Index: configf.scm
==================================================================
--- configf.scm
+++ configf.scm
@@ -147,11 +147,11 @@
 (define (config-lookup cfgdat section var)
   (let ((sectdat (hash-table-ref/default cfgdat section '())))
     (if (null? sectdat)
 	#f
 	(let ((match (assoc var sectdat)))
-	  (if match
+	  (if match ;; (and match (list? match)(> (length match) 1))
 	      (cadr match)
 	      #f))
 	)))
 
 (define (configf:section-vars cfgdat section)

Index: runs.scm
==================================================================
--- runs.scm
+++ runs.scm
@@ -289,11 +289,11 @@
 		(run:test db run-id runname keyvallst test-record flags #f)
 		;; else the run is stuck, temporarily or permanently
 		(let ((newtal (append tal (list hed))))
 		  ;; couldn't run, take a breather
 		  (thread-sleep! 1)
-		  (loop (car tal)(cdr tal))))))
+		  (loop (car newtal)(cdr newtal))))))
 	 
 	 ;; case where an items came in as a list been processed
 	 ((and (list? items)     ;; thus we know our items are already calculated
 	       (not   itemdat)) ;; and not yet expanded into the list of things to be done
 	  (if (>= *verbosity* 1)(pp items))