diff --git a/configure/RULES_BUILD b/configure/RULES_BUILD
index ea84db8be..3d26a502d 100644
--- a/configure/RULES_BUILD
+++ b/configure/RULES_BUILD
@@ -170,8 +170,9 @@ ifdef RES
 	@$(RM) *$(RES)
 endif
 
-$(DIRECTORY_TARGETS) :
-	$(MKDIR) $@
+# Sort mkdir targets to remove duplicates & make parents first
+$(DIRECTORY_TARGETS):
+	$(MKDIR) $(sort $@)
 
 # Install LIB_INSTALLS libraries before linking executables
 $(TESTPRODNAME) $(PRODNAME): | $(INSTALL_LIB_INSTALLS)
diff --git a/src/ca/client/oldChannelNotify.cpp b/src/ca/client/oldChannelNotify.cpp
index 5775bcc6b..701f51fc1 100644
--- a/src/ca/client/oldChannelNotify.cpp
+++ b/src/ca/client/oldChannelNotify.cpp
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ int epicsShareAPI ca_array_get_callback ( chtype type,
     {
         caStatus = ECA_ALLOCMEM;
     }
-    catch ( cacChannel::msgBodyCacheTooSmall ) {
+    catch ( cacChannel::msgBodyCacheTooSmall & ) {
         caStatus = ECA_TOLARGE;
     }
     catch ( ... )
diff --git a/src/ca/client/tools/caput.c b/src/ca/client/tools/caput.c
index 9c50cd9df..5e4d10e23 100644
--- a/src/ca/client/tools/caput.c
+++ b/src/ca/client/tools/caput.c
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 * Copyright (c) 2002 Berliner Elektronenspeicherringgesellschaft fuer
 *     Synchrotronstrahlung.
 * EPICS BASE is distributed subject to a Software License Agreement found
-* in file LICENSE that is included with this distribution. 
+* in file LICENSE that is included with this distribution.
 \*************************************************************************/
 
 /*
@@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ int main (int argc, char *argv[])
         if (argc > optind+1) {
             for (i = optind + 1; i < argc; i++) {
                 strcat(cbuf, " ");
-                strcat(cbuf, argv[i]); 
+                strcat(cbuf, argv[i]);
             }
         }
 
@@ -530,6 +530,11 @@ int main (int argc, char *argv[])
         /* Use standard put with defined timeout */
         result = ca_array_put (dbrType, count, pvs[0].chid, pbuf);
     }
+    if (result != ECA_NORMAL) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "Error from put operation: %s\n", ca_message(result));
+        return 1;
+    }
+
     result = ca_pend_io(caTimeout);
     if (result == ECA_TIMEOUT) {
         fprintf(stderr, "Write operation timed out: Data was not written.\n");
@@ -545,7 +550,7 @@ int main (int argc, char *argv[])
     }
 
     if (result != ECA_NORMAL) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "Error occured writing data.\n");
+        fprintf(stderr, "Error occured writing data: %s\n", ca_message(result));
         return 1;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/std/rec/stringinRecord.c b/src/std/rec/stringinRecord.c
index 163b23a49..6cc6b3bbf 100644
--- a/src/std/rec/stringinRecord.c
+++ b/src/std/rec/stringinRecord.c
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ static long init_record(struct dbCommon *pcommon, int pass)
 {
     struct stringinRecord *prec = (struct stringinRecord *)pcommon;
     STATIC_ASSERT(sizeof(prec->oval)==sizeof(prec->val));
+    STATIC_ASSERT(sizeof(prec->sval)==sizeof(prec->val));
     struct stringindset *pdset = (struct stringindset *) prec->dset;
 
     if (pass==0)
@@ -119,7 +120,8 @@ static long init_record(struct dbCommon *pcommon, int pass)
         if (status)
             return status;
     }
-    strcpy(prec->oval, prec->val);
+
+    strncpy(prec->oval, prec->val, sizeof(prec->val));
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -194,7 +196,7 @@ static long readValue(stringinRecord *prec)
 		status=dbGetLink(&(prec->siol),DBR_STRING,
 			prec->sval,0,0);
 		if (status==0) {
-			strcpy(prec->val,prec->sval);
+			strncpy(prec->val, prec->sval, sizeof(prec->val));
 			prec->udf=FALSE;
 		}
 	} else {
diff --git a/src/std/rec/stringoutRecord.c b/src/std/rec/stringoutRecord.c
index 416a6db5e..b865e5106 100644
--- a/src/std/rec/stringoutRecord.c
+++ b/src/std/rec/stringoutRecord.c
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ static long init_record(struct dbCommon *pcommon, int pass)
 {
     struct stringoutRecord *prec = (struct stringoutRecord *)pcommon;
     STATIC_ASSERT(sizeof(prec->oval)==sizeof(prec->val));
+    STATIC_ASSERT(sizeof(prec->ivov)==sizeof(prec->val));
     struct stringoutdset *pdset = (struct stringoutdset *) prec->dset;
 
     if (pass==0)
@@ -125,7 +126,7 @@ static long init_record(struct dbCommon *pcommon, int pass)
             return status;
     }
 
-    strcpy(prec->oval, prec->val);
+    strncpy(prec->oval, prec->val, sizeof(prec->val));
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -164,7 +165,7 @@ static long process(struct dbCommon *pcommon)
                         break;
                     case (menuIvoaSet_output_to_IVOV) :
                         if(prec->pact == FALSE){
-                                strcpy(prec->val,prec->ivov);
+                            strncpy(prec->val, prec->ivov, sizeof(prec->val));
                         }
                         status=writeValue(prec); /* write the new value */
                         break;