Index: trunk/src/libcschem/abs_comp.c
===================================================================
--- trunk/src/libcschem/abs_comp.c	(revision 10202)
+++ trunk/src/libcschem/abs_comp.c	(revision 10203)
@@ -105,6 +105,11 @@
 	csch_acomp_t *comp = calloc(sizeof(csch_acomp_t), 1);
 	int short_name;
 
+	if (scope == CSCH_ASCOPE_SUBTREE_AUTO) {
+		rnd_message(RND_MSG_ERROR, "Can not find subtree-local component v/%s\n", name_loc);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
 	/* create global comps with the short name; AUTO is taken GLOBAL: if we got
 	   here no other binding worked for it */
 	short_name = (scope == CSCH_ASCOPE_GLOBAL) || (scope == CSCH_ASCOPE_AUTO);
@@ -129,9 +134,11 @@
 
 			case CSCH_ASCOPE_SUBTREE_LOCAL:
 			case CSCH_ASCOPE_SHEET_LOCAL:
-			case CSCH_ASCOPE_SUBTREE_AUTO:
 				htsp_set(&hlev->comps, comp->name_loc, comp);
 				break;
+
+			case CSCH_ASCOPE_SUBTREE_AUTO:
+				return NULL; /* can't get here */
 		}
 	}
 
Index: trunk/src/libcschem/abs_net.c
===================================================================
--- trunk/src/libcschem/abs_net.c	(revision 10202)
+++ trunk/src/libcschem/abs_net.c	(revision 10203)
@@ -102,7 +102,13 @@
 {
 	csch_anet_t *net = calloc(sizeof(csch_anet_t), 1);
 	int short_name;
-	
+
+	if (scope == CSCH_ASCOPE_SUBTREE_AUTO) {
+		rnd_message(RND_MSG_ERROR, "Can not find subtree-local net v/%s\n", name_loc);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
+
 	/* create global nets with the short name; AUTO is taken GLOBAL: if we got
 	   here no other binding worked for it */
 	short_name = (scope == CSCH_ASCOPE_GLOBAL) || (scope == CSCH_ASCOPE_AUTO);
@@ -124,9 +130,11 @@
 
 			case CSCH_ASCOPE_SUBTREE_LOCAL:
 			case CSCH_ASCOPE_SHEET_LOCAL:
-			case CSCH_ASCOPE_SUBTREE_AUTO:
 				htsp_set(&hlev->nets, net->name_loc, net);
 				break;
+
+			case CSCH_ASCOPE_SUBTREE_AUTO:
+				return NULL; /* can't get here */
 		}
 	}
 	net->scope = scope;