--- loncom/lonnet/perl/lonnet.pm	2014/05/29 12:45:05	1.1261
+++ loncom/lonnet/perl/lonnet.pm	2014/06/13 03:33:55	1.1262
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network
 # TCP networking package
 #
-# $Id: lonnet.pm,v 1.1261 2014/05/29 12:45:05 raeburn Exp $
+# $Id: lonnet.pm,v 1.1262 2014/06/13 03:33:55 raeburn Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -11281,8 +11281,12 @@ sub rndseed_CODE_64bit5 {
 sub setup_random_from_rndseed {
     my ($rndseed)=@_;
     if ($rndseed =~/([,:])/) {
-	my ($num1,$num2)=split(/[,:]/,$rndseed);
-	&Math::Random::random_set_seed(abs($num1),abs($num2));
+        my ($num1,$num2) = map { abs($_); } (split(/[,:]/,$rndseed));
+        if ((!$num1) || (!$num2) || ($num1 > 2147483562) || ($num2 > 2147483398)) {
+            &Math::Random::random_set_seed_from_phrase($rndseed);
+        } else {
+            &Math::Random::random_set_seed($num1,$num2);
+        }
     } else {
 	&Math::Random::random_set_seed_from_phrase($rndseed);
     }