--- loncom/lonnet/perl/lonnet.pm	2008/08/27 02:29:31	1.965
+++ loncom/lonnet/perl/lonnet.pm	2008/09/01 17:58:30	1.966
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network
 # TCP networking package
 #
-# $Id: lonnet.pm,v 1.965 2008/08/27 02:29:31 raeburn Exp $
+# $Id: lonnet.pm,v 1.966 2008/09/01 17:58:30 raeburn Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -3561,12 +3561,13 @@ sub privileged {
 
 sub rolesinit {
     my ($domain,$username,$authhost)=@_;
+    my %userroles;
     my $rolesdump=reply("dump:$domain:$username:roles",$authhost);
-    if (($rolesdump eq 'con_lost') || ($rolesdump eq '')) { return ''; }
+    if (($rolesdump eq 'con_lost') || ($rolesdump eq '')) { return \%userroles; }
     my %allroles=();
     my %allgroups=();   
     my $now=time;
-    my %userroles = ('user.login.time' => $now);
+    %userroles = ('user.login.time' => $now);
     my $group_privs;
 
     if ($rolesdump ne '') {