90
@@ -27,13 +27,13 @@ PROGRAM BINV
 
   !  get filename
 
-  NARG=IARGC()
-  IF(NARG/=1) THEN
-     PRINT *,'Usage: binv <bufrfile> will print bufrfile inventory by message type'
-     CALL EXIT(2)
-  ENDIF
+  narg=command_argument_count()
+  if(narg/=1) then
+     print *,'Usage: binv <bufrfile> will print bufrfile inventory by message type'
+     call exit(2)
+  endif
 
-  call getarg(1,file)
+  call get_command_argument(1,file)
   file = TRIM(file)//CHAR(0)
   inquire(file=file,exist=exist)
   if (.not.exist) then
diff --git a/utils/cmpbqm.F90 b/utils/cmpbqm.F90
index 5cdbeba1..f930cc8e 100644
--- a/utils/cmpbqm.F90
+++ b/utils/cmpbqm.F90
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ PROGRAM CMPBQM
   !  OPEN A FILE - GET A DATE
   !  ------------------------
 
-  call getarg(1,file); file=trim(adjustl(file))
+  call get_command_argument(1,file); file=trim(adjustl(file))
   if (file == '') then 
      print *, 'Usage: Usage: cmpbqm <prepbufrfile> will print prep inventory by variable, report type, and qc mark'
      call exit(2)
diff --git a/utils/gettab.f90 b/utils/gettab.f90
index cf7eb8b1..716cbe68 100644
--- a/utils/gettab.f90
+++ b/utils/gettab.f90
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ program gettab
 
 ! get the filename to open and read
 
-  call getarg(1,file); file=trim(adjustl(file))
+  call get_command_argument(1,file); file=trim(adjustl(file))
   if (file == '') then
     print *,'Usage: gettab <bufrfile> will print the internal BUFR table'
     call exit(2)
diff --git a/utils/readbp.F90 b/utils/readbp.F90
index 5bdb5e46..eebccb7c 100644
--- a/utils/readbp.F90
+++ b/utils/readbp.F90
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ PROGRAM READBP
 
 !  check for filename argument
 
-      narg=iargc()
+      narg=command_argument_count()
 1     if(narg<1) THEN
         call printx('                                                                                                        ')
         call printx('Usage: readbp <-s> <-w> <m> <-k> <-r> <-d> <-n> <-h>  prep bufrfile                                     ')
@@ -82,22 +82,22 @@ PROGRAM READBP
 
       iarg=1
       do while(iarg<=narg)
-      call getarg(iarg,file)
+      call get_command_argument(iarg,file)
       if(file(1:1)=='-') then
          if(file(2:2)=='s') then
-           iarg=iarg+1; call getarg(iarg,sta); nsta=len(trim(sta))
+           iarg=iarg+1; call get_command_argument(iarg,sta); nsta=len(trim(sta))
          elseif(file(2:2)=='w') then
-           iarg=iarg+1; call getarg(iarg,val); read(val,*)x1
-           iarg=iarg+1; call getarg(iarg,val); read(val,*)x2
-           iarg=iarg+1; call getarg(iarg,val); read(val,*)y1
-           iarg=iarg+1; call getarg(iarg,val); read(val,*)y2
+           iarg=iarg+1; call get_command_argument(iarg,val); read(val,*)x1
+           iarg=iarg+1; call get_command_argument(iarg,val); read(val,*)x2
+           iarg=iarg+1; call get_command_argument(iarg,val); read(val,*)y1
+           iarg=iarg+1; call get_command_argument(iarg,val); read(val,*)y2
            window=.true.
          elseif(file(2:2)=='k') then
-           iarg=iarg+1; call getarg(iarg,val); read(val,*)ikx
+           iarg=iarg+1; call get_command_argument(iarg,val); read(val,*)ikx
          elseif(file(2:2)=='r') then
-           iarg=iarg+1; call getarg(iarg,val); read(val,*)irt
+           iarg=iarg+1; call get_command_argument(iarg,val); read(val,*)irt
          elseif(file(2:2)=='m') then
-           iarg=iarg+1; call getarg(iarg,val); msg=val(1:8)
+           iarg=iarg+1; call get_command_argument(iarg,val); msg=val(1:8)
          elseif(file(2:2)=='d') then
            iarg=iarg+1; dump=.true.
          elseif(file(2:2)=='h') then
diff --git a/utils/readmp.F90 b/utils/readmp.F90
index 93e81d26..433a2cbb 100644
--- a/utils/readmp.F90
+++ b/utils/readmp.F90
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ program readmp
 
 ! get the filename to open and read
 
-  call getarg(1,file); file=trim(adjustl(file))
+  call get_command_argument(1,file); file=trim(adjustl(file))
   if (file == '') then
      print *, 'Usage: readmp <bufrfile> will print reports one at a time'
      call exit(2)
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ program readmp
      print *,trim(file)//' does not exist'
      call exit(3)
   endif
-  call getarg(2,go); go=trim(adjustl(go)) ! this for testing !
+  call get_command_argument(2,go); go=trim(adjustl(go)) ! this for testing
   open(lunit,file=file,form='unformatted')
 
 ! open the file to bufr and dump the subsets to standard outout one at a time
diff --git a/utils/sinv.f90.in b/utils/sinv.f90.in
index d86fbf47..8695ce2c 100644
--- a/utils/sinv.f90.in
+++ b/utils/sinv.f90.in
@@ -33,12 +33,12 @@ program sinv
 
   ! get filename argument
 
-  narg=iargc()
+  narg=command_argument_count()
   if(narg<1) then
      write(*,*)'Usage: sinv <satbufrfile> will print inventory of satellites by platform and instrument'
      call exit(2)
   endif
-  call getarg(1,file)
+  call get_command_argument(1,file)
   file = trim(adjustl(file))
   inquire(file=file,exist=exist)
   if (.not.exist) call bort(trim(file)//' does not exist')
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ program sinv
 
   call openbf(lunbf,'FIRST',lunbf)  ! need to call openbf prior to calling mtinfo
   if(narg==2) then ! arg 2 would be a user defined table dir
-     call getarg(2,tbldir)
+     call get_command_argument(2,tbldir)
      call mtinfo(tbldir,3,4)
   else ! otherwise default table dir is used
      cmtdir = '@MASTER_TABLE_DIR_F@'
diff --git a/utils/split_by_subset.f90 b/utils/split_by_subset.f90
index db319d51..a1206e59 100644
--- a/utils/split_by_subset.f90
+++ b/utils/split_by_subset.f90
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@ program split_by_subset
 
   !> get input filename from stdin
 
-  if(iargc()==1) then
-     call getarg(1, finput)
+  if(command_argument_count()==1) then
+     call get_command_argument(1, finput)
      inquire(file=trim(adjustl(finput)), exist=file_exists)
      if (file_exists) then
         open(lunit, file=trim(adjustl(finput)), form='unformatted')