diff --git a/base/modules/penv/psi_penv_mod.F90 b/base/modules/penv/psi_penv_mod.F90
index b9555a97..e51a61d8 100644
--- a/base/modules/penv/psi_penv_mod.F90
+++ b/base/modules/penv/psi_penv_mod.F90
@@ -870,7 +870,8 @@ contains
     include 'mpif.h'
 #endif
     type(psb_ctxt_type), intent(out) :: ictxt
-    integer(psb_mpk_), intent(in), optional :: np, basectxt, ids(:)
+    type(psb_ctxt_type), intent(in), optional :: basectxt
+    integer(psb_mpk_), intent(in), optional :: np, ids(:)
 
     integer(psb_mpk_) :: i, isnullcomm, icomm
     integer(psb_mpk_), allocatable :: iids(:) 
@@ -898,8 +899,12 @@ contains
       end if
     end if
 
-    if (present(basectxt)) then 
-      basecomm = basectxt
+    if (present(basectxt)) then
+      if (allocated(basectxt%ctxt)) then 
+        basecomm = basectxt%ctxt
+      else
+        basecomm = mpi_comm_world
+      end if
     else
       basecomm = mpi_comm_world
     end if
diff --git a/cbind/test/pargen/ppdec.c b/cbind/test/pargen/ppdec.c
index 986450c7..eb0ecff5 100644
--- a/cbind/test/pargen/ppdec.c
+++ b/cbind/test/pargen/ppdec.c
@@ -242,8 +242,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
   ictxt = psb_c_init();
   psb_c_info(ictxt,&iam,&np);
   fprintf(stdout,"Initialization: am %d of %d\n",iam,np);
-
   fflush(stdout);
+
   psb_c_barrier(ictxt);
   if (iam == 0) {
     fgets(buffer,LINEBUFSIZE,stdin);
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
   
   fprintf(stderr,"%d Check on received: methd %s ptype %s afmt %s\n",
 	  iam,methd,ptype,afmt);
-
+  fflush(stderr);
   psb_c_barrier(ictxt);
 
   cdh=psb_c_new_descriptor();
diff --git a/cbind/test/pargen/runs/ppde.inp b/cbind/test/pargen/runs/ppde.inp
index e0162591..d16c607f 100644
--- a/cbind/test/pargen/runs/ppde.inp
+++ b/cbind/test/pargen/runs/ppde.inp
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 BICGSTAB                 Iterative method BICGSTAB CGS  BICG BICGSTABL RGMRES
 BJAC                   Preconditioner NONE  DIAG  BJAC 
 CSR                    A Storage format CSR COO 
-100                    Domain size (acutal system is this**3)
+080                    Domain size (acutal system is this**3)
 1                      Stopping criterion
 80                     MAXIT
 01                     ITRACE