diff --git a/tconfpy.py b/tconfpy.py
index eba3679..60e578f 100755
--- a/tconfpy.py
+++ b/tconfpy.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 # Program Information
 
 PROGNAME = "tconfpy"
-RCSID = "$Id: tconfpy.py,v 1.138 2004/03/24 23:11:42 tundra Exp $"
+RCSID = "$Id: tconfpy.py,v 1.139 2004/03/24 23:34:59 tundra Exp $"
 VERSION = RCSID.split()[2]
 
 # Copyright Information
@@ -809,18 +809,17 @@
                 # Load variable into the symbol table
                 else:
 
-                    # Munge the variable name to incoroprate
+                    # Munge the variable name to incorporate
                     # the current namespace
 
-                    # Handle absolute variable references
-
-                    if l.startswith(NSSEP):
-                        l = l[1:]
-
                     # The NAMESPACE variable is special - It is presumed to reset
                     # the top level namespace.
                     
-                    elif l == NAMESPACE:
+                    if l in (NAMESPACE, NSSEP+NAMESPACE):
+
+                        if l == NSSEP + NAMESPACE:
+                            l=NAMESPACE
+                        
                         # Save the new namespace
                         SymTable[NAMESPACE].Value = r
 
@@ -828,6 +827,11 @@
                         if r not in SymTable[NAMESPACE].LegalVals:
                             SymTable[NAMESPACE].LegalVals.append(r)
 
+                    # Handle absolute variable references
+
+                    elif l.startswith(NSSEP):
+                        l = l[1:]
+
                     # In all other cases prepend current namespace
                     else:
                         ns =  SymTable[NAMESPACE].Value