diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 3b04262c..cbc97a7b 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -9,9 +9,13 @@
 *.swp
 *.tmp
 
+# configuration file directory for VS Code
+.vscode/
+
 # Python things
 __pycache__/
 .pylintrc
+.venv/
 
 # Default build and log directories
 bd/
diff --git a/build_all.py b/build_all.py
index c154a289..471afdb2 100755
--- a/build_all.py
+++ b/build_all.py
@@ -386,8 +386,8 @@ def set_parameters(args):
             with open(conf_file) as fileh:
                 try:
                     exec(fileh.read(), globals(), config[conf])
-                except PermissionError:
-                    log.error('ERROR: Corrupt config file {conf_file}: exiting')
+                except Exception:
+                    log.error(f'ERROR: Corrupt config file "{conf_file}": exiting')
                     sys.exit(1)
 
     # Populate user values from the command line
@@ -681,8 +681,10 @@ def link_benchmark(bench):
             log.warning('Warning: Link of benchmark "{bench}" failed'.format(bench=bench))
             succeeded = False
 
-        log.debug(res.stdout.decode('utf-8'))
-        log.debug(res.stderr.decode('utf-8'))
+        if (len(res.stdout) != 0):
+            log.debug(res.stdout.decode('utf-8'))
+        if (len(res.stderr) != 0):
+            log.debug(res.stderr.decode('utf-8'))
 
     except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
         log.warning('Warning: link of benchmark "{bench}" timed out'.format(bench=bench))
@@ -735,6 +737,7 @@ def main():
     successful = compile_support()
     if successful:
         log.debug('Compilation of support files successful')
+        log.debug('')
 
     for bench in benchmarks:
         res = compile_benchmark(bench)
@@ -745,7 +748,7 @@ def main():
             successful &= res
             if res:
                 log.debug('Linking of benchmark "{bench}" successful'.format(bench=bench))
-                log.info(bench)
+                log.debug('')
 
     if successful:
         log.info('All benchmarks built successfully')
diff --git a/pylib/run_gdbserver_sim.py b/pylib/run_gdbserver_sim.py
index e2269675..624b86f1 100644
--- a/pylib/run_gdbserver_sim.py
+++ b/pylib/run_gdbserver_sim.py
@@ -99,6 +99,10 @@ def decode_results(stdout_str, stderr_str):
     if not rcstr:
         log.debug('Warning: Failed to find return code')
         return 0.0
+    exit_status = int(rcstr.group(1))
+    if exit_status:
+        log.debug('Warning: verify_benchmark() failed')
+        return 0.0
 
     # The start and end cycle counts are in the stderr string
     times = re.search('(\d+)\D+(\d+)', stderr_str, re.S)
diff --git a/pylib/run_mac.py b/pylib/run_mac.py
index 6b789093..a01b1ca5 100644
--- a/pylib/run_mac.py
+++ b/pylib/run_mac.py
@@ -58,6 +58,10 @@ def decode_results(stdout_str, stderr_str):
     if not rcstr:
         log.debug('Warning: Failed to find return code')
         return 0.0
+    exit_status = int(rcstr.group(1))
+    if exit_status:
+        log.debug('Warning: verify_benchmark() failed')
+        return 0.0
 
     # Match "Real time: dd.ddd"
     time = re.search('^Real time: (\d+)[.](\d+)', stdout_str, re.S)
diff --git a/pylib/run_native.py b/pylib/run_native.py
index df5a73cf..0ed98033 100644
--- a/pylib/run_native.py
+++ b/pylib/run_native.py
@@ -58,6 +58,10 @@ def decode_results(stdout_str, stderr_str):
     if not rcstr:
         log.debug('Warning: Failed to find return code')
         return 0.0
+    exit_status = int(rcstr.group(1))
+    if exit_status:
+        log.debug('Warning: verify_benchmark() failed')
+        return 0.0
 
     # Match "real s.mm?m?"
     time = re.search('^real (\d+)[.](\d+)', stderr_str, re.S)
diff --git a/pylib/run_stm32f4-discovery.py b/pylib/run_stm32f4-discovery.py
index d83283ac..e1c7de4b 100644
--- a/pylib/run_stm32f4-discovery.py
+++ b/pylib/run_stm32f4-discovery.py
@@ -97,6 +97,10 @@ def decode_results(stdout_str, stderr_str):
     if not rcstr:
         log.debug('Warning: Failed to find return code')
         return 0.0
+    exit_status = int(rcstr.group(1))
+    if exit_status:
+        log.debug('Warning: verify_benchmark() failed')
+        return 0.0
 
     # The start and end cycle counts are in the stderr string
     starttime = re.search('\$1 = (\d+)', stdout_str, re.S)