diff --git a/checkin_notes b/checkin_notes
index 1fd8b5a80c..3172cf2a96 100644
--- a/checkin_notes
+++ b/checkin_notes
@@ -481,3 +481,10 @@ David  26 Sept 2007
 
     example_app/
         uc2.C
+
+David  26 Sept 2007
+	- minor stuff
+
+	example_app
+		uc2.C
+		uc2_graphics.C
diff --git a/example_app/uc2.C b/example_app/uc2.C
index c7307fe92f..bab76119de 100755
--- a/example_app/uc2.C
+++ b/example_app/uc2.C
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@
 #include "mfile.h"
 #include "graphics2.h"
 
+#define APP_GRAPHICS
+
 #ifdef APP_GRAPHICS
 #include "uc2.h"
 UC_SHMEM* shmem;
@@ -179,6 +181,10 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
     // create shared mem segment for graphics, and arrange to update it
     //
     shmem = (UC_SHMEM*)boinc_graphics_make_shmem("uppercase", sizeof(UC_SHMEM));
+    if (!shmem) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "failed to create shared mem segment\n");
+    }
+    update_shmem();
     boinc_register_timer_callback(update_shmem);
 #endif
 
diff --git a/example_app/uc2_graphics.C b/example_app/uc2_graphics.C
index b3876ac226..a55048ffdb 100644
--- a/example_app/uc2_graphics.C
+++ b/example_app/uc2_graphics.C
@@ -152,8 +152,10 @@ void app_graphics_render(int xs, int ys, double time_of_day) {
     // boinc_parse_init_data_file()
     // Put this in the main loop to allow retries if the 
     // worker application has not yet created shared memory
-    if (shmem == NULL)
+    //
+    if (shmem == NULL) {
         shmem = (UC_SHMEM*)boinc_graphics_get_shmem("uppercase");
+    }
 
     glClear(GL_COLOR_BUFFER_BIT | GL_DEPTH_BUFFER_BIT);
 
@@ -258,7 +260,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
 #endif
     boinc_parse_init_data_file();
     boinc_get_init_data(uc_aid);
-   if (uc_aid.project_preferences) {
+    if (uc_aid.project_preferences) {
         parse_project_prefs(uc_aid.project_preferences);
     }
     boinc_graphics_loop(argc, argv);