--- loncom/lonnet/perl/lonnet.pm	2007/08/29 22:19:24	1.908
+++ loncom/lonnet/perl/lonnet.pm	2007/08/31 12:33:29	1.909
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network
 # TCP networking package
 #
-# $Id: lonnet.pm,v 1.908 2007/08/29 22:19:24 albertel Exp $
+# $Id: lonnet.pm,v 1.909 2007/08/31 12:33:29 raeburn Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -861,6 +861,7 @@ sub inst_directory_query {
     my $udom = $srch->{'srchdomain'};
     my %results;
     my $homeserver = &domain($udom,'primary');
+    my $outcome;
     if ($homeserver ne '') {
 	my $queryid=&reply("querysend:instdirsearch:".
 			   &escape($srch->{'srchby'}).':'.
@@ -880,14 +881,19 @@ sub inst_directory_query {
 	}
 
         if (!&error($response) && $response ne 'refused') {
-            my @matches = split(/\n/,$response);
-            foreach my $match (@matches) {
-                my ($key,$value) = split(/=/,$match);
-                $results{&unescape($key).':'.$udom} = &thaw_unescape($value);
+            if ($response eq 'unavailable') {
+                $outcome = $response;
+            } else {
+                $outcome = 'ok';
+                my @matches = split(/\n/,$response);
+                foreach my $match (@matches) {
+                    my ($key,$value) = split(/=/,$match);
+                    $results{&unescape($key).':'.$udom} = &thaw_unescape($value);
+                }
             }
         }
     }
-    return %results;
+    return ($outcome,%results);
 }
 
 sub usersearch {