diff --git a/src/array/mod.rs b/src/array/mod.rs
index bbbbedc359..04b7b2c8e3 100644
--- a/src/array/mod.rs
+++ b/src/array/mod.rs
@@ -73,9 +73,18 @@ pub trait Array: Send + Sync + dyn_clone::DynClone + 'static {
     /// Panics iff `i >= self.len()`.
     #[inline]
     fn is_null(&self, i: usize) -> bool {
+        assert!(i < self.len());
+        unsafe { self.is_null_unchecked(i) }
+    }
+
+    /// Returns whether slot `i` is null.
+    /// # Safety
+    /// The caller must ensure `i < self.len()`
+    #[inline]
+    unsafe fn is_null_unchecked(&self, i: usize) -> bool {
         self.validity()
             .as_ref()
-            .map(|x| !x.get_bit(i))
+            .map(|x| !x.get_bit_unchecked(i))
             .unwrap_or(false)
     }
 
diff --git a/src/io/ipc/read/file.rs b/src/io/ipc/read/file.rs
index dd4a5852c7..e95b37e44d 100644
--- a/src/io/ipc/read/file.rs
+++ b/src/io/ipc/read/file.rs
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ pub fn read_file_metadata<R: Read + Seek>(reader: &mut R) -> Result<FileMetadata
     let start = reader.stream_position()?;
     reader.read_exact(&mut magic_buffer)?;
     if magic_buffer != ARROW_MAGIC_V2 {
-        if &magic_buffer[..4] == ARROW_MAGIC_V1 {
+        if magic_buffer[..4] == ARROW_MAGIC_V1 {
             return Err(Error::NotYetImplemented("feather v1 not supported".into()));
         }
         return Err(Error::from(OutOfSpecKind::InvalidHeader));