diff --git a/modules/base/rendering/renderablepath.cpp b/modules/base/rendering/renderablepath.cpp
index 4321bcccf5..9ccdf8622b 100644
--- a/modules/base/rendering/renderablepath.cpp
+++ b/modules/base/rendering/renderablepath.cpp
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ void RenderablePath::calculatePath(std::string observer) {
         return;
 
 	double lightTime;
-	bool correctPosition = true;
+//	bool correctPosition = true;
 
 	psc pscPos;
 	double currentTime = _start;
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ void RenderablePath::calculatePath(std::string observer) {
 	//float g = _lineColor[1];
 	//float b = _lineColor[2];
 	for (int i = 0; i < segments; i++) {
-		correctPosition = SpiceManager::ref().getTargetPosition(_target, observer, _frame, "NONE", currentTime, pscPos, lightTime);
+		SpiceManager::ref().getTargetPosition(_target, observer, _frame, "NONE", currentTime, pscPos, lightTime);
 		pscPos[3] += 3;
 			
 		//if (!correctPosition) {
diff --git a/src/rendering/renderengine.cpp b/src/rendering/renderengine.cpp
index f4677942f7..d915d3d1bb 100644
--- a/src/rendering/renderengine.cpp
+++ b/src/rendering/renderengine.cpp
@@ -138,14 +138,15 @@ RenderEngine::~RenderEngine() {
 
 bool RenderEngine::initialize() {
     std::string renderingMethod = DefaultRenderingMethod;
-    bool overwritingDefaultRenderingMethod = false;
-    if (OsEng.configurationManager()->hasKeyAndValue<std::string>(KeyRenderingMethod)) {
+    
+    // If the user specified a rendering method that he would like to use, use that
+    if (OsEng.configurationManager()->hasKeyAndValue<std::string>(KeyRenderingMethod))
         renderingMethod = OsEng.configurationManager()->value<std::string>(KeyRenderingMethod);
-        overwritingDefaultRenderingMethod = true;
-    }
     else {
         using Version = ghoul::systemcapabilities::OpenGLCapabilitiesComponent::Version;
-        
+
+        // The default rendering method has a requirement of OpenGL 4.3, so if we are
+        // below that, we will fall back to frame buffer operation
         if (OpenGLCap.openGLVersion() < Version(4,3)) {
             LINFO("Falling back to framebuffer implementation due to OpenGL limitations");
             renderingMethod = "ABufferFrameBuffer";
@@ -329,7 +330,8 @@ void RenderEngine::postSynchronizationPreDraw() {
 	}
 
 	// converts the quaternion used to rotation matrices
-	_mainCamera->compileViewRotationMatrix();
+    if (_mainCamera)
+        _mainCamera->compileViewRotationMatrix();
 
 	// update and evaluate the scene starting from the root node
 	_sceneGraph->update({
diff --git a/src/util/spicemanager.cpp b/src/util/spicemanager.cpp
index 1e5219021c..9ac6933b6b 100644
--- a/src/util/spicemanager.cpp
+++ b/src/util/spicemanager.cpp
@@ -316,9 +316,9 @@ bool SpiceManager::getNaifId(const std::string& body, int& id) const {
 	}
 	else {
 		SpiceBoolean success;
-		SpiceInt sid = id;
-		bods2c_c(body.c_str(), &sid, &success);
-		id = sid;
+//		SpiceInt sid = id;
+		bods2c_c(body.c_str(), &id, &success);
+//		id = sid;
         if (success == SPICEFALSE)
             LERROR("Could not find NAIF ID of body '" + body + "'");
 		return (success == SPICETRUE);
@@ -331,9 +331,7 @@ bool SpiceManager::getFrameId(const std::string& frame, int& id) const {
 		return false;
 	}
 	else {
-		SpiceInt sid = id;
-		namfrm_c(frame.c_str(), &sid);
-		id = sid;
+		namfrm_c(frame.c_str(), &id);
 		bool hasError = SpiceManager::checkForError("Error getting id for frame '" + frame + "'");
 		return !hasError;
 	}
@@ -403,7 +401,7 @@ bool SpiceManager::getValue(const std::string& body, const std::string& value,
 }
 
 bool SpiceManager::spacecraftClockToET(const std::string& craftIdCode, double& craftTicks, double& et){
-	int craftID;
+	int craftID = -1;
 	getNaifId(craftIdCode, craftID);
 	sct2e_c(craftID, craftTicks, &et);
     bool hasError = checkForError("Error transforming spacecraft clock of '" + craftIdCode + "' at time " + std::to_string(craftTicks));
@@ -1010,8 +1008,8 @@ bool SpiceManager::checkForError(std::string errorMessage) {
 bool SpiceManager::getPlanetEllipsoid(std::string planetName, float &a, float &b, float &c) {
 
 	SpiceDouble radii[3];
-	SpiceInt n;
-	int id;
+	SpiceInt n = -1;
+	int id = -1;
 
 	getNaifId(planetName, id);
 	if (bodfnd_c(id, "RADII")) {