diff --git a/counter.c b/counter.c
index 38593a4e..977f2239 100644
--- a/counter.c
+++ b/counter.c
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ static int CheckCountStatus(void *pData, SConnection * pCon)
   int eCt;
   char pError[80], pBueffel[132];
   int iErr;
-  float fControl, rate;
+  float fControl = .0, rate;
   MonEvent sMon;
 
   self = (pCounter) pData;
diff --git a/network.c b/network.c
index 3fcc6a66..52edc8fa 100644
--- a/network.c
+++ b/network.c
@@ -287,9 +287,9 @@ mkChannel *NETConnectWithFlags(char *name, int port, int flags)
 
   iRet = connect(pRes->sockid, (struct sockaddr *) &(pRes->adresse),
                  sizeof(struct sockaddr_in));
-  if (iRet < 0) {
-    close(pRes->sockid);
+  if (iRet < 0 && errno ) {
     if (errno != EINPROGRESS) {
+      close(pRes->sockid);
       free(pRes);
       return NULL;
     }
diff --git a/sicsget.c b/sicsget.c
index 69e6dbd0..bcb20a37 100644
--- a/sicsget.c
+++ b/sicsget.c
@@ -280,8 +280,12 @@ static void configureSICSPipe()
 static int FindTclVar(void *ms, void *userData)
 {
   pParseMessage self = (pParseMessage)ms;
+  char *pPtr = NULL;
   
-  self->response = Tcl_GetVar(InterpGetTcl(pServ->pSics),self->command, TCL_GLOBAL_ONLY);
+  pPtr = Tcl_GetVar(InterpGetTcl(pServ->pSics),self->command, TCL_GLOBAL_ONLY);
+  if(pPtr != NULL){
+    self->response = strdup(pPtr);
+  }
   if(self->response == NULL){
     return MPSTOP;
   }