diff --git a/sh/permit b/sh/permit
index 8a5a17a..1358e92 100755
--- a/sh/permit
+++ b/sh/permit
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ permit() { ### @- conditionally set executable permissions on each of its argume
     ### already executable by the current user are skipped. arguments that do
     ### not appear to refer to an existing file are passed through to chmod.
     ### directories are never recursed.
-    unset __permit_4 __permit_a __permit_f __permit_h __permit_m __permit_n __permit_x || return
+    unset __permit_4 __permit_a __permit_f __permit_h __permit_m __permit_x || return
 
     __permit_h="[-a | -A] [-e | -f | -d] [--] {files...}"
     if [ $# = 0 ]; then
@@ -33,43 +33,34 @@ permit() { ### @- conditionally set executable permissions on each of its argume
         return 64;
     fi
 
-    __permit_m=e # everything
+    __permit_m=e # mode
     __permit_a=0 # automatic
 
-    __permit_n=$#
-    while [ $((__permit_n-=1)) -ge 0 ]; do
-        __permit_f="$1"
-        case "$__permit_f" in
-
+    unset __permit_stop || return
+    for __permit_f; do
+        shift
+        case "${__permit_stop+:}$__permit_f" in
         (/\?|-h|-help|--help)
             printf 'usage: permit %s\n' "$__permit_h"
             return 0;;
-
         (--)
-            shift
-            while [ $((__permit_n-=1)) -ge 0 ]; do
-                set -- "$@" "$1"
-                shift
-            done
-            break;;
-
+            __permit_stop=1;;
         (-?*)
-            shift
             while __permit_f="${__permit_f#?}"; [ -n "$__permit_f" ]; do
                 case "${__permit_f}" in
+
                 (a*) __permit_a=1;; # automatic (on)
                 (A*) __permit_a=0;; # automatic (off)
                 (e*) __permit_m=e;; # everything
                 (f*) __permit_m=f;; # files only
                 (d*) __permit_m=d;; # directories only
+
                 (*)
                     printf >&2 'permit: unknown flag: -%.1s\n' "$__permit_f"
                     return 64;;
                 esac
             done;;
-
         (*)
-            shift
             set -- "$@" "$__permit_f";;
         esac
     done