I asked: > Please help us reproduce an elusive bash bug. Ethan Benson <erbenson@alaska.net> replied: > ask them if they are using kernel 2.3.99 (or maybe some earlier 2.3.* > kernel) there has been some notes about this on the kernel > list. apparently the kernel has a bug or `feature' where it returns > the wrong error. it has nothing to do with bash iirc. Bingo! Thanks Ethan. Kirk