diff --git a/src/RowBase.cpp b/src/RowBase.cpp
index 1d384dc..7b03575 100644
--- a/src/RowBase.cpp
+++ b/src/RowBase.cpp
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ pressRelease() calls key's press() or release() function if it was pressed or re
 Both parameters are bitwise.
 rowEnd bit marks positioned immediatly after last key of row.
 */
-void RowBase::pressRelease(const read_pins_mask_t rowEnd, const read_pins_t debouncedChanged)
+void RowBase::pressRelease(const uint8_t KEY_COUNT, const read_pins_t debouncedChanged)
 {
     read_pins_t isFallingEdge;                  //bitwise, 1 means falling edge
     read_pins_t isRisingEdge;                   //bitwise, 1 means rising edge
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ void RowBase::pressRelease(const read_pins_mask_t rowEnd, const read_pins_t debo
     //bit=1 if last debounced changed from 0 to 1, else bit=0
     isRisingEdge = debouncedChanged & debounced;
 
-    for (rowMask=1, col=0; rowMask<rowEnd; rowMask<<=1, col++) //for each key in row
+    for (rowMask=1, col=0; col < KEY_COUNT; rowMask<<=1, col++) //for each key in row
     {
         //release before press avoids impossible key sequence
         if (rowMask & isFallingEdge)            //if key was released
diff --git a/src/RowScanner_PinsBitwise.cpp b/src/RowScanner_PinsBitwise.cpp
index 39c07ae..6976f5e 100644
--- a/src/RowScanner_PinsBitwise.cpp
+++ b/src/RowScanner_PinsBitwise.cpp
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 Strobes the row and reads the columns.
 Sets rowEnd and returns rowState.
 */
-ColPort* const RowScanner_PinsBitwise::scan(read_pins_mask_t& rowEnd)
+ColPort* const RowScanner_PinsBitwise::scan()
 {
     //strobe row on
     if (activeHigh)
diff --git a/src/RowScanner_PinsBitwise.h b/src/RowScanner_PinsBitwise.h
index 3a21035..ec3fc84 100644
--- a/src/RowScanner_PinsBitwise.h
+++ b/src/RowScanner_PinsBitwise.h
@@ -21,6 +21,6 @@ class RowScanner_PinsBitwise : public RowScannerInterface
             : refRowPort(refRowPort), strobePin(strobePin),
               refColPort(refColPort) {}
         static const bool activeHigh;       //logic level of strobe pin: 0=activeLow, 1=activeHigh
-        virtual ColPort* const scan(read_pins_mask_t& rowEnd);
+        virtual ColPort* const scan();
 };
 #endif
diff --git a/src/Row_IOE.cpp b/src/Row_IOE.cpp
index c6a32d1..ec89989 100644
--- a/src/Row_IOE.cpp
+++ b/src/Row_IOE.cpp
@@ -4,14 +4,15 @@ void Row_IOE::process()
 {
     //these variables are all bitwise, one bit per key
     uint8_t rowState;                       //1 means pressed, 0 means released
-    read_pins_mask_t rowEnd;                    //1 bit marks positioned after last key of row
+    //read_pins_mask_t rowEnd;                    //1 bit marks positioned after last key of row
     uint8_t debouncedChanged;               //1 means debounced changed
     ColPort* ptrColPort; //new
+    uint8_t KEY_COUNT; //new
 
-    ptrColPort = scanner.scan(rowEnd);
-    rowState = getRowState(ptrColPort, rowEnd); //new
+    ptrColPort = scanner.scan();
+    rowState = getRowState(ptrColPort, KEY_COUNT); //new
     debouncedChanged = debouncer.debounce(rowState, debounced);
-    pressRelease(rowEnd, debouncedChanged);
+    pressRelease(KEY_COUNT, debouncedChanged);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -21,12 +22,13 @@ rowEnd is a bitwise row mask, one col per bit, where active col bit is 1.
 At end of function, 1 bit marks place immediatly after last key of row.
 rowEnd is a larger type than portMask so that it can not overflow.
 */
-uint8_t Row_IOE::getRowState(ColPort* ptrColPort, read_pins_mask_t& rowEnd)
+uint8_t Row_IOE::getRowState(ColPort* ptrColPort, uint8_t& KEY_COUNT)
 {
     uint8_t rowState = 0;           //bitwise, one key per bit, 1 means key is pressed
     uint8_t portMask;               //bitwise, 1 bit is a colPortState position
+    uint8_t rowEnd;                    //1 bit marks positioned after last key of row todo rename
 
-    rowEnd = 1;
+    KEY_COUNT = 0;
 
     //bitwise colPins, 1 means pin is connected to column
     uint8_t colPins = ptrColPort->getColPins();
@@ -49,6 +51,7 @@ uint8_t Row_IOE::getRowState(ColPort* ptrColPort, read_pins_mask_t& rowEnd)
             }
 
             rowEnd <<= 1;                   //shift rowEnd to next key
+            KEY_COUNT++;
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/Row_IOE.h b/src/Row_IOE.h
index 4981bf8..f607ff9 100644
--- a/src/Row_IOE.h
+++ b/src/Row_IOE.h
@@ -39,9 +39,9 @@ class Row_IOE : public RowBase
         Debouncer_4Samples debouncer;
     public:
         Row_IOE( RowPort& refRowPort, const uint8_t strobePin,
-             ColPort& refColPort, Key *const ptrsKeys[])
+             ColPort& refColPort, Key *const ptrsKeys[], const uint8_t KEY_COUNT)
             : RowBase(ptrsKeys), scanner(refRowPort, strobePin, refColPort) { }
         void process();
-        uint8_t getRowState(ColPort* refColPort, read_pins_mask_t& rowEnd);
+        uint8_t getRowState(ColPort* ptrColPort, uint8_t& KEY_COUNT);
 };
 #endif