Index: dbmod.scm
==================================================================
--- dbmod.scm
+++ dbmod.scm
@@ -233,10 +233,12 @@
 ;;    IFF field-name exists
 ;;
 ;; Use (db:sync-all-tables-list keys) to get the tbls input
 ;;
 (define (dbmod:sync-tables tbls last-update fromdb todb)
+  (assert (sqlite3:database? fromdb) "FATAL: dbmod:sync-tables called with fromdb not a database" fromdb)
+  (assert (sqlite3:database? todb) "FATAL: dbmod:sync-tables called with fromdb not a database" todb)
   (let ((stmts       (make-hash-table)) ;; table-field => stmt
 	(all-stmts   '())              ;; ( ( stmt1 value1 ) ( stml2 value2 ))
 	(numrecs     (make-hash-table))
 	(start-time  (current-milliseconds))
 	(tot-count   0))

Index: runs.scm
==================================================================
--- runs.scm
+++ runs.scm
@@ -1543,10 +1543,11 @@
          (max-retries           (configf:lookup *configdat* "setup" "maxretries"))
          (max-concurrent-jobs   (configf:lookup-number *configdat* "setup" "max_concurrent_jobs" default: 50))
          (reglen                (if (number? reglen-in) reglen-in 1))
          (last-time-incomplete  (- (current-seconds) 900)) ;; force at least one clean up cycle
          (last-time-some-running (current-seconds))
+	 (incoming-tests        '()) ;; queue up incoming tests here to tack on to tal when it gets low
          ;; (tdbdat                (tasks:open-db))
          (runsdat (make-runs:dat
                    ;; hed: hed
                    ;; tal: tal
                    ;; reg: reg
@@ -1855,14 +1856,20 @@
                               (tests:testqueue-set-items!     new-test-record #f)
                               (tests:testqueue-set-itemdat!   new-test-record my-itemdat)
                               (tests:testqueue-set-item_path! new-test-record my-item-path)
                               (hash-table-set! test-records newtestname new-test-record)
 			      ;; BUG: This next line sucks up a lot of horsepower
-			      (set! tal (append tal (list newtestname)))))  ;; since these are itemized create new test names testname/itempath
+			      ;; (set! tal (append tal (list newtestname)))
+			      ;; (set! tal (cons newtestname tal)) ;; 4/6/2023 - try using cons, does it matter if the test gets added at the beginning?
+			      (set! incoming-tests (cons newtestname incoming-tests))
+			      ))  ;; since these are itemized create new test names testname/itempath
                           items-in-testpatt)))
           
-          
+	  (if (< (length tal) 20)
+	      (begin
+		(set! tal (append tal (reverse incoming-tests)))
+		(set! incoming-tests '())))
 
 	  ;; At this point we have possibly added items to tal but all must be handed off to 
 	  ;; INNER COND logic. I think loop without rotating the queue 
 	  ;; (loop hed tal reg reruns))
 	  ;; (let ((newtal (append tal (list hed))))  ;; We should discard hed as it has been expanded into it's items? Yes, but only if this *is* an itemized test