diff --git a/include/config.h b/include/config.h
index 23b2b35bf..13adba0d4 100644
--- a/include/config.h
+++ b/include/config.h
@@ -150,7 +150,8 @@
  *		If SYSCF is defined, the following configuration info is
  *		available in a global config space, with the compiled-in
  *		entries as defaults:
- *		WIZARDS		( a value of * allows anyone to be wizard)
+ *		WIZARDS		(a value of * allows anyone to be wizard)
+ *                              (this does NOT default to compiled-in value)
  *		MAXPLAYERS	(see MAX_NR_OF_PLAYERS above and nethack.sh)
  *		SUPPORT		(how to get local support)(no default)
  *		RECOVER		(how to recover a game at your site)(no default)
@@ -164,6 +165,10 @@
  *
  *		The following options select how the config space is stored:
  *		SYSCF_FILE	in the named file
+ *
+ *              The following options pertain to crash reporting:
+ *              GREPPATH	(the path to the system grep(1) utility)
+ *              GDBPATH		(the path to the system gdb(1) program)
  */
 
 #ifndef WIZARD		/* allow for compile-time or Makefile changes */
@@ -177,6 +182,13 @@
 # endif
 #endif
 
+#ifndef GDBPATH
+# define GDBPATH "/usr/bin/gdb"
+#endif
+#ifndef GREPPATH
+# define GREPPATH "/bin/grep"
+#endif
+
 #define LOGFILE "logfile"	/* larger file for debugging purposes */
 #define NEWS "news"		/* the file containing the latest hack news */
 #define PANICLOG "paniclog"	/* log of panic and impossible events */
diff --git a/include/extern.h b/include/extern.h
index 1e8f1683b..19f00a20d 100644
--- a/include/extern.h
+++ b/include/extern.h
@@ -742,7 +742,7 @@ E void FDECL(unlock_file, (const char *));
 #ifdef USER_SOUNDS
 E boolean FDECL(can_read_file, (const char *));
 #endif
-E void FDECL(read_config_file, (const char *, int));
+E boolean FDECL(read_config_file, (const char *, int));
 E void FDECL(check_recordfile, (const char *));
 #if defined(WIZARD)
 E void NDECL(read_wizkit);
@@ -2357,6 +2357,9 @@ E void NDECL(port_help);
 E void FDECL(sethanguphandler, (void (*)(int)));
 E boolean NDECL(authorize_wizard_mode);
 E boolean FDECL(check_user_string, (char *));
+# ifdef SYSCF_FILE
+E void NDECL(assure_syscf_file);
+# endif
 #endif /* UNIX */
 
 /* ### unixtty.c ### */
@@ -2384,6 +2387,9 @@ E int NDECL(dosh);
 # if defined(SHELL) || defined(DEF_PAGER) || defined(DEF_MAILREADER)
 E int FDECL(child, (int));
 # endif
+# ifdef PANICTRACE
+E boolean FDECL(file_exists, (const char *));
+# endif
 #endif /* UNIX */
 
 /* ### unixres.c ### */
diff --git a/include/global.h b/include/global.h
index f728c33c7..f7514f44f 100644
--- a/include/global.h
+++ b/include/global.h
@@ -382,7 +382,10 @@ struct savefile_info {
 #endif
 /* The following are meaningless if PANICTRACE is not defined: */
 #if defined(__linux__) && defined(__GLIBC__) && (__GLIBC__ >= 2)
-# define PANICTRACE_GLIBC
+# define PANICTRACE_LIBC
+#endif
+#if defined(MACOSX)
+# define PANICTRACE_LIBC
 #endif
 #ifdef UNIX
 # define PANICTRACE_GDB
diff --git a/include/sys.h b/include/sys.h
index a45478fc4..24d27daa7 100644
--- a/include/sys.h
+++ b/include/sys.h
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ struct sysopt {
 	char *gdbpath;
 	char *greppath;
 	int  panictrace_gdb;
-# ifdef PANICTRACE_GLIBC
-	int panictrace_glibc;
+# ifdef PANICTRACE_LIBC
+	int panictrace_libc;
 # endif
 #endif
 	int seduce;
diff --git a/src/end.c b/src/end.c
index 332a6277a..40dc61d22 100644
--- a/src/end.c
+++ b/src/end.c
@@ -77,13 +77,13 @@ extern void FDECL(nethack_exit,(int));
 
 #ifdef PANICTRACE
 # include <errno.h>
-# ifdef PANICTRACE_GLIBC
+# ifdef PANICTRACE_LIBC
 #  include <execinfo.h>
 # endif
 
 /* What do we try and in what order?  Tradeoffs:
- * glibc: +no external programs required
- *        -requires newish glibc
+ * libc: +no external programs required
+ *        -requires newish libc/glibc
  *        -requires -rdynamic
  * gdb:   +gives more detailed information
  *        +works on more OS versions
@@ -91,17 +91,17 @@ extern void FDECL(nethack_exit,(int));
  */
 # ifdef SYSCF
 #  define SYSOPT_PANICTRACE_GDB sysopt.panictrace_gdb
-#  ifdef PANICTRACE_GLIBC
-#   define SYSOPT_PANICTRACE_GLIBC sysopt.panictrace_glibc
+#  ifdef PANICTRACE_LIBC
+#   define SYSOPT_PANICTRACE_LIBC sysopt.panictrace_libc
 #  else
-#   define SYSOPT_PANICTRACE_GLIBC 0
+#   define SYSOPT_PANICTRACE_LIBC 0
 #  endif
 # else
 #  define SYSOPT_PANICTRACE_GDB (nh_getenv("NETHACK_USE_GDB")==0?0:2)
-#  ifdef PANICTRACE_GLIBC
-#   define SYSOPT_PANICTRACE_GLIBC 1
+#  ifdef PANICTRACE_LIBC
+#   define SYSOPT_PANICTRACE_LIBC 1
 #  else
-#   define SYSOPT_PANICTRACE_GLIBC 0
+#   define SYSOPT_PANICTRACE_LIBC 0
 #  endif
 # endif
 
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ static void NDECL(NH_abort);
 # ifndef NO_SIGNAL
 static void FDECL(panictrace_handler, (int));
 # endif
-static boolean NDECL(NH_panictrace_glibc);
+static boolean NDECL(NH_panictrace_libc);
 static boolean NDECL(NH_panictrace_gdb);
 
 # ifndef NO_SIGNAL
@@ -163,19 +163,19 @@ static void
 NH_abort()
 {
 	int gdb_prio = SYSOPT_PANICTRACE_GDB;
-	int glibc_prio = SYSOPT_PANICTRACE_GLIBC;
+	int libc_prio = SYSOPT_PANICTRACE_LIBC;
 	static boolean aborting = FALSE;
 
 	if(aborting) return;
 	aborting = TRUE;
 
 # ifndef VMS
-	if(gdb_prio == glibc_prio && gdb_prio > 0) gdb_prio++;
+	if(gdb_prio == libc_prio && gdb_prio > 0) gdb_prio++;
 
-	if(gdb_prio > glibc_prio){
-		NH_panictrace_gdb() || (glibc_prio && NH_panictrace_glibc());
+	if(gdb_prio > libc_prio){
+		NH_panictrace_gdb() || (libc_prio && NH_panictrace_libc());
 	} else {
-		NH_panictrace_glibc() || (gdb_prio && NH_panictrace_gdb());
+		NH_panictrace_libc() || (gdb_prio && NH_panictrace_gdb());
 	}
 
 # else /* VMS */
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ NH_abort()
 	   traceback and exit; 2 = show traceback and stay in debugger */
      /* if (wizard && gdb_prio == 1) gdb_prio = 2; */
 	vms_traceback(gdb_prio);
-	(void)glibc_prio;	/* half-hearted attempt at lint suppression */
+	(void)libc_prio;	/* half-hearted attempt at lint suppression */
 
 # endif /* ?VMS */
 
@@ -194,9 +194,9 @@ NH_abort()
 }
 
 static boolean
-NH_panictrace_glibc()
+NH_panictrace_libc()
 {
-# ifdef PANICTRACE_GLIBC
+# ifdef PANICTRACE_LIBC
 	void *bt[20];
 	size_t count;
 	char **info;
@@ -212,22 +212,22 @@ NH_panictrace_glibc()
 	return TRUE;
 # else
 	return FALSE;
-# endif  /* !PANICTRACE_GLIBC */
+# endif  /* !PANICTRACE_LIBC */
 }
 
+/*
+ *   fooPATH  file system path for foo
+ *   fooVAR   (possibly const) variable containing fooPATH
+ */
 # ifdef PANICTRACE_GDB
 #  ifdef SYSCF
-#   define GDBPATH sysopt.gdbpath
-#   define GREPPATH sysopt.greppath
-#  else
-#   ifndef GDBPATH
-#    define GDBPATH "/usr/bin/gdb"
-#   endif
-#   ifndef GREPPATH
-#    define GREPPATH "/bin/grep"
-#   endif
-#  endif /* !SYSCF */
-# endif  /* PANICTRACE_GDB */
+#   define GDBVAR sysopt.gdbpath
+#   define GREPVAR sysopt.greppath
+#  else /* SYSCF */
+#   define GDBVAR GDBPATH
+#   define GREPVAR GREPPATH
+#  endif /* SYSCF */
+# endif /* PANICTRACE_GDB */
 
 static boolean
 NH_panictrace_gdb()
@@ -235,8 +235,8 @@ NH_panictrace_gdb()
 # ifdef PANICTRACE_GDB
 	/* A (more) generic method to get a stack trace - invoke
 	 * gdb on ourself. */
-	char *gdbpath = GDBPATH;
-	char *greppath = GREPPATH;
+	char *gdbpath = GDBVAR;
+	char *greppath = GREPVAR;
 	char buf[BUFSZ];
 	FILE *gdb;
 
diff --git a/src/files.c b/src/files.c
index 107c20574..05afa7602 100644
--- a/src/files.c
+++ b/src/files.c
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ STATIC_DCL void FDECL(docompress_file, (const char *,BOOLEAN_P));
 STATIC_DCL boolean FDECL(make_compressed_name, (const char *, char *));
 #endif
 STATIC_DCL char *FDECL(make_lockname, (const char *,char *));
-STATIC_DCL FILE *FDECL(fopen_config_file, (const char *));
+STATIC_DCL FILE *FDECL(fopen_config_file, (const char *, int));
 STATIC_DCL int FDECL(get_uchars, (FILE *,char *,char *,uchar *,BOOLEAN_P,int,const char *));
 int FDECL(parse_config_line, (FILE *,char *,char *,char *,int));
 #ifdef LOADSYMSETS
@@ -1772,8 +1772,9 @@ const char *backward_compat_configfile = "nethack.cnf";
 #endif
 
 STATIC_OVL FILE *
-fopen_config_file(filename)
+fopen_config_file(filename, src)
 const char *filename;
+int src;
 {
 	FILE *fp;
 #if defined(UNIX) || defined(VMS)
@@ -1781,16 +1782,18 @@ const char *filename;
 	char *envp;
 #endif
 
-	/* "filename" is an environment variable, so it should hang around */
-	/* if set, it is expected to be a full path name (if relevant) */
+	/* If src != SET_IN_SYS, "filename" is an environment variable, so it
+	 * should hang around. If set, it is expected to be a full path name
+	 * (if relevant) */
 	if (filename) {
 #ifdef UNIX
-		if (access(filename, 4) == -1) {
+		if ((src!=SET_IN_SYS) && access(filename, 4) == -1) {
 			/* 4 is R_OK on newer systems */
 			/* nasty sneaky attempt to read file through
 			 * NetHack's setuid permissions -- this is the only
 			 * place a file name may be wholly under the player's
-			 * control
+			 * control (but SYSCF_FILE is not under the player's
+			 * control so it's OK).
 			 */
 			raw_printf("Access to %s denied (%d).",
 					filename, errno);
@@ -2148,16 +2151,16 @@ int		src;
 	    }
 	    sysopt.pointsmin = temp;
 # ifdef PANICTRACE
-#  ifdef PANICTRACE_GLIBC
+#  ifdef PANICTRACE_LIBC
 	} else if (src == SET_IN_SYS &&
-		match_varname(buf, "PANICTRACE_GLIBC", 16)) {
+		match_varname(buf, "PANICTRACE_LIBC", 15)) {
 	    int temp = atoi(bufp);
 	    if (temp < 0 || temp > 2) {
-		raw_printf("Illegal value in PANICTRACE_GLIBC (not 0,1,2).");
+		raw_printf("Illegal value in PANICTRACE_LIBC (not 0,1,2).");
 		return 0;
 	    }
-	    sysopt.panictrace_glibc = temp;
-#  endif /* PANICTRACE_GLIBC */
+	    sysopt.panictrace_libc = temp;
+#  endif /* PANICTRACE_LIBC */
 	} else if (src == SET_IN_SYS &&
 		match_varname(buf, "PANICTRACE_GDB", 14)) {
 	    int temp = atoi(bufp);
@@ -2167,10 +2170,18 @@ int		src;
 	    }
 	    sysopt.panictrace_gdb = temp;
 	} else if ( (src==SET_IN_SYS) && match_varname(buf, "GDBPATH", 7)) {
+	    if(!file_exists(bufp)){
+		raw_printf("File specified in GDBPATH does not exist.");
+		return 0;
+	    }
 	    if(sysopt.gdbpath) free(sysopt.gdbpath);
 	    sysopt.gdbpath = (char*)alloc(strlen(bufp)+1);
 	    Strcpy(sysopt.gdbpath, bufp);
 	} else if ( (src==SET_IN_SYS) && match_varname(buf, "GREPPATH", 7)) {
+	    if(!file_exists(bufp)){
+		raw_printf("File specified in GREPPATH does not exist.");
+		return 0;
+	    }
 	    if(sysopt.greppath) free(sysopt.greppath);
 	    sysopt.greppath = (char*)alloc(strlen(bufp)+1);
 	    Strcpy(sysopt.greppath, bufp);
@@ -2377,7 +2388,7 @@ const char *filename;
 }
 #endif /* USER_SOUNDS */
 
-void
+boolean
 read_config_file(filename, src)
 const char *filename;
 int src;
@@ -2397,8 +2408,9 @@ int src;
 #endif
 	char	buf[4*BUFSZ];
 	FILE	*fp;
+	boolean rv = TRUE;	/* assume successful parse */
 
-	if (!(fp = fopen_config_file(filename))) return;
+	if (!(fp = fopen_config_file(filename, src))) return FALSE;
 
 #if defined(MICRO) || defined(WIN32)
 # ifdef MFLOPPY
@@ -2422,6 +2434,7 @@ OR: Forbid multiline stuff for alternate config sources.
 		if (!parse_config_line(fp, buf, tmp_ramdisk, tmp_levels, src)) {
 			raw_printf("Bad option line:  \"%.50s\"", buf);
 			wait_synch();
+			rv = FALSE;
 		}
 	}
 	(void) fclose(fp);
@@ -2445,7 +2458,7 @@ OR: Forbid multiline stuff for alternate config sources.
 	Strcpy(bones, levels);
 # endif /* MFLOPPY */
 #endif /* MICRO */
-	return;
+	return rv;
 }
 
 #ifdef WIZARD
diff --git a/src/options.c b/src/options.c
index 220506ff8..ab93220d5 100644
--- a/src/options.c
+++ b/src/options.c
@@ -572,7 +572,13 @@ initoptions()
 #ifdef SYSCF
 	/* someday there may be other SYSCF alternatives besides text file */
 # ifdef SYSCF_FILE
-	read_config_file(SYSCF_FILE, SET_IN_SYS);
+		/* If SYSCF_FILE is specified, it _must_ exist... */
+	assure_syscf_file();
+		/* ... and _must_ parse correctly. */
+	if(!read_config_file(SYSCF_FILE, SET_IN_SYS)){
+		raw_printf("Error(s) found in SYSCF_FILE, quitting.");
+		terminate(EXIT_FAILURE);
+	}
 # endif
 #endif
 	initoptions_finish();
diff --git a/src/sys.c b/src/sys.c
index be2aaf5fa..595373308 100644
--- a/src/sys.c
+++ b/src/sys.c
@@ -4,16 +4,25 @@
 
 #include "hack.h"
 
+/* for KR1ED config, WIZARD is 0 or 1 and WIZARD_NAME is a string;
+   for usual config, WIZARD is the string; forcing WIZARD_NAME to match it
+   eliminates conditional testing for which one to use in string ops */
+#ifndef KR1ED
+# undef WIZARD_NAME
+# define WIZARD_NAME WIZARD
+#endif
+
 struct sysopt sysopt;
 
 void
 sys_early_init(){
 	sysopt.support = NULL;
 	sysopt.recover = NULL;
-#ifdef notyet
-	/* replace use of WIZARD vs WIZARD_NAME vs KR1ED, by filling this in */
-#endif
+#ifdef SYSCF
 	sysopt.wizards = NULL;
+#else
+	sysopt.wizards = WIZARD_NAME;
+#endif
 	sysopt.shellers = NULL;
 	sysopt.maxplayers = 0;	/* XXX eventually replace MAX_NR_OF_PLAYERS */
 
@@ -32,17 +41,17 @@ sys_early_init(){
 
 #ifdef PANICTRACE
 		/* panic options */
-	sysopt.gdbpath = NULL;
-	sysopt.greppath = NULL;
+	sysopt.gdbpath = strdup(GDBPATH);
+	sysopt.greppath = strdup(GREPPATH);
 # ifdef BETA
 	sysopt.panictrace_gdb = 1;
-#  ifdef PANICTRACE_GLIBC
-	sysopt.panictrace_glibc = 2;
+#  ifdef PANICTRACE_LIBC
+	sysopt.panictrace_libc = 2;
 #  endif
 # else
 	sysopt.panictrace_gdb = 0;
-#  ifdef PANICTRACE_GLIBC
-	sysopt.panictrace_glibc = 0;
+#  ifdef PANICTRACE_LIBC
+	sysopt.panictrace_libc = 0;
 #  endif
 # endif
 #endif
diff --git a/sys/unix/sysconf b/sys/unix/sysconf
index 1f9da26ee..34efdcb8a 100644
--- a/sys/unix/sysconf
+++ b/sys/unix/sysconf
@@ -41,12 +41,12 @@ MAXPLAYERS=10
 
 # Try to get more info in case of a program bug or crash.  Using GDB can
 # get more information and works on more systems but requires gdb be available;
-# using GLIBC only works if NetHack is linked with glibc.  Both require
-# certain compilation options.  See src/end.c and sys/unix/hints/* for
-# more information.
+# using LIBC only works if NetHack is linked with a libc that supports the
+# backtrace(3) API.  Both require certain compilation options.  See
+# src/end.c and sys/unix/hints/* for more information.
 GDBPATH=/usr/bin/gdb
 GREPPATH=/bin/grep
 # Values are priorities: 0 - do not use this method, 1 - low priority,
 # 2 - high priority.  Non-zero priority methods are tried in order.
 PANICTRACE_GDB=1
-PANICTRACE_GLIBC=2
+PANICTRACE_LIBC=2
diff --git a/sys/unix/unixmain.c b/sys/unix/unixmain.c
index 55a429f4e..be3617170 100644
--- a/sys/unix/unixmain.c
+++ b/sys/unix/unixmain.c
@@ -555,26 +555,15 @@ port_help()
 }
 #endif
 
-/* for KR1ED config, WIZARD is 0 or 1 and WIZARD_NAME is a string;
-   for usual config, WIZARD is the string; forcing WIZARD_NAME to match it
-   eliminates conditional testing for which one to use in string ops */
-#ifndef KR1ED
-# undef WIZARD_NAME
-# define WIZARD_NAME WIZARD
-#endif
-
 /* validate wizard mode if player has requested access to it */
 boolean
 authorize_wizard_mode()
 {
 #ifdef WIZARD
 	struct passwd *pw = get_unix_pw();
-#ifdef SYSCF
 	if (pw && sysopt.wizards && sysopt.wizards[0]) {
 	    if(check_user_string(sysopt.wizards)) return TRUE;
-	} else
-#endif
-	if (pw && !strcmp(pw->pw_name, WIZARD_NAME)) return TRUE;
+	}
 #endif	/* WIZARD */
 	wiz_error_flag = TRUE;	/* not being allowed into wizard mode */
 	return FALSE;
@@ -585,17 +574,12 @@ wd_message()
 {
 	if (wiz_error_flag) {
 #ifdef WIZARD
-# ifdef SYSCF
 	    if (sysopt.wizards && sysopt.wizards[0]) {
 		char *tmp = build_english_list(sysopt.wizards);
 		pline("Only user%s %s may access debug (wizard) mode.",
 			index(sysopt.wizards, ' ')?"s":"", tmp);
 		free(tmp);
 	    } else
-# else
-		pline("Only user \"%s\" may access debug (wizard) mode.",
-		      WIZARD_NAME);
-# endif
 #else
 		pline("Debug mode is not available.");
 #endif
@@ -675,4 +659,21 @@ get_unix_pw()
 	}
 	return pw;
 }
+
+#ifdef SYSCF_FILE
+void
+assure_syscf_file(){
+	/* All we really care about is the end result - can we read the file?
+	 * So just check that directly. */
+	int fd;
+	fd = open(SYSCF_FILE, O_RDONLY);
+	if(fd >= 0){
+		/* readable */
+		close(fd);
+		return;
+	}
+	raw_printf("Unable to open SYSCF_FILE.\n");
+	exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+}
+#endif
 /*unixmain.c*/
diff --git a/sys/unix/unixunix.c b/sys/unix/unixunix.c
index 3078dacef..978dd477a 100644
--- a/sys/unix/unixunix.c
+++ b/sys/unix/unixunix.c
@@ -371,3 +371,18 @@ gid_t
 }
 
 #endif	/* GETRES_SUPPORT */
+
+/* XXX should be ifdef PANICTRACE_GDB, but there's no such symbol yet */
+#ifdef PANICTRACE
+boolean
+file_exists(const char *path){
+	/* Just see if it's there - trying to figure out if we can actually
+	 * execute it in all cases is too hard - we really just want to
+	 * catch typos in SYSCF. */
+	struct stat sb;
+	if(stat(path, &sb)){
+		return FALSE;
+	}
+	return TRUE;
+}
+#endif