diff --git a/pymods/irods_utils/irods_utils.py b/pymods/irods_utils/irods_utils.py
index da178618bbc5b8342bfaa28cfe5fde7b714f0fab..1a537d70c8b1712970829982cea33573780f3ef4 100644
--- a/pymods/irods_utils/irods_utils.py
+++ b/pymods/irods_utils/irods_utils.py
@@ -578,7 +578,7 @@ def RegisterNewExperiment( exp_form_owner,
                            force_exp_number=None,
                            logger=None,
                            time_out_secs=None,
-                           accept_undefined_user=False
+                           accept_undefined_owner=False
                            ):
 
 
@@ -597,7 +597,7 @@ def RegisterNewExperiment( exp_form_owner,
 
         # It's a real question whether we need to do this level of userid verification - is it just to keep the riffraff out?
         irods_owner_user, error_message = get_irods_user(irods_sesh, exp_form_owner)
-        if irods_owner_user == None and not accept_undefined_user:
+        if irods_owner_user == None and not accept_undefined_owner:
             message = "Experiment owner " + exp_form_owner + " is not a registered MrData userid."
             logger.info( message )
             return None, message
@@ -613,7 +613,7 @@ def RegisterNewExperiment( exp_form_owner,
                         + " cast_study_ipath " + cast_study_ipath
             logger.error( error_msg + " err: " + str(err))
             message = "Castellum study " + cast_study_id + " is not registered as active in MrData."
-            if not accept_undefined_user:
+            if not accept_undefined_owner:
                 return None, message
 
         logger.debug( "Got castellum metadata study from iRODS."
@@ -695,9 +695,10 @@ def RegisterNewExperiment( exp_form_owner,
 
                 logger.debug( "Next experiment number based on repo index file is: " + str( this_exp_number) )
 
-                # Figure out if we need to right the forced exp_number to the next value for expids
-                if os.getenv( "MRDENV_MODE" ) == "TEST" and force_exp_number != None :
-                    logger.info( "TEST mode force of experiment number: " + str(force_exp_number) )
+                # Figure out if we need to right the forced exp_number to the next value for expidsi
+                # TODO: THIS COULD BE BETTER DONE BY UPTAKING THE EXP ID AS A PARAMETER
+                if os.getenv( "MRDENV_MODE" ) != "PROD" and force_exp_number != None :
+                    logger.info( "Force of experiment number: " + str(force_exp_number) )
 
                     # Only write the exp number out if it is a new high.
                     if int(force_exp_number) >= int(this_exp_number) :