diff --git a/blob.h b/blob.h
index 13bc7cc..03e4ec3 100644
--- a/blob.h
+++ b/blob.h
@@ -122,18 +122,34 @@ blob_pad_len(const struct blob_attr *attr)
 	return len;
 }
 
+static inline bool
+blob_get_bool(const struct blob_attr *attr)
+{
+	return !!(*((uint8_t *)attr->data));
+}
+
 static inline uint8_t
-blob_get_u8(const struct blob_attr *attr)
+__blob_get_u8(const struct blob_attr *attr)
 {
 	return *((uint8_t *) attr->data);
 }
+static inline __deprecated uint8_t
+blob_get_u8(const struct blob_attr *attr)
+{
+	return __blob_get_u8(attr);
+}
 
 static inline uint16_t
-blob_get_u16(const struct blob_attr *attr)
+__blob_get_u16(const struct blob_attr *attr)
 {
 	uint16_t *tmp = (uint16_t*)attr->data;
 	return be16_to_cpu(*tmp);
 }
+static inline __deprecated uint16_t
+blob_get_u16(const struct blob_attr *attr)
+{
+	return __blob_get_u16(attr);
+}
 
 static inline uint32_t
 blob_get_u32(const struct blob_attr *attr)
@@ -151,16 +167,16 @@ blob_get_u64(const struct blob_attr *attr)
 	return tmp;
 }
 
-static inline int8_t
+static inline __deprecated int8_t
 blob_get_int8(const struct blob_attr *attr)
 {
-	return blob_get_u8(attr);
+	return __blob_get_u8(attr);
 }
 
-static inline int16_t
+static inline __deprecated int16_t
 blob_get_int16(const struct blob_attr *attr)
 {
-	return blob_get_u16(attr);
+	return __blob_get_u16(attr);
 }
 
 static inline int32_t
@@ -210,12 +226,18 @@ blob_put_string(struct blob_buf *buf, int id, const char *str)
 }
 
 static inline struct blob_attr *
+blob_put_bool(struct blob_buf *buf, int id, bool val)
+{
+	return blob_put(buf, id, &val, sizeof(val));
+}
+
+static inline __deprecated struct blob_attr *
 blob_put_u8(struct blob_buf *buf, int id, uint8_t val)
 {
 	return blob_put(buf, id, &val, sizeof(val));
 }
 
-static inline struct blob_attr *
+static inline __deprecated struct blob_attr *
 blob_put_u16(struct blob_buf *buf, int id, uint16_t val)
 {
 	val = cpu_to_be16(val);
diff --git a/blobmsg.h b/blobmsg.h
index f2fc0d0..4a21e63 100644
--- a/blobmsg.h
+++ b/blobmsg.h
@@ -192,6 +192,12 @@ blobmsg_parse_array_attr(const struct blobmsg_policy *policy, int policy_len,
 	return blobmsg_parse_array(policy, policy_len, tb, blobmsg_data(data), blobmsg_len(data));
 }
 
+static inline int
+blobmsg_add_bool(struct blob_buf *buf, const char *name, bool val)
+{
+	return blobmsg_add_field(buf, BLOBMSG_TYPE_BOOL, name, &val, 1);
+}
+
 static inline int
 blobmsg_add_double(struct blob_buf *buf, const char *name, double val)
 {
@@ -205,17 +211,27 @@ blobmsg_add_double(struct blob_buf *buf, const char *name, double val)
 }
 
 static inline int
-blobmsg_add_u8(struct blob_buf *buf, const char *name, uint8_t val)
+__blobmsg_add_u8(struct blob_buf *buf, const char *name, uint8_t val)
 {
 	return blobmsg_add_field(buf, BLOBMSG_TYPE_INT8, name, &val, 1);
 }
+static inline __deprecated int
+blobmsg_add_u8(struct blob_buf *buf, const char *name, uint8_t val)
+{
+	return __blobmsg_add_u8(buf, name, val);
+}
 
 static inline int
-blobmsg_add_u16(struct blob_buf *buf, const char *name, uint16_t val)
+__blobmsg_add_u16(struct blob_buf *buf, const char *name, uint16_t val)
 {
 	val = cpu_to_be16(val);
 	return blobmsg_add_field(buf, BLOBMSG_TYPE_INT16, name, &val, 2);
 }
+static inline __deprecated int
+blobmsg_add_u16(struct blob_buf *buf, const char *name, uint16_t val)
+{
+	return __blobmsg_add_u16(buf, name, val);
+}
 
 static inline int
 blobmsg_add_u32(struct blob_buf *buf, const char *name, uint32_t val)
@@ -275,20 +291,28 @@ static inline int blobmsg_buf_init(struct blob_buf *buf)
 	return blob_buf_init(buf, BLOBMSG_TYPE_TABLE);
 }
 
-static inline uint8_t blobmsg_get_u8(struct blob_attr *attr)
+static inline uint8_t __blobmsg_get_u8(struct blob_attr *attr)
 {
 	return *(uint8_t *) blobmsg_data(attr);
 }
+static inline __deprecated uint8_t blobmsg_get_u8(struct blob_attr *attr)
+{
+	return __blobmsg_get_u8(attr);
+}
 
 static inline bool blobmsg_get_bool(struct blob_attr *attr)
 {
-	return *(uint8_t *) blobmsg_data(attr);
+	return !!(*(uint8_t *) blobmsg_data(attr));
 }
 
-static inline uint16_t blobmsg_get_u16(struct blob_attr *attr)
+static inline uint16_t __blobmsg_get_u16(struct blob_attr *attr)
 {
 	return be16_to_cpu(*(uint16_t *) blobmsg_data(attr));
 }
+static inline __deprecated uint16_t blobmsg_get_u16(struct blob_attr *attr)
+{
+	return __blobmsg_get_u16(attr);
+}
 
 static inline uint32_t blobmsg_get_u32(struct blob_attr *attr)
 {
@@ -312,9 +336,9 @@ static inline uint64_t blobmsg_cast_u64(struct blob_attr *attr)
 	else if (blobmsg_type(attr) == BLOBMSG_TYPE_INT32)
 		tmp = blobmsg_get_u32(attr);
 	else if (blobmsg_type(attr) == BLOBMSG_TYPE_INT16)
-		tmp = blobmsg_get_u16(attr);
+		tmp = __blobmsg_get_u16(attr);
 	else if (blobmsg_type(attr) == BLOBMSG_TYPE_INT8)
-		tmp = blobmsg_get_u8(attr);
+		tmp = __blobmsg_get_u8(attr);
 
 	return tmp;
 }
@@ -328,9 +352,9 @@ static inline int64_t blobmsg_cast_s64(struct blob_attr *attr)
 	else if (blobmsg_type(attr) == BLOBMSG_TYPE_INT32)
 		tmp = (int32_t)blobmsg_get_u32(attr);
 	else if (blobmsg_type(attr) == BLOBMSG_TYPE_INT16)
-		tmp = (int16_t)blobmsg_get_u16(attr);
+		tmp = (int16_t)__blobmsg_get_u16(attr);
 	else if (blobmsg_type(attr) == BLOBMSG_TYPE_INT8)
-		tmp = (int8_t)blobmsg_get_u8(attr);
+		tmp = (int8_t)__blobmsg_get_u8(attr);
 
 	return tmp;
 }
diff --git a/blobmsg_json.c b/blobmsg_json.c
index 31eec09..b974254 100644
--- a/blobmsg_json.c
+++ b/blobmsg_json.c
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ bool blobmsg_add_json_element(struct blob_buf *b, const char *name, json_object
 		blobmsg_add_string(b, name, json_object_get_string(obj));
 		break;
 	case json_type_boolean:
-		blobmsg_add_u8(b, name, json_object_get_boolean(obj));
+		blobmsg_add_bool(b, name, json_object_get_boolean(obj));
 		break;
 	case json_type_int: {
 		int64_t i64 = json_object_get_int64(obj);
diff --git a/tests/test-blobmsg-types.c b/tests/test-blobmsg-types.c
index 4d77a27..5055b2d 100644
--- a/tests/test-blobmsg-types.c
+++ b/tests/test-blobmsg-types.c
@@ -139,13 +139,13 @@ static void dump_message(struct blob_buf *buf)
 	if (tb[FOO_INT32_MIN])
 		fprintf(stderr, "int32_min: %" PRId32 "\n", (int32_t)blobmsg_get_u32(tb[FOO_INT32_MIN]));
 	if (tb[FOO_INT16_MAX])
-		fprintf(stderr, "int16_max: %" PRId16 "\n", (int16_t)blobmsg_get_u16(tb[FOO_INT16_MAX]));
+		fprintf(stderr, "int16_max: %" PRId16 "\n", (int16_t)__blobmsg_get_u16(tb[FOO_INT16_MAX]));
 	if (tb[FOO_INT16_MIN])
-		fprintf(stderr, "int16_min: %" PRId16 "\n", (int16_t)blobmsg_get_u16(tb[FOO_INT16_MIN]));
+		fprintf(stderr, "int16_min: %" PRId16 "\n", (int16_t)__blobmsg_get_u16(tb[FOO_INT16_MIN]));
 	if (tb[FOO_INT8_MAX])
-		fprintf(stderr, "int8_max: %" PRId8 "\n", (int8_t)blobmsg_get_u8(tb[FOO_INT8_MAX]));
+		fprintf(stderr, "int8_max: %" PRId8 "\n", (int8_t)__blobmsg_get_u8(tb[FOO_INT8_MAX]));
 	if (tb[FOO_INT8_MIN])
-		fprintf(stderr, "int8_min: %" PRId8 "\n", (int8_t)blobmsg_get_u8(tb[FOO_INT8_MIN]));
+		fprintf(stderr, "int8_min: %" PRId8 "\n", (int8_t)__blobmsg_get_u8(tb[FOO_INT8_MIN]));
 	if (tb[FOO_DOUBLE_MAX])
 		fprintf(stderr, "double_max: %e\n", blobmsg_get_double(tb[FOO_DOUBLE_MAX]));
 	if (tb[FOO_DOUBLE_MIN])
@@ -242,10 +242,10 @@ static void dump_message_json(struct blob_buf *buf)
 		fprintf(stderr, "int16_min: %" PRId32 "\n", blobmsg_get_u32(tb[FOO_INT16_MIN]));
 	/* u8 is converted to boolean (true: all values != 0/false: value 0) in json */
 	if (tb[FOO_INT8_MAX])
-		fprintf(stderr, "int8_max: %" PRId8 "\n", blobmsg_get_u8(tb[FOO_INT8_MAX]));
+		fprintf(stderr, "int8_max: %" PRId8 "\n", __blobmsg_get_u8(tb[FOO_INT8_MAX]));
 	/* u8 is converted to boolean (true: all values != 0/false: value 0) in json */
 	if (tb[FOO_INT8_MIN])
-		fprintf(stderr, "int8_min: %" PRId8 "\n", blobmsg_get_u8(tb[FOO_INT8_MIN]));
+		fprintf(stderr, "int8_min: %" PRId8 "\n", __blobmsg_get_u8(tb[FOO_INT8_MIN]));
 	if (tb[FOO_DOUBLE_MAX])
 		fprintf(stderr, "double_max: %e\n", blobmsg_get_double(tb[FOO_DOUBLE_MAX]));
 	if (tb[FOO_DOUBLE_MIN])
@@ -324,10 +324,10 @@ fill_message(struct blob_buf *buf)
 	blobmsg_add_u64(buf, "int64_min", INT64_MIN);
 	blobmsg_add_u32(buf, "int32_max", INT32_MAX);
 	blobmsg_add_u32(buf, "int32_min", INT32_MIN);
-	blobmsg_add_u16(buf, "int16_max", INT16_MAX);
-	blobmsg_add_u16(buf, "int16_min", INT16_MIN);
-	blobmsg_add_u8(buf, "int8_max", INT8_MAX);
-	blobmsg_add_u8(buf, "int8_min", INT8_MIN);
+	__blobmsg_add_u16(buf, "int16_max", INT16_MAX);
+	__blobmsg_add_u16(buf, "int16_min", INT16_MIN);
+	__blobmsg_add_u8(buf, "int8_max", INT8_MAX);
+	__blobmsg_add_u8(buf, "int8_min", INT8_MIN);
 	blobmsg_add_double(buf, "double_max", DBL_MAX);
 	blobmsg_add_double(buf, "double_min", DBL_MIN);
 }
diff --git a/tests/test-blobmsg.c b/tests/test-blobmsg.c
index 2224853..782faa8 100644
--- a/tests/test-blobmsg.c
+++ b/tests/test-blobmsg.c
@@ -41,10 +41,10 @@ static void dump_attr_data(struct blob_attr *data, int indent, int next_indent)
 		indent_printf(indent, "%s (str)\n", blobmsg_get_string(data));
 		break;
 	case BLOBMSG_TYPE_INT8:
-		indent_printf(indent, "%d (i8)\n", (int8_t) blobmsg_get_u8(data));
+		indent_printf(indent, "%d (i8)\n", (int8_t) __blobmsg_get_u8(data));
 		break;
 	case BLOBMSG_TYPE_INT16:
-		indent_printf(indent, "%d (i16)\n", (int16_t) blobmsg_get_u16(data));
+		indent_printf(indent, "%d (i16)\n", (int16_t) __blobmsg_get_u16(data));
 		break;
 	case BLOBMSG_TYPE_INT32:
 		indent_printf(indent, "%d (i32)\n", (int32_t) blobmsg_get_u32(data));
@@ -121,12 +121,12 @@ fill_message(struct blob_buf *buf)
 	tbl = blobmsg_open_table(buf, "testdata");
 	blobmsg_add_double(buf, "dbl-min", DBL_MIN);
 	blobmsg_add_double(buf, "dbl-max", DBL_MAX);
-	blobmsg_add_u8(buf, "foo", 0);
-	blobmsg_add_u8(buf, "poo", 100);
-	blobmsg_add_u8(buf, "moo-min", INT8_MIN);
-	blobmsg_add_u8(buf, "moo-max", INT8_MAX);
-	blobmsg_add_u16(buf, "bar-min", INT16_MIN);
-	blobmsg_add_u16(buf, "bar-max", INT16_MAX);
+	__blobmsg_add_u8(buf, "foo", 0);
+	__blobmsg_add_u8(buf, "poo", 100);
+	__blobmsg_add_u8(buf, "moo-min", INT8_MIN);
+	__blobmsg_add_u8(buf, "moo-max", INT8_MAX);
+	__blobmsg_add_u16(buf, "bar-min", INT16_MIN);
+	__blobmsg_add_u16(buf, "bar-max", INT16_MAX);
 	blobmsg_add_u32(buf, "baz-min", INT32_MIN);
 	blobmsg_add_u32(buf, "baz-max", INT32_MAX);
 	blobmsg_add_u64(buf, "taz-min", INT64_MIN);
@@ -135,12 +135,12 @@ fill_message(struct blob_buf *buf)
 	blobmsg_close_table(buf, tbl);
 
 	tbl = blobmsg_open_array(buf, "list");
-	blobmsg_add_u8(buf, NULL, 0);
-	blobmsg_add_u8(buf, NULL, 100);
-	blobmsg_add_u8(buf, NULL, INT8_MIN);
-	blobmsg_add_u8(buf, NULL, INT8_MAX);
-	blobmsg_add_u16(buf, NULL, INT16_MIN);
-	blobmsg_add_u16(buf, NULL, INT16_MAX);
+	__blobmsg_add_u8(buf, NULL, 0);
+	__blobmsg_add_u8(buf, NULL, 100);
+	__blobmsg_add_u8(buf, NULL, INT8_MIN);
+	__blobmsg_add_u8(buf, NULL, INT8_MAX);
+	__blobmsg_add_u16(buf, NULL, INT16_MIN);
+	__blobmsg_add_u16(buf, NULL, INT16_MAX);
 	blobmsg_add_u32(buf, NULL, INT32_MIN);
 	blobmsg_add_u32(buf, NULL, INT32_MAX);
 	blobmsg_add_u64(buf, NULL, INT64_MIN);
diff --git a/utils.h b/utils.h
index dacac6e..5178826 100644
--- a/utils.h
+++ b/utils.h
@@ -219,6 +219,10 @@ int clock_gettime(int type, struct timespec *tv);
 #define __constructor __attribute__((constructor))
 #endif
 
+#ifndef __deprecated
+#define __deprecated __attribute__((deprecated))
+#endif
+
 #ifndef __destructor
 #define __destructor __attribute__((destructor))
 #endif