Index: animator/hid_anim.c
===================================================================
--- animator/hid_anim.c	(revision 4707)
+++ animator/hid_anim.c	(revision 4708)
@@ -9,10 +9,35 @@
 static proto_ctx_t pctx;
 P_net_socket s_netin, s_netout;
 
+static proto_node_t *child1(proto_node_t *lst)
+{
+	if (lst->is_list)
+		return lst->data.l.first_child;
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+static int is_list(proto_node_t *nd)
+{
+	return (nd != NULL) && nd->is_list;
+}
+
+static int is_str(proto_node_t *nd)
+{
+	return (nd != NULL) && !nd->is_list;
+}
+
+static char *str(proto_node_t *nd)
+{
+	if ((nd != NULL) && !nd->is_list)
+		return nd->data.s.str;
+	return NULL;
+}
+
 static void cmd_ver(proto_node_t *args)
 {
-	if ((args->data.l.first_child != NULL) && (!args->data.l.first_child->is_list)) {
-		int ver = atoi(args->data.l.first_child->data.s.str);
+	char *vs = str(child1(args));
+	if (vs != NULL) {
+		int ver = atoi(vs);
 		if (ver != 1) {
 			fprintf(stderr, "protocol version mismatc: ver=%d (expected 1)\n", ver);
 			exit(1);