--- loncom/lonnet/perl/lonnet.pm	2016/09/21 04:47:57	1.1322
+++ loncom/lonnet/perl/lonnet.pm	2016/09/21 04:57:52	1.1323
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network
 # TCP networking package
 #
-# $Id: lonnet.pm,v 1.1322 2016/09/21 04:47:57 raeburn Exp $
+# $Id: lonnet.pm,v 1.1323 2016/09/21 04:57:52 raeburn Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -237,7 +237,9 @@ sub get_servercerts_info {
     }
     if (($context ne 'cgi') && ($uselocal)) {
         my $distro = (split(/\:/,&get_server_distarch($lonhost)))[0];
-        if ($distro =~ /^(?:centos|redhat|scientific)(\d+)$/) {
+        if ($distro eq '') {
+            $uselocal = 0;
+        } elsif ($distro =~ /^(?:centos|redhat|scientific)(\d+)$/) {
             if ($1 < 6) {
                 $uselocal = 0;
             }