diff --git a/src/frontend/rawfile.c b/src/frontend/rawfile.c
index 4a1359163..2871ae5ab 100644
--- a/src/frontend/rawfile.c
+++ b/src/frontend/rawfile.c
@@ -114,7 +114,8 @@ void raw_write(char *name, struct plot *pl, bool app, bool binary)
 
     fprintf(fp, "Title: %s\n", pl->pl_title);
     fprintf(fp, "Date: %s\n", pl->pl_date);
-    fprintf(fp, "Command: %s-%s, Build %s\n", ft_sim->simulator, ft_sim->version, Spice_Build_Date);
+    if (ft_sim) /* not available when old app ngscovert is made */
+        fprintf(fp, "Command: %s-%s, Build %s\n", ft_sim->simulator, ft_sim->version, Spice_Build_Date);
     fprintf(fp, "Plotname: %s\n", pl->pl_name);
     fprintf(fp, "Flags: %s%s\n",
             realflag ? "real" : "complex", raw_padding ? "" : " unpadded");
diff --git a/src/ngsconvert.c b/src/ngsconvert.c
index c3396f461..0fb17226b 100644
--- a/src/ngsconvert.c
+++ b/src/ngsconvert.c
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@ bool cp_no_histsubst = FALSE;
 struct compat newcompat;
 bool cx_degrees = FALSE;
 
+IFsimulator *ft_sim = NULL;
+char Spice_Build_Date[] = " date is not available\n";
+
 char *cp_program = "sconvert";
 
 
@@ -56,6 +59,15 @@ char *cp_program = "sconvert";
 #define TMALLOC(t, n)       (t*) tmalloc(sizeof(t) * (size_t)(n))
 #define TREALLOC(t, p, n)   (t*) trealloc(p, sizeof(t) * (size_t)(n))
 
+FILE *
+newfopen(const char *fn, const char* md)
+{
+    FILE* fp;
+    if (fn == NULL)
+        return NULL;
+    fp = fopen(fn, md);
+    return fp;
+}
 
 char *
 smktemp(char *id)
@@ -488,7 +500,6 @@ main(int ac, char **av)
     exit(EXIT_NORMAL);
 }
 
-
 void cp_pushcontrol(void) { }
 void cp_popcontrol(void) { }
 void out_init(void) { }