diff --git a/sarracenia/config.py b/sarracenia/config.py
index 05a71923a..772bf623e 100755
--- a/sarracenia/config.py
+++ b/sarracenia/config.py
@@ -2150,9 +2150,10 @@ def variableExpansion(self, cdir, message=None ) -> str:
 
 
         # strftime compatible patterns.
-        if len(new_dir.split( '${%' )) > 1:
-            fragment_list=[]
-            for fragment in new_dir.split( '${%' ):
+        fragments = new_dir.split( '${%' )
+        if len(fragments) > 1:
+            fragment_list=[fragments[0]]
+            for fragment in fragments[1:]:
                 close_brace = fragment.find('}')
                 frag_start=0
                 seconds=self.varTimeOffset
@@ -2242,7 +2243,7 @@ def variableExpansion(self, cdir, message=None ) -> str:
                 matches= re.search( r'^[0-9]+$', match_field)
                 # non-numeric thing... variable or something.
                 if not matches:
-                    fragment_list.append(fragment)
+                    fragment_list.append('${' + fragment)
                     continue
                 field=int(match_field)
                 if self.sundew_compat_regex_first_match_is_zero:
diff --git a/tests/sarracenia/config_test.py b/tests/sarracenia/config_test.py
index 520c20e07..e527e553f 100644
--- a/tests/sarracenia/config_test.py
+++ b/tests/sarracenia/config_test.py
@@ -51,6 +51,12 @@ def test_variableExpansion():
             "/pub/DATASETS/NOAA/G02158/unmasked" + '/[0-9]{4}/[0-9]{2}_[A-Z]{1}[a-z]{2}' )
      assert try_pattern(  options, message, "${PBD}/${%Y}/${SOURCE}/AIRNOW/CSV/BCMOE/${%H}/",  \
              options.post_baseDir + '/[0-9]{4}/'+ message['source'] +'/AIRNOW/CSV/BCMOE/[0-9]{2}/' )
+     assert try_pattern( options, message, "a_path/${DONT_TOUCH_THIS}something/else", r"a_path/\${DONT_TOUCH_THIS}something/else")
+     assert try_pattern( options, message, "a_path/${1DONT_TOUCH_THIS}something/else", r"a_path/\${1DONT_TOUCH_THIS}something/else")
+     assert try_pattern( options, message, "/apps/sarra/public_data/20231214/SSC-DATAINTERCHANGE/MSC-BULLETINS/${T1}${T2}/${CCCC}/17", 
+                        r"/apps/sarra/public_data/20231214/SSC-DATAINTERCHANGE/MSC-BULLETINS/\${T1}\${T2}/\${CCCC}/17")
+     assert try_pattern( options, message, "a_path/${1DONT_TOUCH_THIS}some/${%H}/thing/${STILL_DONT_CHANGE_ME}/${%Y}/hello", 
+                        r"a_path/\${1DONT_TOUCH_THIS}some/[0-2][0-9]/thing/\${STILL_DONT_CHANGE_ME}/[0-9]{4}/hello")
 
      options.sundew_compat_regex_first_match_is_zero = True
      options.post_baseDir = '/apps/sarra/public_data'
@@ -87,4 +93,3 @@ def test_variableExpansion():
 
      # to get stuff to print out, make it fail.
      #assert False 
-