diff --git a/config.y b/config.y
index d21b882..fd31bd3 100644
--- a/config.y
+++ b/config.y
@@ -156,7 +156,11 @@ KeyPair: KeyType '=' TYPE_VALUE {
 }
 	| KeyType '=' TYPE_NUMBER {
   if (!myconfig)
+  {
     myconfig = calloc(1, sizeof(struct dg_config));
+    myconfig->shed_uid = (uid_t)-1;
+    myconfig->shed_gid = (gid_t)-1;
+  }
 	       
   switch ($1)
   {
@@ -184,6 +188,7 @@ KeyPair: KeyType '=' TYPE_VALUE {
       break;
 
     case TYPE_MAX:
+      set_max = 1; /* XXX XXX */
       myconfig->max = $3;
       break;
 
diff --git a/dgamelaunch.c b/dgamelaunch.c
index 408c7cb..91244de 100644
--- a/dgamelaunch.c
+++ b/dgamelaunch.c
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ struct dg_config defconfig = {
   /* max = */ 64000 
 };
 
+int set_max = 0; /* XXX */
 int loggedin = 0;
 char rcfilename[80];
 char *chosen_name;
@@ -181,7 +182,7 @@ create_config ()
 	myconfig->shed_gid = defconfig.shed_gid;
     }
 
-    if (myconfig->max == -1) myconfig->max = defconfig.max;
+    if (myconfig->max == 0 && !set_max) myconfig->max = defconfig.max;
     if (!myconfig->banner) myconfig->banner = defconfig.banner;
     if (!myconfig->chroot) myconfig->chroot = defconfig.chroot;
     if (!myconfig->nethack) myconfig->nethack = defconfig.nethack;
@@ -1093,7 +1094,10 @@ readfile (int nolock)
       f_num++;
       /* prevent a buffer overrun here */
       if (f_num > myconfig->max)
+      {
+	fprintf(stderr,"ERROR: number of users in database exceeds maximum. Exiting.\n");
         graceful_exit (109);
+      }
     }
 
   if (!nolock)
diff --git a/dgamelaunch.h b/dgamelaunch.h
index 57a143d..a7f3541 100644
--- a/dgamelaunch.h
+++ b/dgamelaunch.h
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ extern struct dg_config *myconfig;
 extern char *chosen_name;
 extern int loggedin;
 extern int silent;
+extern int set_max;
 
 /* dgamelaunch.c */
 extern void create_config(void);