@chill: using the -rf option results in a similar problem -- it just breaks at a slightly different place.
Code:
...
...
===>>> Port directory: /usr/ports/textproc/libxml2
===>>> Launching 'make checksum' for textproc/libxml2 in background
===>>> Gathering dependency list for textproc/libxml2 from ports
Terminated
Terminated
===>>> Update for gnome-vfs-2.20.1 failed
===>>> Aborting update
===>>> Update for /usr/ports/devel/goffice04 failed
===>>> Aborting update
@Weaseal: Yes, I tried the advice in /usr/ports/UPDATING for gettext. (I should have mentioned it earlier.) Same "Terminated" messages.
Thanks for the replies. I think some aspect of my portmaster 'environment' has become broken.