@@ -596,11 +596,16 @@
     (list "MT_TEST_NAME" test-name)
     ;; (list "MT_ITEM_INFO" (conc itemdat)) 
     (list "MT_RUNNAME"   runname)
     ;; (list "MT_TARGET"    mt_target)
     ))
-  (let* ((useshell        (config-lookup *configdat* "jobtools"     "useshell"))
+  (let* ((useshell        (let ((ush (config-lookup *configdat* "jobtools"     "useshell")))
+			    (if ush 
+				(if (equal? ush "no") ;; must use "no" to NOT use shell
+				    #f
+				    ush)
+				#t)))     ;; default is yes
 	 (launcher        (config-lookup *configdat* "jobtools"     "launcher"))
 	 (runscript       (config-lookup test-conf   "setup"        "runscript"))
 	 (ezsteps         (> (length (hash-table-ref/default test-conf "ezsteps" '())) 0)) ;; don't send all the steps, could be big
 	 (diskspace       (config-lookup test-conf   "requirements" "diskspace"))
 	 (memory          (config-lookup test-conf   "requirements" "memory"))
@@ -709,11 +714,14 @@
 	   (launchwait     (if (equal? (configf:lookup *configdat* "setup" "launchwait") "no") #f #t))
 	   (launch-results (apply (if launchwait
 				      cmd-run-with-stderr->list
 				      process-run)
 				  (if useshell
-				      (string-intersperse fullcmd " ")
+				      (let ((cmdstr (string-intersperse fullcmd " ")))
+					(if launchwait
+					    cmdstr
+					    (conc cmdstr " >> mt_launch.log 2>&1")))
 				      (car fullcmd))
 				  (if useshell
 				      '()
 				      (cdr fullcmd)))))
       (if (not launchwait) ;; give the OS a little time to allow the process to start