diff --git a/fcore/bin-search.sml b/fcore/bin-search.sml
index ee8f302..6c878c3 100644
--- a/fcore/bin-search.sml
+++ b/fcore/bin-search.sml
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ struct
               helpBinSearch (findNum, vec, low, mid - 1)
           end
         else
-          forwardLinearSearch (findNum, mid, vec)
+          forwardLinearSearch (findNum, Int.max (mid, 0), vec)
       end
   in
     fun equalOrMore (findNum, vec) =
diff --git a/shell/shell.sml b/shell/shell.sml
index c35de5f..104bdac 100644
--- a/shell/shell.sml
+++ b/shell/shell.sml
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@ struct
       val _ = TextIO.closeIn io
       val app = AppType.init (lineGap, 1920, 1080)
 
+      (* todo: remove temp line below which tests search list *)
+      val app = BuildSearchList.build (app, 0, lineGap, "val")
+
       (* create mailboxes for CML communication *)
       val inputMailbox = Mailbox.mailbox ()
       val drawMailbox = Mailbox.mailbox ()
diff --git a/shf b/shf
index 2048dc4..4b7c9d3 100755
Binary files a/shf and b/shf differ