--- loncom/lonnet/perl/lonnet.pm	2004/09/24 12:45:16	1.547
+++ loncom/lonnet/perl/lonnet.pm	2004/09/27 19:00:16	1.548
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network
 # TCP networking package
 #
-# $Id: lonnet.pm,v 1.547 2004/09/24 12:45:16 raeburn Exp $
+# $Id: lonnet.pm,v 1.548 2004/09/27 19:00:16 albertel Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -795,11 +795,11 @@ sub getsection {
         if ($key eq $courseid.'_st') { $section=''; }
         my ($dummy,$end,$start)=split(/\_/,&unescape($value));
         my $now=time;
-        if (defined($end) && ($now > $end)) {
+        if (defined($end) && $end && ($now > $end)) {
             $Expired{$end}=$section;
             next;
         }
-        if (defined($start) && ($now < $start)) {
+        if (defined($start) && $start && ($now < $start)) {
             $Pending{$start}=$section;
             next;
         }