diff --git a/polymer/build/src/startwin.editor.c b/polymer/build/src/startwin.editor.c
index 78f5ee025..345bcbc87 100755
--- a/polymer/build/src/startwin.editor.c
+++ b/polymer/build/src/startwin.editor.c
@@ -363,18 +363,21 @@ int startwin_close(void)
 int startwin_puts(const char *buf)
 {
     const char *p = NULL, *q = NULL;
-    char workbuf[1024];
+    static char workbuf[1024];
     static int newline = 0;
     int curlen, linesbefore, linesafter;
     HWND edctl;
     int vis;
+    static HWND dactrl = NULL;
 
     if (!startupdlg) return 1;
 
     edctl = pages[TAB_MESSAGES];
     if (!edctl) return -1;
 
-    vis = ((int)SendMessage(GetDlgItem(startupdlg, WIN_STARTWIN_TABCTL), TCM_GETCURSEL,0,0) == TAB_MESSAGES);
+    if (!dactrl) dactrl = GetDlgItem(startupdlg, WIN_STARTWIN_TABCTL);
+
+    vis = ((int)SendMessage(dactrl, TCM_GETCURSEL,0,0) == TAB_MESSAGES);
 
     if (vis) SendMessage(edctl, WM_SETREDRAW, FALSE,0);
     curlen = SendMessage(edctl, WM_GETTEXTLENGTH, 0,0);
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/gamedef.c b/polymer/eduke32/source/gamedef.c
index 61ef89b8e..ba22cd3ca 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/gamedef.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/gamedef.c
@@ -5163,7 +5163,7 @@ void loadefs(const char *filenam)
         {
             if (groupfile != -1 && loadfromgrouponly == 0)
             {
-                initprintf("Error(s) found in file `%s'.  Do you want to use the INTERNAL DEFAULTS (y/N)?\n",filenam);
+//                initprintf("Error(s) found in file `%s'.  Do you want to use the INTERNAL DEFAULTS (y/N)?\n",filenam);
 
                 i=wm_ynbox("CON File Compilation Error", "Error(s) found in file `%s'. Do you want to use the "
                            "INTERNAL DEFAULTS?",filenam);
@@ -5174,7 +5174,14 @@ void loadefs(const char *filenam)
                     loadfromgrouponly = 1;
                     return;
                 }
-                else gameexit("");
+                else 
+                {
+#if (defined RENDERTYPEWIN || (defined RENDERTYPESDL && !defined __APPLE__ && defined HAVE_GTK2))
+                    while(!quitevent) // keep the window open so people can copy CON errors out of it
+                        handleevents();
+#endif
+                    gameexit("");
+                }
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/startwin.game.c b/polymer/eduke32/source/startwin.game.c
index 3b13357a1..2672b57e5 100755
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/startwin.game.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/startwin.game.c
@@ -491,18 +491,21 @@ int startwin_close(void)
 int startwin_puts(const char *buf)
 {
     const char *p = NULL, *q = NULL;
-    char workbuf[1024];
+    static char workbuf[1024];
     static int newline = 0;
     int curlen, linesbefore, linesafter;
     HWND edctl;
     int vis;
+    static HWND dactrl = NULL;
 
     if (!startupdlg) return 1;
 
     edctl = pages[TAB_MESSAGES];
     if (!edctl) return -1;
 
-    vis = ((int)SendMessage(GetDlgItem(startupdlg, WIN_STARTWIN_TABCTL), TCM_GETCURSEL,0,0) == TAB_MESSAGES);
+    if (!dactrl) dactrl = GetDlgItem(startupdlg, WIN_STARTWIN_TABCTL);
+
+    vis = ((int)SendMessage(dactrl, TCM_GETCURSEL,0,0) == TAB_MESSAGES);
 
     if (vis) SendMessage(edctl, WM_SETREDRAW, FALSE,0);
     curlen = SendMessage(edctl, WM_GETTEXTLENGTH, 0,0);