Index: db.scm
==================================================================
--- db.scm
+++ db.scm
@@ -4259,19 +4259,35 @@
 	(let loop ((hed (car all-patts))
 		   (tal (cdr all-patts))
 		   (res item-path))
 	  (let* ((parts (string-split hed))
 		 (patt  (car parts))
+
 		 (repl  (if (> (length parts) 1)(cadr parts) ""))
+
 		 (newr  (if (and patt repl)
-			    (string-substitute patt repl res)
+			    (begin
+                              (handle-exceptions
+                               exn
+                               (begin
+                                  (debug:print 0 *default-log-port*
+                                  "WARNING: itemmap has problem \"" itemmap "\", patt: " patt ", repl: " repl)
+                                 res)
+                              (string-substitute patt repl res))
+
+
+                              )
 			    (begin
-			      (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: itemmap has problem \"" itemmap "\", patt: " patt ", repl: " repl)
+                              (debug:print 0 *default-log-port*
+                               "WARNING: itemmap has problem \"" itemmap "\", patt: " patt ", repl: " repl)
 			      res))))
 	    (if (null? tal)
 		newr
 		(loop (car tal)(cdr tal) newr)))))))
+
+
+
 
 ;; the new prereqs calculation, looks also at itempath if specified
 ;; all prereqs must be met
 ;;    if prereq test with itempath='' is COMPLETED and PASS, WARN, CHECK, or WAIVED then prereq is met
 ;;    if prereq test with itempath=ref-item-path and COMPLETED with PASS, WARN, CHECK, or WAIVED then prereq is met