diff --git a/lef/lefWrite.c b/lef/lefWrite.c
index d0d322a4..b1487feb 100644
--- a/lef/lefWrite.c
+++ b/lef/lefWrite.c
@@ -1442,8 +1442,10 @@ lefWriteMacro(def, f, scale, setback, pinonly, toplayer, domaster)
 		/* SelectDef.						    */
 
 		pNum = DBPlane(lab->lab_type);
-		DBPaintPlane(SelectDef->cd_planes[pNum], &carea,
-			DBStdPaintTbl(lab->lab_type, pNum), (PaintUndoInfo *) NULL);
+		if (pNum >= 0)
+		    DBPaintPlane(SelectDef->cd_planes[pNum], &carea,
+				DBStdPaintTbl(lab->lab_type, pNum),
+				(PaintUndoInfo *) NULL);
 
 		/* Remember this area since it's going to get erased */
 		newlll = (labelLinkedList *)mallocMagic(sizeof(labelLinkedList));
diff --git a/select/selCreate.c b/select/selCreate.c
index dfc5734f..dbbf2726 100644
--- a/select/selCreate.c
+++ b/select/selCreate.c
@@ -715,6 +715,9 @@ SelectChunk(scx, type, xMask, pArea, less)
 	SelSetDisplay(SelectUse, SelectRootDef);
     }
 
+    /* Ignore if type is TT_SPACE */
+    if (type == TT_SPACE) return;
+
     /* The chunk is computed iteratively.  First extract a small
      * region (defined by INITIALSIZE) into Select2Def.  Then find
      * the largest chunk in the region.  If the chunk touches a