Index: runs.scm
==================================================================
--- runs.scm
+++ runs.scm
@@ -691,19 +691,21 @@
     (for-each (lambda (trec)
 		(let ((id (db:test-get-id        trec))
 		      (tn (db:test-get-testname  trec))
 		      (ip (db:test-get-item-path trec))
 		      (st (db:test-get-state     trec)))
-		  (hash-table-set! test-registry (runs:make-full-test-name tn ip) (string->symbol st))))
+		  (if (not (equal? st "DELETED"))
+		      (hash-table-set! test-registry (runs:make-full-test-name tn ip) (string->symbol st)))))
 	      tests-info)
     (set! max-retries (if (and max-retries (string->number max-retries))(string->number max-retries) 100))
 
     (let loop ((hed         (car sorted-test-names))
 	       (tal         (cdr sorted-test-names))
 	       (reg         '()) ;; registered, put these at the head of tal 
 	       (reruns      '()))
       (if (not (null? reruns))(debug:print-info 4 "reruns=" reruns))
+
       ;; (print "Top of loop, hed=" hed ", tal=" tal " ,reruns=" reruns)
       (let* ((test-record (hash-table-ref test-records hed))
 	     (test-name   (tests:testqueue-get-testname test-record))
 	     (tconfig     (tests:testqueue-get-testconfig test-record))
 	     (jobgroup    (config-lookup tconfig "requirements" "jobgroup"))
@@ -716,10 +718,17 @@
 	     (item-path   (item-list->path itemdat))
 	     (tfullname   (runs:make-full-test-name test-name item-path))
 	     (newtal      (append tal (list hed)))
 	     (regfull     (>= (length reg) reglen)))
 
+	;; Ensure all top level tests get registered. This way they show up as "NOT_STARTED" on the dashboard
+	;; and it is clear they *should* have run but did not.
+	(if (not (hash-table-ref/default test-registry (runs:make-full-test-name hed "") #f))
+	    (begin
+	      (cdb:tests-register-test *runremote* run-id hed "")
+	      (hash-table-set! test-registry (runs:make-full-test-name hed "") 'done)))
+	
 	;; Fast skip of tests that are already "COMPLETED" - NO! Cannot do that as the items may not have been expanded yet :(
 	;;
 	(if (member (hash-table-ref/default test-registry tfullname #f) 
 		    '(DONOTRUN removed)) ;; *common:cant-run-states-sym*) ;; '(COMPLETED KILLED WAIVED UNKNOWN INCOMPLETE))
 	    (begin

Index: tests/fullrun/config/mt_include_1.config
==================================================================
--- tests/fullrun/config/mt_include_1.config
+++ tests/fullrun/config/mt_include_1.config
@@ -7,11 +7,11 @@
 [jobtools]
 useshell yes
 # ## launcher launches jobs, the job is managed on the target host
 ## by megatest, comment out launcher to run local
 # workhosts localhost hermes
-launcher nbfake
+launcher exec nbfake
 # launcher nodanggood
 
 ## use "xterm -e csi -- " as a launcher to examine the launch environment.
 ## exit with (exit)
 ## get a shell with (system "bash")

Index: tests/fullrun/megatest.config
==================================================================
--- tests/fullrun/megatest.config
+++ tests/fullrun/megatest.config
@@ -17,14 +17,15 @@
 [tests-paths]
 1 #{get misc parent}/simplerun/tests
 
 [setup]
 # Set launchwait to no to use the more agressive code that does not wait for the launch to complete before proceeding
-launchwait no
+# this may save a few milliseconds on launching tests
+# launchwait no
 
 # Use http instead of direct filesystem access
-transport http
+# transport http
 
 # If set to "default" the old code is used. Otherwise defaults to 200 or uses
 # numeric value given.
 #
 runqueue 20

Index: utils/nbfake
==================================================================
--- utils/nbfake
+++ utils/nbfake
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@
 
 # Can't always trust $PWD
 CURRWD=`pwd`
 
 if [[ $TARGETHOST == ""  ]]; then
-  sh -c "cd $CURRWD;export DISPLAY=$DISPLAY; export PATH=$PATH; nohup $* > NBFAKE-`date +%GWW%V.%u_%T` 2>&1 &"
+  exec sh -c "cd $CURRWD;export DISPLAY=$DISPLAY; export PATH=$PATH; nohup $* > NBFAKE-`date +%GWW%V.%u_%T` 2>&1 &"
 else
-  ssh -n -f $TARGETHOST "sh -c \"cd $CURRWD;export DISPLAY=$DISPLAY; export PATH=$PATH; nohup $* > NBFAKE-`date +%GWW%V.%u_%T` 2>&1 &\""
+  exec ssh -n -f $TARGETHOST "sh -c \"cd $CURRWD;export DISPLAY=$DISPLAY; export PATH=$PATH; nohup $* > NBFAKE-`date +%GWW%V.%u_%T` 2>&1 &\""
 fi