diff --git a/src/cc/prices.cpp b/src/cc/prices.cpp
index acf2fce4d..a2a78c9ed 100644
--- a/src/cc/prices.cpp
+++ b/src/cc/prices.cpp
@@ -144,6 +144,16 @@ CBOPRET creates trustless oracles, which can be used for making a synthetic cash
  */
 
 
+// helpers:
+
+// returns true if there are only digits and no alphas in 's'
+inline bool is_weight(std::string s) {
+    return 
+        std::count_if(s.begin(), s.end(), [](unsigned char c) { return std::isdigit(c); } ) > 0  &&
+        std::count_if(s.begin(), s.end(), [](unsigned char c) { return std::isalpha(c); } ) == 0;
+}
+
+
 // start of consensus code
 
 CScript prices_betopret(CPubKey mypk,int32_t height,int64_t amount,int16_t leverage,int64_t firstprice,std::vector<uint16_t> vec,uint256 tokenid)
@@ -296,7 +306,7 @@ int32_t prices_syntheticvec(std::vector<uint16_t> &vec,std::vector<std::string>
             opcode = PRICES_MMM, need = 3;
         else if ( opstr == "///" )
             opcode = PRICES_DDD, need = 3;
-        else if ( (ind= komodo_priceind((char *)opstr.c_str())) >= 0 )
+        else if (!is_weight(opstr) && (ind= komodo_priceind(opstr.c_str())) >= 0 )
             opcode = ind, need = 0;
         else if ( (weight= atoi(opstr.c_str())) > 0 && weight < KOMODO_MAXPRICES )
         {
@@ -429,12 +439,18 @@ int64_t prices_syntheticprice(std::vector<uint16_t> vec,int32_t height,int32_t m
         if ( errcode != 0 )
             break;
     }
-    if ( den == 0 )
+    if (den == 0) {
+        std::cerr << "prices_syntheticprice den==0 return err=-11" << std::endl;
         return(-11);
-    else if ( depth != 0 )
+    }
+    else if (depth != 0) {
+        std::cerr << "prices_syntheticprice depth!=0 err=-12" << std::endl;
         return(-12);
-    else if ( errcode != 0 )
+    }
+    else if (errcode != 0) {
+        std::cerr << "prices_syntheticprice err=" << errcode << std::endl;
         return(errcode);
+    }
     return(price / den);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/komodo_gateway.h b/src/komodo_gateway.h
index 9418f7333..204960693 100644
--- a/src/komodo_gateway.h
+++ b/src/komodo_gateway.h
@@ -2111,7 +2111,7 @@ uint32_t get_binanceprice(const char *symbol)
 int32_t get_cryptoprices(uint32_t *prices,const char *list[],int32_t n,std::vector<std::string> strvec)
 {
     int32_t i,errs=0; uint32_t price; char *symbol;
-    std::cerr << "Crypto rates:" << std::endl;
+    std::cerr << "Crypto binance rates:" << std::endl;
 
     for (i=0; i<n+strvec.size(); i++)
     {
@@ -2202,7 +2202,7 @@ int32_t get_btcusd(uint32_t pricebits[4])
         dbtcusd = (double)pricebits[1]/10000;
         dbtcgbp = (double)pricebits[2]/10000;
         dbtceur = (double)pricebits[3]/10000;
-        fprintf(stderr,"BTC/USD %.4f, BTC/GBP %.4f, BTC/EUR %.4f GBPUSD %.6f, EURUSD %.6f EURGBP %.6f\n",dbtcusd,dbtcgbp,dbtceur,dbtcusd/dbtcgbp,dbtcusd/dbtceur,dbtcgbp/dbtceur);
+        fprintf(stderr,"BTC/USD %.4f, BTC/GBP %.4f, BTC/EUR %.4f not used: GBPUSD %.6f, EURUSD %.6f EURGBP %.6f\n",dbtcusd,dbtcgbp,dbtceur,dbtcusd/dbtcgbp,dbtcusd/dbtceur,dbtcgbp/dbtceur);
         return(0);
     }
     return(-1);
@@ -2431,7 +2431,7 @@ char *komodo_pricename(char *name,int32_t ind)
 }
 
 // finds index value for its symbol name
-int32_t komodo_priceind(char *symbol)
+int32_t komodo_priceind(const char *symbol)
 {
     char name[65]; int32_t i,n = (int32_t)(komodo_cbopretsize(ASSETCHAINS_CBOPRET) / sizeof(uint32_t));
 
@@ -2439,7 +2439,7 @@ int32_t komodo_priceind(char *symbol)
     for (i=1; i<n; i++)
     {
         komodo_pricename(name,i);
-        std::cerr << "komodo_priceind name=" << name << " i=" << i << std::endl;
+        //std::cerr << "komodo_priceind name=" << name << " i=" << i << std::endl;
         if (strcmp(name, symbol) == 0) {
             std::cerr << "komodo_priceind for symbol=" << symbol << " returns=" << i << std::endl;
             return(i);