Following Martin, and configuring current CVS with --with-pydebug on Tru64 Unix (wonder what HP will call it... <wink>), I can't get test_descr.py to crash either. Tried also with --with-pymalloc and different compiler optimizations. Cheers, Mark -- Mark Favas - m.favas@per.dem.csiro.au CSIRO, Private Bag No 5, Wembley, Western Australia 6913, AUSTRALIA