diff --git a/tconfpy.py b/tconfpy.py
index 3c324a7..591cbd5 100755
--- a/tconfpy.py
+++ b/tconfpy.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 # Program Information
 
 PROGNAME = "tconfpy"
-RCSID = "$Id: tconfpy.py,v 1.171 2004/04/14 20:53:25 tundra Exp $"
+RCSID = "$Id: tconfpy.py,v 1.172 2004/04/14 21:23:35 tundra Exp $"
 VERSION = RCSID.split()[2]
 
 # Copyright Information
@@ -616,9 +616,10 @@
         # current namespace unless escaped with NSSEP.  However,
         # environment variables and predefined variables are always
         # presumed to be relative to the top-level namespace and are
-        # left untouched here.
+        # left untouched here.  This is also the case for the NAMESPACE
+        # variable.
 
-        if sym not in Predefined and sym[0] != ENVIRO:
+        if sym not in Predefined and sym != NAMESPACE and sym[0] != ENVIRO:
         
             # Look for an escape.  This makes the variable
             # reference "absolute" (relative to the top-level namespace).