diff --git a/benchmarks/basic_tests.py b/benchmarks/basic_tests.py
index 9f5453e0..bf5b2534 100644
--- a/benchmarks/basic_tests.py
+++ b/benchmarks/basic_tests.py
@@ -874,14 +874,31 @@ def mf6_v5_ies_test():
 
     t_d = os.path.join(model_d,"template")
     m_d = os.path.join(model_d,"master_ies_glm_loc")
-    if os.path.exists(m_d):
-        shutil.rmtree(m_d)
+    #if os.path.exists(m_d):
+    #    shutil.rmtree(m_d)
     pst = pyemu.Pst(os.path.join(t_d,"freyberg6_run_ies.pst"))
     pst.control_data.noptmax = 0
     pst.write(os.path.join(t_d,"freyberg6_run_ies.pst"))
     pyemu.os_utils.run("{0} freyberg6_run_ies.pst".format(exe_path),cwd=t_d)
 
     pst.control_data.noptmax = 3
+    par = pst.parameter_data
+
+    eff_lb = (par.parlbnd + (np.abs(par.parlbnd.values)*.01)).to_dict()
+    eff_ub = (par.parubnd - (np.abs(par.parlbnd.values)*.01)).to_dict()
+    log_idx = par.partrans.apply(lambda x: x=="log").to_dict()
+    for p,log in log_idx.items():
+        if log:
+            lb = np.log10(par.loc[p,"parlbnd"])
+            eff_lb[p] = (lb + (np.abs(lb)*.01))
+            ub = np.log10(par.loc[p,"parubnd"])
+            eff_ub[p] = (ub - (np.abs(ub)*.01))
+
+    pargp_map = par.groupby(par.pargp).groups
+    print(pargp_map)
+
+    
+
 
     m_d = os.path.join(model_d, "master_ies_glm_noloc_standard")
     if os.path.exists(m_d):
@@ -890,18 +907,50 @@ def mf6_v5_ies_test():
     pst.pestpp_options.pop("ies_localizer",None)
     pst.pestpp_options.pop("ies_autoadaloc",None)
     pst.pestpp_options["ies_bad_phi_sigma"] = 2.5
+    pst.pestpp_options["ies_num_reals"] = 30
+    pst.pestpp_options["ensemble_output_precision"] = 40
     pst.control_data.noptmax = 3
-    pst.write(os.path.join(t_d, "freyberg6_run_ies_glm_noloc_standard.pst"))
-    pyemu.os_utils.start_workers(t_d, exe_path, "freyberg6_run_ies_glm_noloc_standard.pst", num_workers=15,
+    pst_name = "freyberg6_run_ies_glm_noloc_standard.pst"
+    pst.write(os.path.join(t_d, pst_name))
+    pyemu.os_utils.start_workers(t_d, exe_path, pst_name, num_workers=15,
                                  master_dir=m_d, worker_root=model_d, port=port)
-
-    return
+    phidf = pd.read_csv(os.path.join(m_d,pst_name.replace(".pst",".phi.actual.csv")))
+    assert phidf.shape[0] == pst.control_data.noptmax + 1
+    for i in range(1,pst.control_data.noptmax+1):
+        pcs = pd.read_csv(os.path.join(m_d,pst_name.replace(".pst",".{0}.pcs.csv".format(i))),index_col=0)
+        #print(pcs)
+        pe = pd.read_csv(os.path.join(m_d,pst_name.replace(".pst",".{0}.par.csv".format(i))),index_col=0)
+        print(pe.shape)
+        #print(pe)
+        groups = pcs.index.values.copy()
+        groups.sort()
+        for group in groups:
+            pnames = pargp_map[group].values
+            lb_count,ub_count = 0,0
+            for pname in pnames:
+                lb,ub = eff_lb[pname],eff_ub[pname]
+                v = pe.loc[:,pname].values.copy()
+                if log_idx[pname]:
+                    v = np.log10(v)
+                low = np.zeros_like(v,dtype=int)
+                low[v < lb] = 1
+                high = np.zeros_like(v,dtype=int)
+                high[v > ub] = 1
+                lb_count += low.sum()
+                ub_count += high.sum()
+            print(i,group,len(pnames),lb_count,pcs.loc[group,"num_at_near_lbound"],ub_count,pcs.loc[group,"num_at_near_ubound"])
+            assert lb_count == pcs.loc[group,"num_at_near_lbound"]
+            assert ub_count == pcs.loc[group,"num_at_near_ubound"]
+       
     pst.write(os.path.join(t_d,"freyberg6_run_ies_glm_loc.pst"))
 
     m_d = os.path.join(model_d, "master_ies_glm_covloc")
     if os.path.exists(m_d):
         shutil.rmtree(m_d)
     pst.pestpp_options["ies_loc_type"] = "cov"
+    pst.pestpp_options["ies_lambda_mults"] = [1.0]
+    pst.pestpp_options["lambda_scale_fac"] = [1.0]
+    pst.control_data.noptmax = 2
     #pst.pestpp_options.pop("ies_localizer",None)
     pst.write(os.path.join(t_d, "freyberg6_run_ies_glm_covloc.pst"))
     pyemu.os_utils.start_workers(t_d, exe_path, "freyberg6_run_ies_glm_covloc.pst", num_workers=15,
@@ -913,7 +962,9 @@ def mf6_v5_ies_test():
     pst = pyemu.Pst(os.path.join(t_d, "freyberg6_run_ies.pst"))
     pst.pestpp_options.pop("ies_localizer",None)
     pst.pestpp_options.pop("ies_autoadaloc",None)
-    pst.control_data.noptmax = 3
+    pst.pestpp_options["ies_lambda_mults"] = [1.0]
+    pst.pestpp_options["lambda_scale_fac"] = [1.0]
+    pst.control_data.noptmax = 2
     pst.write(os.path.join(t_d, "freyberg6_run_ies_glm_noloc.pst"))
     pyemu.os_utils.start_workers(t_d, exe_path, "freyberg6_run_ies_glm_noloc.pst", num_workers=15,
                                  master_dir=m_d, worker_root=model_d, port=port)
@@ -922,7 +973,9 @@ def mf6_v5_ies_test():
     if os.path.exists(m_d):
         shutil.rmtree(m_d)
     pst = pyemu.Pst(os.path.join(t_d, "freyberg6_run_ies.pst"))
-    pst.control_data.noptmax = 3
+    pst.pestpp_options["ies_lambda_mults"] = [1.0]
+    pst.pestpp_options["lambda_scale_fac"] = [1.0]
+    pst.control_data.noptmax = 2
     pst.pestpp_options["ies_use_mda"] = True
     pst.write(os.path.join(t_d, "freyberg6_run_ies_mda_loc.pst"))
     pyemu.os_utils.start_workers(t_d, exe_path, "freyberg6_run_ies_mda_loc.pst", num_workers=15,
@@ -943,7 +996,9 @@ def mf6_v5_ies_test():
     if os.path.exists(m_d):
         shutil.rmtree(m_d)
     pst = pyemu.Pst(os.path.join(t_d, "freyberg6_run_ies.pst"))
-    pst.control_data.noptmax = 3
+    pst.control_data.noptmax = 2
+    pst.pestpp_options["ies_lambda_mults"] = [1.0]
+    pst.pestpp_options["lambda_scale_fac"] = [1.0]
     pst.pestpp_options["ies_use_mda"] = True
     pst.pestpp_options.pop("ies_localizer", None)
     pst.pestpp_options.pop("ies_autoadaloc", None)
@@ -955,7 +1010,9 @@ def mf6_v5_ies_test():
     if os.path.exists(m_d):
         shutil.rmtree(m_d)
     pst = pyemu.Pst(os.path.join(t_d, "freyberg6_run_ies.pst"))
-    pst.control_data.noptmax = 3
+    pst.control_data.noptmax = 2
+    pst.pestpp_options["ies_lambda_mults"] = [1.0]
+    pst.pestpp_options["lambda_scale_fac"] = [1.0]
     pst.pestpp_options["ies_num_threads"] = 1
     pst.pestpp_options["ies_use_mda"] = False
     pst.pestpp_options.pop("ies_localizer", None)
@@ -969,8 +1026,10 @@ def mf6_v5_ies_test():
     if os.path.exists(m_d):
         shutil.rmtree(m_d)
     pst = pyemu.Pst(os.path.join(t_d, "freyberg6_run_ies.pst"))
-    pst.control_data.noptmax = 3
+    pst.control_data.noptmax = 2
     pst.pestpp_options["ies_use_mda"] = False
+    pst.pestpp_options["ies_lambda_mults"] = [1.0]
+    pst.pestpp_options["lambda_scale_fac"] = [1.0]
     pst.pestpp_options.pop("ies_localizer", None)
     pst.pestpp_options.pop("ies_autoadaloc", None)
     pst.pestpp_options["ies_multimodal_alpha"] = 0.25
@@ -1229,6 +1288,38 @@ def fr_timeout_test():
     print(oe.shape)
     assert oe.shape[0] == 5,oe.shape
 
+    with open(os.path.join(new_d,"run.py"),'w') as f:
+        f.write("import os\nimport time\nimport pyemu\npyemu.os_utils.run('mfnwt 10par_xsec.nam')\n")
+        f.write("if not os.path.exists('run.info'):\n    exit()\n")
+        f.write("lines = open('run.info','r').readlines()\nrnum = int(lines[-1].split()[-1].split(':')[-1])\n")
+        f.write("if rnum % 10 == 0:\n    print(junk)\n")
+    pst.pestpp_options = {}
+    pst.pestpp_options["ies_num_reals"] = 20 # hard coded to conditional below
+    pst.pestpp_options["panther_agent_freeze_on_fail"] = True
+    #pst.pestpp_options["overdue_giveup_fac"] = 1.0e+10
+    #pst.pestpp_options["overdue_giveup_minutes"] = 0.25
+    pst.write(os.path.join(new_d, "pest.pst"))
+    pst.control_data.noptmax = 2
+
+    pst.write(os.path.join(new_d, "pest.pst"))
+    m_d = os.path.join(model_d,"fr_timeout_master_freeze")
+    #num workers hard coded with conditional below
+    pyemu.os_utils.start_workers(new_d,exe_path,"pest.pst",num_workers=10,worker_root=model_d,master_dir=m_d)
+    #df = pyemu.helpers.parse_rmr_file(os.path.join(m_d,"pest.rmr"))
+    #print(df.action.to_list())
+    oe = pd.read_csv(os.path.join(m_d,"pest.{0}.obs.csv".format(pst.control_data.noptmax)),index_col=0)
+    assert oe.shape[0] == 17 # hard coded to num reals
+    with open(os.path.join(m_d,"pest.rmr"),'r') as f:
+        for line in f:
+            if "timeout" in line.lower():
+                raise Exception()
+            if line.strip().lower().endswith("agents connected"):
+                num = int(line.strip().split()[0])
+                print(line.strip())
+                assert num == 7 # hard coded above
+
+
+
 def ins_missing_e_test():
     import os
     import shutil
@@ -1339,7 +1430,15 @@ def build_and_draw_prior(t_d="ends",num_reals=500):
     pe.to_binary(os.path.join(t_d,"prior.jcb"))
 
 
+def run():
+    model_d = "mf6_freyberg"
+    t_d = os.path.join(model_d,"template")
+    pst_name = "freyberg6_run_ies_glm_noloc_standard.pst"
+    pyemu.os_utils.start_workers(t_d, exe_path, pst_name, num_workers=15,
+                                 worker_root=model_d, port=4004)
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
+    #run()
     #mf6_v5_ies_test()
     #prep_ends()
     #shutil.copy2(os.path.join("..","exe","windows","x64","Debug","pestpp-glm.exe"),os.path.join("..","bin","win","pestpp-glm.exe"))
@@ -1351,7 +1450,7 @@ def build_and_draw_prior(t_d="ends",num_reals=500):
     #glm_long_name_test()
     #sen_plusplus_test()
     #parchglim_test()
-    unc_file_test()
+    #unc_file_test()
     #cmdline_test()
     #secondary_marker_test()
     #basic_test("ies_10par_xsec")
@@ -1378,6 +1477,8 @@ def build_and_draw_prior(t_d="ends",num_reals=500):
     #da_mf6_freyberg_test_2()
     #shutil.copy2(os.path.join("..","exe","windows","x64","Debug","pestpp-ies.exe"),os.path.join("..","bin","win","pestpp-ies.exe"))
     #tplins1_test()
+    
+    fr_timeout_test()
     #mf6_v5_ies_test()
     #mf6_v5_sen_test()
 
diff --git a/src/libs/common/config_os.h b/src/libs/common/config_os.h
index 92f4a831..e5edb080 100644
--- a/src/libs/common/config_os.h
+++ b/src/libs/common/config_os.h
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 #define CONFIG_OS_H_
 
 
-#define PESTPP_VERSION "5.2.6";
+#define PESTPP_VERSION "5.2.7";
 
 #if defined(_WIN32) || defined(_WIN64)
 #define OS_WIN
diff --git a/src/libs/pestpp_common/EnsembleMethodUtils.cpp b/src/libs/pestpp_common/EnsembleMethodUtils.cpp
index 7acd5258..34cbe82c 100644
--- a/src/libs/pestpp_common/EnsembleMethodUtils.cpp
+++ b/src/libs/pestpp_common/EnsembleMethodUtils.cpp
@@ -3515,7 +3515,8 @@ void L2PhiHandler::report_group(bool echo) {
     {
         for (auto& oo : o.second)
         {
-            if (oo.second == 0.0)
+            //if (oo.second == 0.0)
+            if (snzgroups.find(oo.first) == snzgroups.end())
                 continue;
             len = max(len,(int)oo.first.size());
         }
@@ -4508,9 +4509,9 @@ void ParChangeSummarizer:: update(ParameterEnsemble& pe)
 			for (int i = 0; i < num_reals; i++)
 			{
 				v = arr[i];
-				if (v > (ub[par_name] * 1.01))
+				if (v > (ub[par_name] - (abs(ub[par_name]) * 0.01)))
 					num_out_u++;
-				else if (v < (lb[par_name] * 0.99))
+				else if (v < (lb[par_name] + (abs(lb[par_name]) * 0.01)))
 				    num_out_l++;
 			}
 			value1 = init_moments.first[par_name];
diff --git a/src/libs/pestpp_common/Localizer.cpp b/src/libs/pestpp_common/Localizer.cpp
index bd2a283b..06dc4b80 100644
--- a/src/libs/pestpp_common/Localizer.cpp
+++ b/src/libs/pestpp_common/Localizer.cpp
@@ -898,6 +898,8 @@ void AutoAdaLocThread::work(int thread_id)
         {
             if (list_obs.find(par_names[jpar]) != list_obs.end())
                 sobs = list_obs[par_names[jpar]]; // dont use at here - this way, any missing pars just get no obs
+            else
+                sobs.clear();
             use_list_obs = true;
         }
         else
diff --git a/src/libs/pestpp_common/Pest.cpp b/src/libs/pestpp_common/Pest.cpp
index e63ab9f7..60859f96 100644
--- a/src/libs/pestpp_common/Pest.cpp
+++ b/src/libs/pestpp_common/Pest.cpp
@@ -968,6 +968,10 @@ int Pest::process_ctl_file(ifstream& fin, string _pst_filename)
 int Pest::process_ctl_file(ifstream& fin, string _pst_filename, ofstream& f_rec)
 {
 	cout << "processing control file " << _pst_filename << endl;
+	if (!fin)
+    {
+	    throw PestError("control file stream is not good");
+    }
 	string line;
 	string line_upper;
 	string section("");
diff --git a/src/libs/run_managers/abstract_base/RunStorage.cpp b/src/libs/run_managers/abstract_base/RunStorage.cpp
index e3e32f79..3d38d3da 100644
--- a/src/libs/run_managers/abstract_base/RunStorage.cpp
+++ b/src/libs/run_managers/abstract_base/RunStorage.cpp
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include "Serialization.h"
 #include "Transformable.h"
 #include <limits>
+#include "utilities.h"
 
 using std::numeric_limits;
 
@@ -54,11 +55,27 @@ void RunStorage::reset(const vector<string> &_par_names, const vector<string> &_
 	{
 		buf_stream.close();
 	}
+
+	if ((pest_utils::check_exist_in(filename)) || (pest_utils::check_exist_out(filename)))
+    {
+	    int flag = remove(filename.c_str());
+	    if (flag != 0)
+        {
+	        throw runtime_error("RunStorage::reset(): error removing existing file '"+filename+"'");
+
+        }
+    }
+
 	buf_stream.open(filename.c_str(), ios_base::out |  ios_base::binary);
-        buf_stream.close();
+    if (!buf_stream)
+    {
+        throw runtime_error("RunStorage::reset() stream not good");
+    }
+	buf_stream.close();
+
 	buf_stream.open(filename.c_str(), ios_base::out | ios_base::in | ios_base::binary);
 	//assert(buf_stream.good() == true);
-	if (!buf_stream.good())
+	if (!buf_stream)
 	{
 		throw runtime_error("RunStorage::reset() stream not good");
 	}
@@ -91,7 +108,7 @@ void RunStorage::reset(const vector<string> &_par_names, const vector<string> &_
 	buf_stream.seekp(get_stream_pos(end_of_runs), ios_base::beg);
 	buf_stream.write(reinterpret_cast<char*>(&buf_status), sizeof(buf_status));
 	buf_stream.flush();
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
+    if (!buf_stream)
     {
         throw runtime_error("RunStorage::reset() stream not good");
     }
@@ -110,7 +127,7 @@ void RunStorage::init_restart(const std::string &_filename)
 	}
 
 	buf_stream.open(filename.c_str(), ios_base::out | ios_base::in | ios_base::binary | ios_base::ate);
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
+    if (!buf_stream)
     {
         throw runtime_error("RunStorage::init_restart() stream not good");
     }
@@ -179,7 +196,7 @@ void RunStorage::init_restart(const std::string &_filename)
 		buf_stream.write(reinterpret_cast<char*>(&buf_status), sizeof(buf_status));
 		buf_stream.flush();
 	}
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
+    if (!buf_stream)
     {
         throw runtime_error("RunStorage::init_restart() stream not good");
     }
@@ -187,20 +204,22 @@ void RunStorage::init_restart(const std::string &_filename)
 
 int RunStorage::get_nruns()
 {
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
-    {
-        throw runtime_error("RunStorage::get_nruns() stream not good");
-    }
+
 	streamoff init_pos = buf_stream.tellg();
 	buf_stream.seekg(0, ios_base::beg);
 	std::int64_t n_runs_64;
 	buf_stream.read((char*) &n_runs_64, sizeof(n_runs_64));
 	int n_runs = n_runs_64;
 	buf_stream.seekg(init_pos);
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
+    if (!buf_stream)
     {
         throw runtime_error("RunStorage::get_nruns() stream not good");
     }
+    if (n_runs < 0)
+    {
+        cout << "RunStorage::get_nruns(): warning: nruns < 0: " << n_runs << endl;
+    }
+
 	return n_runs;
 }
 
@@ -220,10 +239,6 @@ int RunStorage::get_num_good_runs()
 }
 int RunStorage::increment_nruns()
 {
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
-    {
-        throw runtime_error("RunStorage::increment_nruns() stream not good");
-    }
 	buf_stream.seekg(0, ios_base::beg);
 	std::int64_t n_runs_64;
 	buf_stream.read((char*) &n_runs_64, sizeof(n_runs_64));
@@ -232,7 +247,7 @@ int RunStorage::increment_nruns()
 	buf_stream.write((char*) &n_runs_64, sizeof(n_runs_64));
 	int n_runs = n_runs_64;
 	buf_stream.flush();
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
+    if (!buf_stream)
     {
         throw runtime_error("RunStorage::increment_nruns() stream not good");
     }
@@ -256,10 +271,6 @@ streamoff RunStorage::get_stream_pos(int run_id)
 
  int RunStorage::add_run(const vector<double> &model_pars, const string &info_txt, double info_value)
  {
-     if (!buf_stream.good())
-     {
-         throw runtime_error("RunStorage::add_run() stream not good");
-     }
 	std::int8_t r_status = 0;
 	int run_id = increment_nruns() - 1;
 	vector<char> info_txt_buf;
@@ -276,7 +287,7 @@ streamoff RunStorage::get_stream_pos(int run_id)
 	buf_stream.seekp(get_stream_pos(end_of_runs), ios_base::beg);
 	buf_stream.write(reinterpret_cast<char*>(&buf_status), sizeof(buf_status));
 	buf_stream.flush();
-     if (!buf_stream.good())
+     if (!buf_stream)
      {
          throw runtime_error("RunStorage::add_run() stream not good");
      }
@@ -285,10 +296,6 @@ streamoff RunStorage::get_stream_pos(int run_id)
 
  int RunStorage::add_run(const Eigen::VectorXd &model_pars, const string &info_txt, double info_value)
  {
-     if (!buf_stream.good())
-     {
-         throw runtime_error("RunStorage::add_run() stream not good");
-     }
 	std::int8_t r_status = 0;
 	int run_id = increment_nruns() - 1;
 	vector<char> info_txt_buf;
@@ -305,7 +312,7 @@ streamoff RunStorage::get_stream_pos(int run_id)
 	buf_stream.seekp(get_stream_pos(end_of_runs), ios_base::beg);
 	buf_stream.write(reinterpret_cast<char*>(&buf_status), sizeof(buf_status));
 	buf_stream.flush();
-     if (!buf_stream.good())
+     if (!buf_stream)
      {
          throw runtime_error("RunStorage::add_run() stream not good");
      }
@@ -331,9 +338,13 @@ void RunStorage::copy(const RunStorage &rhs_rs)
 	// permission.   So open it with write permission to create it, close
 	// and then reopen it with read and write permisssion.
 	buf_stream.open(filename.c_str(), ios_base::out | ios_base::binary | std::ofstream::trunc);
+    if (!buf_stream)
+    {
+        throw runtime_error("RunStorage::copy() stream not good");
+    }
 	buf_stream.close();
 	buf_stream.open(filename.c_str(), ios_base::out | ios_base::in | ios_base::binary);
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
+    if (!buf_stream)
     {
         throw runtime_error("RunStorage::copy() stream not good");
     }
@@ -349,7 +360,7 @@ void RunStorage::copy(const RunStorage &rhs_rs)
 	run_data_byte_size = rhs_rs.run_par_byte_size;
 	par_names = rhs_rs.par_names;
 	obs_names = rhs_rs.obs_names;
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
+    if (!buf_stream)
     {
         throw runtime_error("RunStorage::copy() stream not good");
     }
@@ -357,10 +368,7 @@ void RunStorage::copy(const RunStorage &rhs_rs)
 
 void RunStorage::update_run(int run_id, const Parameters &pars, const Observations &obs)
 {
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
-    {
-        throw runtime_error("RunStorage::update_run() stream not good");
-    }
+
 	//set run status flage to complete
 	std::int8_t r_status = 1;
 	check_rec_id(run_id);
@@ -393,7 +401,7 @@ void RunStorage::update_run(int run_id, const Parameters &pars, const Observatio
 	buf_stream.seekp(get_stream_pos(end_of_runs), ios_base::beg);
 	buf_stream.write(reinterpret_cast<char*>(&buf_status), sizeof(buf_status));
 	buf_stream.flush();
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
+    if (!buf_stream)
     {
         throw runtime_error("RunStorage::update_run() stream not good");
     }
@@ -402,10 +410,7 @@ void RunStorage::update_run(int run_id, const Parameters &pars, const Observatio
 
 void RunStorage::update_run(int run_id, const Observations &obs)
 {
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
-    {
-        throw runtime_error("RunStorage::udpate_run() stream not good");
-    }
+
 	//set run status flage to complete
 	std::int8_t r_status = 1;
 	check_rec_id(run_id);
@@ -442,7 +447,7 @@ void RunStorage::update_run(int run_id, const Observations &obs)
 	buf_stream.seekp(get_stream_pos(end_of_runs), ios_base::beg);
 	buf_stream.write(reinterpret_cast<char*>(&buf_status), sizeof(buf_status));
 	buf_stream.flush();
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
+    if (!buf_stream)
     {
         throw runtime_error("RunStorage::update_run() stream not good");
     }
@@ -450,10 +455,7 @@ void RunStorage::update_run(int run_id, const Observations &obs)
 
 void RunStorage::update_run(int run_id, const vector<char> serial_data)
 {
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
-    {
-        throw runtime_error("RunStorage::update_run() stream not good");
-    }
+
 	//set run status flage to complete
 	std::int8_t r_status = 1;
 	check_rec_size(serial_data);
@@ -483,7 +485,7 @@ void RunStorage::update_run(int run_id, const vector<char> serial_data)
 	buf_stream.seekp(get_stream_pos(end_of_runs), ios_base::beg);
 	buf_stream.write(reinterpret_cast<char*>(&buf_status), sizeof(buf_status));
 	buf_stream.flush();
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
+    if (!buf_stream)
     {
         throw runtime_error("RunStorage::update_run() stream not good");
     }
@@ -492,10 +494,7 @@ void RunStorage::update_run(int run_id, const vector<char> serial_data)
 
 void RunStorage::update_run_failed(int run_id)
 {
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
-    {
-        throw runtime_error("RunStorage::update_run_failed() stream not good");
-    }
+
 	std::int8_t r_status = get_run_status_native(run_id);
 	if (r_status < 1)
 	{
@@ -506,7 +505,7 @@ void RunStorage::update_run_failed(int run_id)
 		buf_stream.write(reinterpret_cast<char*>(&r_status), sizeof(r_status));
 		buf_stream.flush();
 	}
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
+    if (!buf_stream)
     {
         throw runtime_error("RunStorage::update_run_failed() stream not good");
     }
@@ -514,17 +513,14 @@ void RunStorage::update_run_failed(int run_id)
 
 void RunStorage::set_run_nfailed(int run_id, int nfail)
 {
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
-    {
-        throw runtime_error("RunStorage::set_run_nfailed() stream not good");
-    }
+
 	std::int8_t r_status = -nfail;
 	check_rec_id(run_id);
 	//update run status flag
 	buf_stream.seekp(get_stream_pos(run_id), ios_base::beg);
 	buf_stream.write(reinterpret_cast<char*>(&r_status), sizeof(r_status));
 	buf_stream.flush();
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
+    if (!buf_stream)
     {
         throw runtime_error("RunStorage::set_run_nfailed() stream not good");
     }
@@ -532,15 +528,12 @@ void RunStorage::set_run_nfailed(int run_id, int nfail)
 
 std::int8_t RunStorage::get_run_status_native(int run_id)
 {
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
-    {
-        throw runtime_error("RunStorage::get_run_status_native() stream not good");
-    }
+
 	std::int8_t  r_status;
 	check_rec_id(run_id);
 	buf_stream.seekg(get_stream_pos(run_id), ios_base::beg);
 	buf_stream.read(reinterpret_cast<char*>(&r_status), sizeof(r_status));
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
+    if (!buf_stream)
     {
         throw runtime_error("RunStorage::get_run_status_native() stream not good");
     }
@@ -555,10 +548,7 @@ int RunStorage::get_run_status(int run_id)
 
 void RunStorage::get_info(int run_id, int &run_status, string &info_txt, double &info_value)
 {
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
-    {
-        throw runtime_error("RunStorage::get_run_info() stream not good");
-    }
+
 	std::int8_t  r_status;
 	vector<char> info_txt_buf;
 	info_txt_buf.resize(info_txt_length, '\0');
@@ -570,18 +560,16 @@ void RunStorage::get_info(int run_id, int &run_status, string &info_txt, double
 
 	run_status = r_status;
 	info_txt = info_txt_buf.data();
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
+    if (!buf_stream)
     {
+        cout << endl << endl << "-->get_info() bad.  run_id:" << run_id << ", info_txt:" << info_txt << endl << endl;
         throw runtime_error("RunStorage::get_run_info() stream not good");
     }
 }
 
 int RunStorage::get_run(int run_id, Parameters &pars, Observations &obs, string &info_txt, double &info_value, bool clear_old)
 {
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
-    {
-        throw runtime_error("RunStorage::get_run() stream not good");
-    }
+
 	vector<double> par_data;
 	vector<double> obs_data;
 
@@ -596,7 +584,7 @@ int RunStorage::get_run(int run_id, Parameters &pars, Observations &obs, string
 	  pars.update_without_clear(par_names, par_data);
 	  obs.update_without_clear(obs_names, obs_data);
 	}
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
+    if (!buf_stream)
     {
         throw runtime_error("RunStorage::get_run() stream not good");
     }
@@ -645,7 +633,7 @@ int RunStorage::get_run(int run_id, double *pars, size_t npars, double *obs, siz
 	buf_stream.read(reinterpret_cast<char*>(obs), o_size * sizeof(double));
 	int status = r_status;
 	info_txt = info_txt_buf.data();
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
+    if (!buf_stream)
     {
         throw runtime_error("RunStorage::get_run() stream not good");
     }
@@ -654,10 +642,6 @@ int RunStorage::get_run(int run_id, double *pars, size_t npars, double *obs, siz
 
 int RunStorage::get_run(int run_id, vector<double> &pars_vec, vector<double> &obs_vec, string &info_txt, double &info_value)
 {
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
-    {
-        throw runtime_error("RunStorage::get_run() stream not good");
-    }
 	std::int8_t  r_status;
 	vector<char> info_txt_buf;
 	info_txt_buf.resize(info_txt_length, '\0');
@@ -678,7 +662,7 @@ int RunStorage::get_run(int run_id, vector<double> &pars_vec, vector<double> &ob
 	buf_stream.read(reinterpret_cast<char*>(&obs_vec[0]), n_obs * sizeof(double));
 	int status = r_status;
 	info_txt = info_txt_buf.data();
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
+    if (!buf_stream)
     {
         throw runtime_error("RunStorage::get_run() stream not good");
     }
@@ -701,10 +685,7 @@ int RunStorage::get_run(int run_id, double *pars, size_t npars, double *obs, siz
 
 vector<char> RunStorage::get_serial_pars(int run_id)
 {
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
-    {
-        throw runtime_error("RunStorage::get_serial_pars() stream not good");
-    }
+
 	check_rec_id(run_id);
 	std::int8_t r_status;
 
@@ -713,7 +694,7 @@ vector<char> RunStorage::get_serial_pars(int run_id)
 	buf_stream.seekg(get_stream_pos(run_id), ios_base::beg);
 	buf_stream.seekg(sizeof(r_status)+sizeof(char)*info_txt_length+sizeof(double), ios_base::cur);
 	buf_stream.read(serial_data.data(), serial_data.size());
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
+    if (!buf_stream)
     {
         throw runtime_error("RunStorage::get_serial_pars() stream not good");
     }
@@ -722,10 +703,6 @@ vector<char> RunStorage::get_serial_pars(int run_id)
 
 int  RunStorage::get_parameters(int run_id, Parameters &pars)
 {
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
-    {
-        throw runtime_error("RunStorage::get_parameters() stream not good");
-    }
 	std::int8_t r_status;
 	vector<char> info_txt_buf;
 	info_txt_buf.resize(info_txt_length, '\0');
@@ -744,7 +721,7 @@ int  RunStorage::get_parameters(int run_id, Parameters &pars)
 	buf_stream.read(reinterpret_cast<char*>(par_data.data()), n_par*sizeof(double));
 	pars.update(par_names, par_data);
 	int status = r_status;
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
+    if (!buf_stream)
     {
         throw runtime_error("RunStorage::get_parameters() stream not good");
     }
@@ -754,10 +731,7 @@ int  RunStorage::get_parameters(int run_id, Parameters &pars)
 
 int  RunStorage::get_observations(int run_id, Observations &obs)
 {
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
-    {
-        throw runtime_error("RunStorage::get_observations() stream not good");
-    }
+
 	std::int8_t r_status;
 	vector<char> info_txt_buf;
 	info_txt_buf.resize(info_txt_length, '\0');
@@ -777,7 +751,7 @@ int  RunStorage::get_observations(int run_id, Observations &obs)
 	buf_stream.read(reinterpret_cast<char*>(obs_data.data()), n_obs*sizeof(double));
 	int status = r_status;
 	obs.update(obs_names, obs_data);
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
+    if (!buf_stream)
     {
         throw runtime_error("RunStorage::get_observations() stream not good");
     }
@@ -787,10 +761,7 @@ int  RunStorage::get_observations(int run_id, Observations &obs)
 
 int  RunStorage::get_observations_vec(int run_id, vector<double> &obs_data)
 {
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
-    {
-        throw runtime_error("RunStorage::get_observations_vec() stream not good");
-    }
+
 	std::int8_t r_status;
 	vector<char> info_txt_buf;
 	info_txt_buf.resize(info_txt_length, '\0');
@@ -808,7 +779,7 @@ int  RunStorage::get_observations_vec(int run_id, vector<double> &obs_data)
 	buf_stream.seekg(n_par*sizeof(double), ios_base::cur);
 	buf_stream.read(reinterpret_cast<char*>(obs_data.data()), n_obs*sizeof(double));
 	int status = r_status;
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
+    if (!buf_stream)
     {
         throw runtime_error("RunStorage::get_observations_vec() stream not good");
     }
@@ -817,15 +788,12 @@ int  RunStorage::get_observations_vec(int run_id, vector<double> &obs_data)
 
 void RunStorage::free_memory()
 {
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
-    {
-        throw runtime_error("RunStorage::free_memory() stream not good");
-    }
+
 	if (buf_stream.is_open()) {
 		buf_stream.close();
 		remove(filename.c_str());
 	}
-    if (!buf_stream.good())
+    if (!buf_stream)
     {
         throw runtime_error("RunStorage::free_memory() stream not good");
     }
diff --git a/src/libs/run_managers/yamr/PantherAgent.cpp b/src/libs/run_managers/yamr/PantherAgent.cpp
index 5137dba5..b77585bb 100644
--- a/src/libs/run_managers/yamr/PantherAgent.cpp
+++ b/src/libs/run_managers/yamr/PantherAgent.cpp
@@ -1133,13 +1133,13 @@ void PANTHERAgent::start_impl(const string &host, const string &port)
 						ss.str("");
 						ss << "frozen";
 						report(ss.str(), true);
-						w_sleep(3000);
-						if (quit_file_found()) {
-                            report("pest.stp file found, resetting panther_agent_freeze_on_fail and continuing...",
-                                   true);
-                            pest_scenario.get_pestpp_options_ptr()->set_panther_debug_fail_freeze(false);
-                            break;
-                        }
+						w_sleep(10000);
+//						if (quit_file_found()) {
+//                            report("pest.stp file found, resetting panther_agent_freeze_on_fail and continuing...",
+//                                   true);
+//                            pest_scenario.get_pestpp_options_ptr()->set_panther_debug_fail_freeze(false);
+//                            break;
+//                        }
 					}
 				}
 			}
diff --git a/src/libs/run_managers/yamr/RunManagerPanther.cpp b/src/libs/run_managers/yamr/RunManagerPanther.cpp
index 1ad2eef0..1151269b 100644
--- a/src/libs/run_managers/yamr/RunManagerPanther.cpp
+++ b/src/libs/run_managers/yamr/RunManagerPanther.cpp
@@ -1391,7 +1391,7 @@ void RunManagerPanther::process_message(int i_sock)
 		if (run_finished(run_id))
 		{
 			stringstream ss;
-			ss << "Prevoiusly completed run_id:" << run_id << " finished on:" << host_name << "$" << agent_info_iter->get_work_dir() <<
+			ss << "Previously completed run_id:" << run_id << " finished on:" << host_name << "$" << agent_info_iter->get_work_dir() <<
 				"  run time:" << agent_info_iter->get_runtime_minute() << " min group_id:" << group_id <<
 				" " << net_pack.get_info_txt() << " concurrent:" << get_n_concurrent(run_id);
 			report(ss.str(), false);
@@ -1448,6 +1448,10 @@ void RunManagerPanther::process_message(int i_sock)
 		stringstream ss;
 		ss << "Frozen agent:" << host_name << "$" << agent_info_iter->get_work_dir() << " is frozen because of panther_debug_freeze_on_fail = true...";
 		report(ss.str(), true);
+		ss.str("");
+		ss <<"closing connection to frozen agent:" << host_name << "$" << agent_info_iter->get_work_dir() << ", note: the agent will continue in a frozen state";
+		report(ss.str(), true);
+        close_agent(agent_info_iter);
 
 	}
 	else if (net_pack.get_type() == NetPackage::PackType::RUN_KILLED)