diff --git a/aircon.sh b/aircon.sh
index 2ee0500..8f7843b 100755
--- a/aircon.sh
+++ b/aircon.sh
@@ -134,6 +134,10 @@ function getzoneaction() { # populates zproblem[] and zaction[]
         fi
         fv=$(getforcevent ${zname[$idx]})
 
+if [[ $robtest -eq 1 ]]; then
+    echo "canping zone ${zname[$idx]} is:  $pingok"
+fi
+
         donearby=0
 
         if [[ -n $fv && ${zstate[$idx]} == $(getoppositestate ${fv}) ]]; then
@@ -162,7 +166,7 @@ function getzoneaction() { # populates zproblem[] and zaction[]
         if [[ ${zwanttemp[$idx]} != *-* ]]; then
             thisperfect=1
         else
-            local mid midtol 
+            local mid midtol
             mid=$(get_midrange $idx)
             midtol=$(get_perfect_tolerance $idx)
             #echo "zone ${zname[$idx]} temp ${ztemp[$idx]} mid is $mid   midtol is $midtol perfect is >= $(echo "$mid - $midtol" | bc)"
@@ -274,11 +278,16 @@ function getzoneaction() { # populates zproblem[] and zaction[]
 
 function getidxfromname() { #  name
     local x
+#echo "==== getidxfromname($1)" >/dev/stderr
     for x in ${!zname[@]}; do
-        if [[ ${zname[$x]} == $1 ]]; then
+#echo "==== idx $x  comparing zname ('${zname[$x]}') to \$1 ('$1')" >/dev/stderr
+        if [[ ${zname[$x]} == "$1" ]]; then
+#echo "       ==== matched. returning ${x}" >/dev/stderr
             echo "${x}"
+            return
         fi
     done
+    echo "-1"
 }
 
 function getnamefromid() { #  id
@@ -802,6 +811,7 @@ function addperson() {
 
 function addowner() {  #  zone    "host1 host2 ..."
     local z h local x idx db doset=0
+    local zidx
     db=0
     if [[ $1 == "-s" ]]; then
         doset=1
@@ -812,6 +822,13 @@ function addowner() {  #  zone    "host1 host2 ..."
     shift
     h="$*"
 
+
+    zidx=$(getidxfromname "$z")  # get the index into the zname[] etc arrays
+    if [[ $zidx -eq -1 ]]; then
+        error "Failed to set owner of zone '$z' to '$h' - zone doesn't exist. "
+        exit 1;
+    fi
+
     [[ $db -eq 1 ]] && info "addowner() zone $z host(s) [$h]"
 
     idx=$nowners
@@ -830,9 +847,9 @@ function addowner() {  #  zone    "host1 host2 ..."
     [[ $idx == $nowners ]] && nowners=$((nowners + 1))
 
     if [[ $doset -eq 1 ]]; then
-        local zidx
-        zidx=$(getidxfromname "$z")
         zowner[$zidx]="${ownerhost[$idx]}";
+
+        [[ $db -eq 1 ]] && info "  doing set of zowner[$zidx] (${zname[$zidx]}} to [${ownerhost[$idx]}]"
         #zownerperson[$zidx]=$(getownerperson "$z");  # may be overwritten later
     fi
 }
@@ -852,7 +869,7 @@ function addowner() {  #  zone    "host1 host2 ..."
 #}
 
 # getowner zone_name
-# returns devices associated woth zone
+# returns devices associated with zone
 function getowner() {
     local x retval
     retval=""
@@ -899,7 +916,7 @@ function weekdaytonum() {
         "mon") num=1;;
         "tue") num=2;;
         "wed") num=3;;
-        "thu") num=4;; 
+        "thu") num=4;;
         "fri") num=5;;
         "sat") num=6;;
         "sun") num=7;;
@@ -1706,6 +1723,7 @@ profiler=0
 csvfile="$DEFAULT_CSVFILE"
 sanitycheck=0
 RULEFORMAT=ansi
+robtest=0
 
 # check for config file option first
 if [[ $* == *-f\ * ]]; then
@@ -1723,7 +1741,7 @@ fi
 
 ALLARGS="$ALLARGS $*"
 
-optstring="A:cD:f:hHi:I:k:l:Lo:pmsSt:T:wWx:y"
+optstring="A:cD:f:hHi:I:k:l:Lo:pmRsSt:T:wWx:y"
 while getopts "$optstring" i $ALLARGS; do
     case "$i" in
         h)
@@ -1767,6 +1785,9 @@ while getopts "$optstring" i $ALLARGS; do
         T)
             tolerance_h=${OPTARG}
             ;;
+        R)
+            robtest=1
+            ;;
         c)
             enable_cronmode
             ;;
@@ -1862,6 +1883,13 @@ for x in ${devices}; do
 done
 wait
 
+if [[ $robtest -eq 1 ]]; then
+    for x in ${!zname[@]}; do
+        echo "zone ${zname[$x]} owner is [${zowner[$x]}]"
+    done
+    exit 1
+fi
+
 if [[ $showwho -eq 1 ]]; then
     # get max phone name length
     maxlen=1