diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 7e1a2b8..7aee4d0 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.5.278
+1.5.279
diff --git a/base/netcmp.c b/base/netcmp.c
index 0c40f97..34e7296 100644
--- a/base/netcmp.c
+++ b/base/netcmp.c
@@ -7360,7 +7360,7 @@ struct nlist *addproxies(struct hashlist *p, void *clientdata)
     // Count the largest node number used in the cell
     maxnode = -1;
     for (ob = ptr->cell; ob; ob = ob->next)
-       if (ob->type >= FIRSTPIN || ob->type == NODE)
+       if (ob->type >= FIRSTPIN || ob->type == NODE || ob->type == PORT)
 	  if (ob->node >= maxnode)
 	     maxnode = ob->node + 1;
     numnodes = maxnode;
diff --git a/base/objlist.c b/base/objlist.c
index 2ab00b4..b7d3567 100644
--- a/base/objlist.c
+++ b/base/objlist.c
@@ -224,6 +224,13 @@ int matchnocase(char *st1, char *st2)
    char *sp1 = st1;
    char *sp2 = st2;
 
+   /* In case of a property that does not exist in one netlist, matchnocase()
+    * may be passed a null value, so return 0 to indicate a non-match.
+    * *Both* values null will also be treated as a mismatch (debatable
+    * behavior).
+    */
+   if (!sp1 || !sp2) return 0;
+
    while (*sp1 != '\0' && *sp2 != '\0') {
       if (to_lower[*sp1] != to_lower[*sp2]) break;
       sp1++;