@@ -292,10 +292,16 @@
 			(debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: You do not have a run config file: " runconfigf)
 			#f)))
 
     (if (not test-patts) ;; first time in - adjust testpatt
 	(set! test-patts (common:args-get-testpatt runconf)))
+    ;; if test-patts is #f at this point there is something wrong and we need to bail out
+    (if (not test-patts)
+	(begin
+	  (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: there is no test pattern for this run. Exiting now.")
+	  (exit 0)))
+    
     (if (args:get-arg "-tagexpr")
 	(begin
 	  (set! allowed-tests (string-join (runs:get-tests-matching-tags (args:get-arg "-tagexpr")) ","))
 	  	  (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "filtering initial test list with tagexpr: " (args:get-arg "-tagexpr") " => " allowed-tests)
 		  ));; tests will be ANDed with this list
@@ -1703,11 +1709,10 @@
            (readonly-mode      (not (file-write-access? dbfile))))
       (when (and readonly-mode
                  (member action write-access-actions))
         (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "megatest.db is readonly.  Cannot proceed with action ["action"] in which write-access isrequired .")
         (exit 1)))
-
     
     (debug:print-info 4 *default-log-port* "runs:operate-on => Header: " header " action: " action " new-state-status: " new-state-status)
     (if (> 2 (length state-status))
 	(begin
 	  (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "the parameter to -set-state-status is a comma delimited string. E.g. COMPLETED,FAIL")