diff --git a/doNormal.go b/doNormal.go
index 9af2cdf..21d7c2f 100644
--- a/doNormal.go
+++ b/doNormal.go
@@ -34,9 +34,8 @@ func doNormal() bool {
 	if count > 0 {
 		log.Info("Some repos are not in a 'normal' state. error count =", count)
 		log.Info("TODO: list the repos here. forge patch repos?")
-		configSave = false
-		me.forge.SetConfigSave(false)
 		dumpDirtyRepos()
+		configSave = true
 		return false
 	}
 	return true
diff --git a/doPatch.go b/doPatch.go
index 5fc54ed..36357b3 100644
--- a/doPatch.go
+++ b/doPatch.go
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ func doPatch() error {
 
 		// return doPatchList()
 		applied := findApplied()
-		if applied.Len() == 0 {
+		if applied == nil || applied.Len() == 0 {
 			log.Info("no patches have been appled to the devel branch yet")
 			return nil
 		}