@@ -17,10 +17,11 @@
 (declare (uses db))
 (declare (uses common))
 (declare (uses items))
 (declare (uses runconfig))
 (declare (uses tests))
+(declare (uses server))
 
 (include "common_records.scm")
 (include "key_records.scm")
 (include "db_records.scm")
 (include "run_records.scm")
@@ -210,11 +211,11 @@
 	  ;; have to delete test records where NOT_STARTED since they can cause -keepgoing to 
 	  ;; get stuck due to becoming inaccessible from a failed test. I.e. if test B depends 
 	  ;; on test A but test B reached the point on being registered as NOT_STARTED and test
 	  ;; A failed for some reason then on re-run using -keepgoing the run can never complete.
 	  (db:delete-tests-in-state db run-id "NOT_STARTED")
-	  (db:set-tests-state-status db run-id test-names #f "FAIL" "NOT_STARTED" "FAIL")))
+	  (rdb:set-tests-state-status db run-id test-names #f "FAIL" "NOT_STARTED" "FAIL")))
 
     ;; now add non-directly referenced dependencies (i.e. waiton)
     (if (not (null? test-names))
 	(let loop ((hed (car test-names))
 		   (tal (cdr test-names)))         ;; 'return-procs tells the config reader to prep running system but return a proc
@@ -409,10 +410,12 @@
     (let* ((new-test-path (string-intersperse (cons test-path (map cadr itemdat)) "/"))
 	   (new-test-name (if (equal? item-path "") test-name (conc test-name "/" item-path))) ;; just need it to be unique
 	   (testdat       (db:get-test-info db run-id test-name item-path)))
       (if (not testdat)
 	  (begin
+	    ;; ensure that the path exists before registering the test
+	    (system (conc "mkdir -p " new-test-path))
 	    (register-test db run-id test-name item-path)
 	    (set! testdat (db:get-test-info db run-id test-name item-path))))
       (change-directory test-path)
       (case (if force ;; (args:get-arg "-force")
 		'NOT_STARTED