diff --git a/sample/samplers.go b/sample/samplers.go
index e302f9147..7c12da08b 100644
--- a/sample/samplers.go
+++ b/sample/samplers.go
@@ -87,8 +87,9 @@ func (s *Sampler) sample(tokens []token) (token, error) {
 	// topK also sorts the tokens in descending order of logits
 	tokens = topK(tokens, s.topK)
 
-	tokens = temperature(tokens, s.temperature)
-	tokens = softmax(tokens)
+	// scale and normalize the tokens in place
+	temperature(tokens, s.temperature)
+	softmax(tokens)
 
 	tokens = topP(tokens, s.topP)
 	tokens = minP(tokens, s.minP)
diff --git a/sample/transforms.go b/sample/transforms.go
index a5efa704e..3f677553f 100644
--- a/sample/transforms.go
+++ b/sample/transforms.go
@@ -26,17 +26,16 @@ func (h *tokenHeap) Pop() any {
 }
 
 // temperature applies scaling to the logits
-func temperature(ts []token, temp float32) []token {
+func temperature(ts []token, temp float32) {
 	// Ensure temperature clipping near 0 to avoid numerical instability
 	temp = max(temp, 1e-7)
 	for i := range ts {
 		ts[i].value = ts[i].value / temp
 	}
-	return ts
 }
 
 // softmax applies normalization to the logits
-func softmax(ts []token) []token {
+func softmax(ts []token) {
 	// Find max logit for numerical stability
 	maxLogit := float32(math.Inf(-1))
 	for _, t := range ts {
@@ -56,8 +55,6 @@ func softmax(ts []token) []token {
 	for i := range ts {
 		ts[i].value /= sum
 	}
-
-	return ts
 }
 
 // topK limits the number of tokens considered to the k highest logits
@@ -99,6 +96,7 @@ func topK(ts []token, k int) []token {
 }
 
 // topP limits tokens to those with cumulative probability p
+// requires ts to be sorted in descending order of probabilities
 func topP(ts []token, p float32) []token {
 	if p == 1.0 {
 		return ts
@@ -109,37 +107,24 @@ func topP(ts []token, p float32) []token {
 	for i, t := range ts {
 		sum += t.value
 		if sum > float32(p) {
-			ts = ts[:i+1]
-			return ts
+			return ts[:i+1]
 		}
 	}
 
 	return ts
 }
 
-// minP limits tokens to those with cumulative probability p
+// minP filters tokens with probabilities >= p * max_prob
+// requires ts to be sorted in descending order of probabilities
 func minP(ts []token, p float32) []token {
-	if p == 1.0 {
-		return ts
-	}
+	maxProb := ts[0].value
 
-	maxProb := float32(math.Inf(-1))
-	for _, token := range ts {
-		if token.value > maxProb {
-			maxProb = token.value
+	threshold := maxProb * p
+
+	for i, t := range ts {
+		if t.value < threshold {
+			return ts[:i]
 		}
 	}
-
-	threshold := maxProb * float32(p)
-
-	// Filter tokens in-place
-	validTokens := ts[:0]
-	for i, token := range ts {
-		if token.value >= threshold {
-			validTokens = append(validTokens, ts[i])
-		}
-	}
-
-	ts = validTokens
 	return ts
 }
diff --git a/sample/transforms_test.go b/sample/transforms_test.go
index 4880dd8f4..7faf30a55 100644
--- a/sample/transforms_test.go
+++ b/sample/transforms_test.go
@@ -34,17 +34,22 @@ func compareLogits(t *testing.T, name string, want []float32, got []token) {
 
 func TestTemperature(t *testing.T) {
 	input := []float32{1.0, 4.0, -2.0, 0.0}
-	got := temperature(toTokens(input), 0.5)
+	tokens := toTokens(input)
+	temperature(tokens, 0.5)
 	want := []float32{2.0, 8.0, -4.0, 0.0}
-	compareLogits(t, "temperature(0.5)", want, got)
+	compareLogits(t, "temperature(0.5)", want, tokens)
 
-	got = temperature(toTokens(input), 1.0)
+	input = []float32{1.0, 4.0, -2.0, 0.0}
+	tokens = toTokens(input)
+	temperature(tokens, 1.0)
 	want = []float32{1.0, 4.0, -2.0, 0.0}
-	compareLogits(t, "temperature(1)", want, got)
+	compareLogits(t, "temperature(1)", want, tokens)
 
-	got = temperature(toTokens(input), 0.0)
+	input = []float32{1.0, 4.0, -2.0, 0.0}
+	tokens = toTokens(input)
+	temperature(tokens, 0.0)
 	want = []float32{1e7, 4e7, -2e7, 0.0}
-	compareLogits(t, "temperature(0)", want, got)
+	compareLogits(t, "temperature(0)", want, tokens)
 }
 
 func TestSoftmax(t *testing.T) {
@@ -90,16 +95,17 @@ func TestSoftmax(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			got := softmax(toTokens(tt.input))
+			tokens := toTokens(tt.input)
+			softmax(tokens)
 
 			if tt.expected != nil {
-				compareLogits(t, tt.name, tt.expected, got)
+				compareLogits(t, tt.name, tt.expected, tokens)
 				return
 			}
 
 			// Check probabilities sum to 1
 			var sum float32
-			for _, token := range got {
+			for _, token := range tokens {
 				sum += token.value
 				if token.value < 0 || token.value > 1 {
 					t.Errorf("probability out of range [0,1]: got %f", token.value)
@@ -114,38 +120,44 @@ func TestSoftmax(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestTopK(t *testing.T) {
 	input := []float32{0.026986899, 0.043722924, 0.036774673, 0.27755088, 0.0046718004, 0.08582123, 0.20409796, 0.00412893, 0.15720603, 0.045046154, 0.0030491839, 0.01681367}
-
-	// Test k=5
-	got := topK(toTokens(input), 5)
-	if len(got) != 5 {
-		t.Errorf("topK(5): wrong length: want 5, got %d", len(got))
+	tokens := toTokens(input)
+	tokens = topK(tokens, 5)
+	if len(tokens) != 5 {
+		t.Errorf("topK(5): wrong length: want 5, got %d", len(tokens))
 	}
-	// Should keep highest 3 values in descending order
 	want := []float32{0.27755088, 0.20409796, 0.15720603, 0.08582123, 0.045046154}
-	compareLogits(t, "topK(3)", want, got)
+	compareLogits(t, "topK(3)", want, tokens)
 
-	got = topK(toTokens(input), 20)
-	if len(got) != len(input) {
-		t.Errorf("topK(20): wrong length: want %d, got %d", len(input), len(got))
+	tokens = toTokens(input)
+	tokens = topK(tokens, 20)
+	if len(tokens) != len(input) {
+		t.Errorf("topK(20): wrong length: want %d, got %d", len(input), len(tokens))
 	}
 
-	// Test k=-1
 	input = []float32{0.026986899, 0.043722924, 0.036774673, 0.27755088, 0.0046718004, 0.08582123, 0.20409796, 0.00412893, 0.15720603, 0.045046154, 0.0030491839, 0.01681367}
 	want = []float32{0.27755088, 0.20409796, 0.15720603, 0.08582123, 0.045046154, 0.043722924, 0.036774673, 0.026986899, 0.01681367, 0.0046718004, 0.00412893, 0.0030491839}
-	got = topK(toTokens(input), -1)
-	if len(got) != len(input) {
-		t.Errorf("topK(-1): wrong length: want %d, got %d", len(input), len(got))
+	tokens = toTokens(input)
+	tokens = topK(tokens, -1)
+	if len(tokens) != len(input) {
+		t.Errorf("topK(-1): wrong length: want %d, got %d", len(input), len(tokens))
 	}
-	compareLogits(t, "topK(-1)", want, got)
+	compareLogits(t, "topK(-1)", want, tokens)
 
-	// Test k=0
 	input = []float32{0.026986899, 0.043722924, 0.036774673, 0.27755088, 0.0046718004, 0.08582123, 0.20409796, 0.00412893, 0.15720603, 0.045046154, 0.0030491839, 0.01681367}
 	want = []float32{0.27755088, 0.20409796, 0.15720603, 0.08582123, 0.045046154, 0.043722924, 0.036774673, 0.026986899, 0.01681367, 0.0046718004, 0.00412893, 0.0030491839}
-	got = topK(toTokens(input), 0)
-	if len(got) != len(input) {
-		t.Errorf("topK(-1): wrong length: want %d, got %d", len(input), len(got))
+	tokens = toTokens(input)
+	tokens = topK(tokens, 0)
+	if len(tokens) != len(input) {
+		t.Errorf("topK(-1): wrong length: want %d, got %d", len(input), len(tokens))
+	}
+	compareLogits(t, "topK(-1)", want, tokens)
+
+	input = []float32{-1e7, -2e7, -3e7, -4e7}
+	tokens = toTokens(input)
+	tokens = topK(tokens, 1)
+	if len(tokens) < 1 {
+		t.Error("topK should keep at least one token")
 	}
-	compareLogits(t, "topK(-1)", want, got)
 }
 
 func TestTopP(t *testing.T) {
@@ -153,16 +165,25 @@ func TestTopP(t *testing.T) {
 	tokens := toTokens(input)
 
 	// First apply temperature and softmax to get probabilities
-	tokens = softmax(tokens)
+	softmax(tokens)
 	tokens = topK(tokens, 20)
 
 	// Then apply topP
-	got := topP(tokens, 0.95)
+	tokens = topP(tokens, 0.95)
 
 	// Should keep tokens until cumsum > 0.95
-	if len(got) > 3 {
-		t.Errorf("topP(0.95): kept too many tokens: got %d", len(got))
-		t.Logf("got: %v", got)
+	if len(tokens) > 3 {
+		t.Errorf("topP(0.95): kept too many tokens: got %d", len(tokens))
+		t.Logf("got: %v", tokens)
+	}
+
+	// Test edge case - ensure at least one token remains
+	input = []float32{-1e6, -1e6, -1e6} // One dominant token
+	tokens = toTokens(input)
+	softmax(tokens)
+	tokens = topP(tokens, 0.0) // Very small p
+	if len(tokens) < 1 {
+		t.Error("topP should keep at least one token")
 	}
 }
 
@@ -171,14 +192,45 @@ func TestMinP(t *testing.T) {
 	tokens := toTokens(input)
 
 	// First apply temperature and softmax
-	tokens = softmax(tokens)
+	tokens = topK(tokens, 20)
+	softmax(tokens)
 
-	// Then apply minP
-	got := minP(tokens, 0.2)
+	tokens = minP(tokens, 1.0)
+
+	if len(tokens) != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("minP(1.0): should keep all tokens, got %d, want %d", len(tokens), len(tokens))
+	}
+
+	// Test with normal p value
+	tokens = toTokens(input) // Reset tokens
+	tokens = topK(tokens, 20)
+	softmax(tokens)
+	tokens = minP(tokens, 0.2)
 
 	// Should keep tokens with prob >= 0.2 * max_prob
-	if len(got) > 3 {
-		t.Errorf("minP(0.2): kept too many tokens: got %d", len(got))
+	if len(tokens) > 3 {
+		t.Errorf("minP(0.2): kept too many tokens: got %d", len(tokens))
+		t.Logf("got: %v", tokens)
+	}
+
+	// Test with zero p value
+	tokens = toTokens(input) // Reset tokens
+	tokens = topK(tokens, 20)
+	softmax(tokens)
+	tokens = minP(tokens, 0.0)
+
+	// Should keep only the highest probability token
+	if len(tokens) != len(input) {
+		t.Errorf("minP(0.0): should keep only one token, got %d", len(tokens))
+		t.Logf("got: %v", tokens)
+	}
+
+	input = []float32{1e-10, 1e-10, 1e-10}
+	tokens = toTokens(input)
+	softmax(tokens)
+	tokens = minP(tokens, 1.0)
+	if len(tokens) < 1 {
+		t.Error("minP should keep at least one token even with extreme probabilities")
 	}
 }
 
@@ -231,7 +283,7 @@ func BenchmarkTransforms(b *testing.B) {
 		b.ResetTimer()
 		for b.Loop() {
 			copy(tokensCopy, tokens)
-			topK(tokensCopy, 10)
+			tokens = topK(tokensCopy, 10)
 		}
 	})
 
@@ -239,7 +291,7 @@ func BenchmarkTransforms(b *testing.B) {
 		b.ResetTimer()
 		for b.Loop() {
 			copy(tokensCopy, tokens)
-			topP(tokensCopy, 0.9)
+			tokens = topP(tokensCopy, 0.9)
 		}
 	})
 
@@ -247,7 +299,7 @@ func BenchmarkTransforms(b *testing.B) {
 		b.ResetTimer()
 		for b.Loop() {
 			copy(tokensCopy, tokens)
-			minP(tokensCopy, 0.2)
+			tokens = minP(tokensCopy, 0.2)
 		}
 	})
 
@@ -255,7 +307,7 @@ func BenchmarkTransforms(b *testing.B) {
 		b.ResetTimer()
 		for b.Loop() {
 			copy(tokensCopy, tokens)
-			topK(tokensCopy, 200000)
+			tokens = topK(tokensCopy, 200000)
 		}
 	})
 }