@@ -910,12 +910,12 @@
 			(string-intersperse (map (lambda (t)(conc (db:test-get-testname t) ":" (db:test-get-state t)"/"(db:test-get-status t))) fails) ", ")
 			", removing it from to-do list")
       (let ((test-id (rmt:get-test-id run-id hed "")))
 	(if test-id
 	    (if (not (null? prereq-fails))
-		(mt:test-set-state-status-by-id run-id test-id "COMPLETED" "PREQ_DISCARDED" "Failed to run due to prior failed prerequisites")
-		(mt:test-set-state-status-by-id run-id test-id "COMPLETED" "PREQ_FAIL"      "Failed to run due to failed prerequisites"))))
+		(mt:test-set-state-status-by-id-unless-completed run-id test-id "COMPLETED" "PREQ_DISCARDED" "Failed to run due to prior failed prerequisites")
+		(mt:test-set-state-status-by-id-unless-completed run-id test-id "COMPLETED" "PREQ_FAIL"      "Failed to run due to failed prerequisites"))))
       ;; (debug:print 4 *default-log-port*"BB> set PREQ_FAIL on "hed)
       ;; (mt:test-set-state-status-by-id run-id test-id "NOT_STARTED" "PREQ_FAIL"      "Failed to run due to failed prerequisites")))) ;; BB: this works, btu equivalent for itemwait mode does not work.
       (if (or (not (null? reg))(not (null? tal)))
 	  (begin
 	    (hash-table-set! test-registry hed 'CANNOTRUN)
@@ -1146,21 +1146,21 @@
 	    (thread-sleep! 1)
 	    (list (car newtal)(cdr newtal) reg reruns))
 	  ;; the waiton is FAIL so no point in trying to run hed ever again
 	  (begin
             (let ((my-test-id (rmt:get-test-id run-id test-name item-path)))
-              (mt:test-set-state-status-by-id run-id my-test-id "COMPLETED" "PREQ_FAIL" "Failed to run due to failed prerequisites2"))
+              (mt:test-set-state-status-by-id-unless-completed run-id my-test-id "COMPLETED" "PREQ_FAIL" "Failed to run due to failed prerequisites2"))
 
 
             
             (if (or (not (null? reg))(not (null? tal)))
                 (if (vector? hed)
 		  (begin
 		    (debug:print 1 *default-log-port* "WARNING: Dropping test " test-name "/" item-path
 				 " from the launch list as it has prerequistes that are FAIL")
 		    (let ((test-id (rmt:get-test-id run-id hed "")))
-		      (if test-id (mt:test-set-state-status-by-id run-id test-id "COMPLETED" "PREQ_FAIL" "Failed to run due to failed prerequisites")))
+		      (if test-id (mt:test-set-state-status-by-id-unless-completed run-id test-id "COMPLETED" "PREQ_FAIL" "Failed to run due to failed prerequisites")))
 		    (runs:shrink-can-run-more-tests-count runsdat) ;; DELAY TWEAKER (still needed?)
 		    ;; (thread-sleep! *global-delta*)
 		    ;; This next is for the items
 
                     (if (not (null? fails))
@@ -1196,11 +1196,11 @@
 			      (list (car tal)(cdr tal) reg reruns))
 			  (begin
 			    (if (runs:lownoise (conc "FAILED prerequisites or other issue" hed) 60)
 				(debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: test " hed " has FAILED prerequisites or other issue. Internal state >" nth-try "< will be overridden and we'll retry."))
 			    ;; was: (mt:test-set-state-status-by-testname run-id test-name item-path "NOT_STARTED" "KEEP_TRYING" #f)
-                            (mt:test-set-state-status-by-testname run-id test-name item-path "COMPLETED" "PREQ_FAIL" #f)
+                            (mt:test-set-state-status-by-testname-unless-completed run-id test-name item-path "COMPLETED" "PREQ_FAIL" #f)
 			    (hash-table-set! test-registry hed 'removed) ;; was 0
                             (if (not (and (null? reg) (null? tal)))
                                 (runs:loop-values tal reg reglen regfull reruns)
                                 #f))))
 		     (else