diff --git a/tconfpy.py b/tconfpy.py
index ea93ca4..e5bc225 100755
--- a/tconfpy.py
+++ b/tconfpy.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 # Program Information
 
 PROGNAME = "tconfpy"
-RCSID = "$Id: tconfpy.py,v 1.173 2004/04/14 22:18:39 tundra Exp $"
+RCSID = "$Id: tconfpy.py,v 1.174 2004/04/14 22:46:24 tundra Exp $"
 VERSION = RCSID.split()[2]
 
 # Copyright Information
@@ -523,13 +523,18 @@
         SymTable[NAMESPACE].Value = ""
         SymTable[NAMESPACE].LegalVals.append("")
 
-    # Make sure that initial namespace is also present in LegalVals
-    else:
+    # Ensure that the initial namespace is properly formed.
+    # If not, revert to root namespace.
+    
+    if not ValidateSymbolName(SymTable[NAMESPACE].Value, STARTUP, STARTUP, AllowEmpty=True):
+        SymTable[NAMESPACE].Value = ""
 
-        initialns = SymTable[NAMESPACE].Value
+    # Make sure initial namespace is in LegalVals
+    
+    initialns = SymTable[NAMESPACE].Value
 
-        if initialns not in SymTable[NAMESPACE].LegalVals:
-            SymTable[NAMESPACE].LegalVals.append(initialns)
+    if initialns not in SymTable[NAMESPACE].LegalVals:
+        SymTable[NAMESPACE].LegalVals.append(initialns)
 
     # Report namespace to debug output