diff --git a/src/client/oldChannelNotify.cpp b/src/client/oldChannelNotify.cpp
index 5775bcc6b..701f51fc1 100644
--- a/src/client/oldChannelNotify.cpp
+++ b/src/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/perl/Makefile b/src/perl/Makefile
index e89b948dc..5b2bd5920 100644
--- a/src/perl/Makefile
+++ b/src/perl/Makefile
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ Cap5_LIBS = ca Com
 Cap5_INCLUDES = -I$(shell $(PERL) ../perlConfig.pl archlib)/CORE
 Cap5_CFLAGS = $(shell $(PERL) ../perlConfig.pl ccflags)
 
-CLEANS += Cap5.c pod2htmd.tmp pod2htmi.tmp
+CLEANS += Cap5.c
 
 include $(TOP)/configure/RULES
 
diff --git a/src/tools/caput.c b/src/tools/caput.c
index 9c50cd9df..5e4d10e23 100644
--- a/src/tools/caput.c
+++ b/src/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/tools/tool_lib.c b/src/tools/tool_lib.c
index 72044bd49..29b252e37 100644
--- a/src/tools/tool_lib.c
+++ b/src/tools/tool_lib.c
@@ -414,6 +414,12 @@ char *dbr2str (const void *value, unsigned type)
     ptsNewS = &((struct TYPE *)value)->stamp;                           \
     ptsNewC = &tsNow;                                                   \
                                                                         \
+    if (!tsInitS)                                                       \
+    {                                                                   \
+        tsFirst = *ptsNewS;                                             \
+        tsInitS = 1;                                                    \
+    }                                                                   \
+                                                                        \
     switch (tsType) {                                                   \
     case relative:                                                      \
         ptsRefC = &tsStart;                                             \
@@ -506,12 +512,6 @@ void print_time_val_sts (pv* pv, unsigned long reqElems)
     epicsTimeGetCurrent(&tsNow);
     epicsTimeToStrftime(timeText, TIMETEXTLEN, timeFormatStr, &tsNow);
 
-    if (!tsInitS)
-    {
-        tsFirst = tsNow;
-        tsInitS = 1;
-    }
-
     if (pv->nElems <= 1 && fieldSeparator == ' ') printf("%-30s", pv->name);
     else                                            printf("%s", pv->name);
     printf("%c", fieldSeparator);