diff --git a/compiler/characterizer/charutils.py b/compiler/characterizer/charutils.py
index 472f5d12..009e1d82 100644
--- a/compiler/characterizer/charutils.py
+++ b/compiler/characterizer/charutils.py
@@ -29,9 +29,9 @@ def parse_output(filename, key):
     """Parses a hspice output.lis file for a key value"""
     full_filename="{0}{1}.lis".format(OPTS.openram_temp, filename)
     try:
-        f = open(full_fliename, "r")
-    except:
-        debug.error("Unable to read spice output file: {0}".format(full_filename),1)
+        f = open(full_filename, "r")
+    except IOError:
+        debug.error("Unable to open spice output file: {0}".format(full_filename),1)
     contents = f.read()
     val = re.search(r"{0}\s*=\s*(-?\d+.?\d*\S*)\s+.*".format(key), contents)
     if val != None:
diff --git a/compiler/characterizer/setup_hold.py b/compiler/characterizer/setup_hold.py
index 2ce38411..4fd0e13b 100644
--- a/compiler/characterizer/setup_hold.py
+++ b/compiler/characterizer/setup_hold.py
@@ -199,6 +199,8 @@ class setup_hold():
             upper_bound = 1.5*period
 
         previous_time = target_time
+        debug.info(2,"Checking initial setup/hold time: {0} ".format(target_time))
+                   
         # Initial Check if reference setup time passes for correct_value 
         self.write_stimulus(mode=mode, 
                             target_time=target_time, 
@@ -220,6 +222,9 @@ class setup_hold():
             debug.error("Initial period/target hold time fails for data value",2)
 
         # We already found it feasible, so advance one step first thing.
+        debug.info(2,"Performing bidir search on setup/hold time: {2} LB: {0} UB: {1} ".format(lower_bound,
+                                                                                               upper_bound,
+                                                                                               setuphold_time))
         if mode == "HOLD":
             target_time -= 0.5 * (upper_bound - lower_bound)
         else:
@@ -269,6 +274,8 @@ class setup_hold():
                 setuphold_time = target_time - period
             else:
                 setuphold_time = period - target_time
+
+        debug.info(2,"Converged on setup/hold time: {0} ".format(setuphold_time))                
         return setuphold_time
 
 
diff --git a/compiler/characterizer/stimuli.py b/compiler/characterizer/stimuli.py
index b9d9c710..6116021c 100644
--- a/compiler/characterizer/stimuli.py
+++ b/compiler/characterizer/stimuli.py
@@ -445,24 +445,31 @@ def write_supply(stim_file, vdd_name, gnd_name, vdd_voltage, gnd_voltage):
 def run_sim():
     """Run hspice in batch mode and output rawfile to parse."""
     temp_stim = "{0}stim.sp".format(OPTS.openram_temp)
+    
     if OPTS.spice_version == "hspice":
         # TODO: Should make multithreading parameter a configuration option
-        cmd_args = [OPTS.spice_exe, "-mt 8", "-i {0}".format(temp_stim), "-o {0}timing".format(OPTS.openram_temp)]
+        cmd = "{0} -mt 8 -i {1} -o {2}timing".format(OPTS.spice_exe,
+                                                                     temp_stim,
+                                                                     OPTS.openram_temp)
         valid_retcode=0
     else:
-        cmd_args = [OPTS.spice_exe, "-b", "-o {0}timing.lis".format(OPTS.openram_temp), "{0}".format(temp_stim)]
+        cmd = "{0} -b -o {2}timing.lis {1}".format(OPTS.spice_exe,
+                                                        temp_stim,
+                                                        OPTS.openram_temp)
         # for some reason, ngspice-25 returns 1 when it only has acceptable warnings
         valid_retcode=1
+
         
     spice_stdout = open("{0}spice_stdout.log".format(OPTS.openram_temp), 'w')
     spice_stderr = open("{0}spice_stderr.log".format(OPTS.openram_temp), 'w')
-    debug.info(1, " ".join(cmd_args))
-    retcode = subprocess.call(cmd_args, stdout=spice_stdout, stderr=spice_stderr)
+
+    debug.info(3, cmd)
+    retcode = subprocess.call(cmd, stdout=spice_stdout, stderr=spice_stderr, shell=True)
+
     spice_stdout.close()
     spice_stderr.close()
     
     if (retcode > valid_retcode):
-        debug.error("Spice simulation error: " + OPTS.spice_exe + " " + cmd_args)
-        sys.exit(-1)
+        debug.error("Spice simulation error: " + cmd, -1)