diff --git a/scripts/create_newcase b/scripts/create_newcase
index e2c3a458e989..70c099a13d6e 100755
--- a/scripts/create_newcase
+++ b/scripts/create_newcase
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ def _main_func():
 
         # Write out the case files
         case.flush(flushall=True)
-        if user_mods_dir.startswith(".."):
+        if user_mods_dir is not None and user_mods_dir.startswith(".."):
             user_mods_dir = os.path.abspath(user_mods_dir)
 
         case.apply_user_mods(user_mods_dir)
diff --git a/utils/python/CIME/SystemTests/system_tests_common.py b/utils/python/CIME/SystemTests/system_tests_common.py
index 136c47b0c2e6..5158244af8ab 100644
--- a/utils/python/CIME/SystemTests/system_tests_common.py
+++ b/utils/python/CIME/SystemTests/system_tests_common.py
@@ -223,8 +223,12 @@ def _coupler_log_indicates_run_complete(self):
         return False
 
     def _component_compare_move(self, suffix):
-        comments = move(self._case, suffix)
+        success, comments = move(self._case, suffix)
         append_status(comments, sfile="TestStatus.log")
+        status = TEST_PASS_STATUS if success else TEST_FAIL_STATUS
+        with self._test_status:
+            self._test_status.set_status("%s_%s_%s" % (COMPARE_PHASE, suffix1, suffix2), status)
+        return success
 
     def _component_compare_test(self, suffix1, suffix2):
         """
diff --git a/utils/python/CIME/hist_utils.py b/utils/python/CIME/hist_utils.py
index 489925543223..edb86544f205 100644
--- a/utils/python/CIME/hist_utils.py
+++ b/utils/python/CIME/hist_utils.py
@@ -75,9 +75,12 @@ def move(case, suffix):
             comments += "    Copying '%s' to '%s'\n" % (test_hist, new_file)
             shutil.copy(test_hist, new_file)
 
-    expect(num_moved > 0, "move failed: no hist files found in rundir '%s'" % rundir)
+    all_success = True
+    if num_moved == 0:
+        all_success = False
+        comments += "WARNING: No hist files found in rundir '%s'" % rundir)
 
-    return comments
+    return all_success, comments
 
 
 def _hists_match(model, hists1, hists2, suffix1="", suffix2=""):
@@ -301,9 +304,11 @@ def get_extension(model, filepath):
     'h'
     >>> get_extension("clm","clm2_0002.h0.1850-01-06-00000.nc")
     '0002.h0'
+    >>> get_extension("pop","PFS.f09_g16.B1850.yellowstone_intel.allactive-default.GC.c2_0_b1f2_int.pop.h.ecosys.nday1.0001-01-02.nc")
+    'h'
     """
     basename = os.path.basename(filepath)
-    ext_regex = re.compile(r'.*%s[^_]*_?([0-9]{4})?[.](h.?)([.][^.]+)?[.]nc' % model)
+    ext_regex = re.compile(r'.*%s[^_]*_?([0-9]{4})?[.](h.?)([.].*[^.])?[.]nc' % model)
 
     m = ext_regex.match(basename)
     expect(m is not None, "Failed to get extension for file '%s'" % filepath)
@@ -312,6 +317,7 @@ def get_extension(model, filepath):
     else:
         result = m.group(2)
 
+
     return result
 
 def generate_baseline(case, baseline_dir=None, allow_baseline_overwrite=False):