Index: common.scm
==================================================================
--- common.scm
+++ common.scm
@@ -2081,10 +2081,27 @@
 
 ;; clear vars matching pattern, run proc, set vars back
 ;; if proc is a string run that string as a command with
 ;; system.
 ;;
+(define *common:orig-env* (filter-map (lambda (x)
+                                        (if (string-match "^MT_.*" (car x))
+                                            #f
+                                            x))
+                                      (get-environment-variables)))
+
+(define (common:with-orig-env proc)
+  (let  ((current-env (get-environment-variables)))
+    (for-each (lambda (x) (unsetenv (car x)))             current-env)
+    (for-each (lambda (x) (setenv (car x) (cdr x))) *common:orig-env*)
+    (let ((rv (cond
+               ((string? proc)(system proc))
+               (proc          (proc)))))
+      (for-each (lambda (x) (unsetenv (car x))) *common:orig-env*)
+      (for-each (lambda (x) (setenv (car x) (cdr x))) current-env)
+      rv)))
+
 (define (common:without-vars proc . var-patts)
   (let ((vars (make-hash-table)))
     (for-each
      (lambda (vardat) ;; each env var
        (for-each
@@ -2104,20 +2121,21 @@
      (lambda (var val)
        (setenv var val)))
     vars))
 
 
-(define (common:run-a-command cmd #!key (with-vars #f))
+(define (common:run-a-command cmd #!key (with-vars #f) (with-orig-env #f))
   (let* ((pre-cmd  (dtests:get-pre-command))
          (post-cmd (dtests:get-post-command))
          (fullcmd  (if (or pre-cmd post-cmd)
                        (conc pre-cmd cmd post-cmd)
                        (conc "viewscreen " cmd))))
     (debug:print-info 02 *default-log-port* "Running command: " fullcmd)
-    (if with-vars
-        (common:without-vars cmd)
-        (common:without-vars fullcmd "MT_.*"))))
+    (cond
+     (with-vars     (common:without-vars cmd))
+     (with-orig-env (common:with-orig-env cmd))
+     (else          (common:without-vars fullcmd "MT_.*")))))
 		  
 ;;======================================================================
 ;; T I M E   A N D   D A T E
 ;;======================================================================
 

Index: dashboard-tests.scm
==================================================================
--- dashboard-tests.scm
+++ dashboard-tests.scm
@@ -621,11 +621,11 @@
 							 )))))
 			      lbl))
 	       (store-button store-label)
 	       (command-proc (lambda (command-text-box)
 			       (let* ((cmd     (iup:attribute command-text-box "VALUE")))
-				 (common:run-a-command cmd))))
+				 (common:run-a-command cmd with-orig-env: #t))))
 	       (command-text-box (iup:textbox
 				  #:expand "HORIZONTAL"
 				  #:font "Courier New, -10"
 				  #:action (lambda (obj cnum val)
 					     ;; (print "cnum=" cnum)