diff --git a/pcbnew/class_pcb_text.cpp b/pcbnew/class_pcb_text.cpp
index 89cbfed473..5233807eca 100644
--- a/pcbnew/class_pcb_text.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/class_pcb_text.cpp
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ void TEXTE_PCB::GetMsgPanelInfo( std::vector< MSG_PANEL_ITEM >& aList )
 {
     wxString    msg;
 
-#if defined(DEBUG)
+#if defined(__WXDEBUG__)
     BOARD_ITEM* parent = (BOARD_ITEM*) m_Parent;
     wxASSERT( parent );
 
diff --git a/pcbnew/specctra.cpp b/pcbnew/specctra.cpp
index cc2c8cfc1d..2c1f2d96d2 100644
--- a/pcbnew/specctra.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/specctra.cpp
@@ -96,14 +96,14 @@ void SPECCTRA_DB::buildLayerMaps( BOARD* aBoard )
 }
 
 
-LAYER_NUM SPECCTRA_DB::findLayerName( const std::string& aLayerName ) const
+int SPECCTRA_DB::findLayerName( const std::string& aLayerName ) const
 {
     for( LAYER_NUM i=FIRST_LAYER;  i<int(layerIds.size());  ++i )
     {
         if( 0 == aLayerName.compare( layerIds[i] ) )
             return i;
     }
-    return UNDEFINED_LAYER;
+    return -1;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/pcbnew/specctra.h b/pcbnew/specctra.h
index dc2ed9640a..66c890ae0f 100644
--- a/pcbnew/specctra.h
+++ b/pcbnew/specctra.h
@@ -3577,7 +3577,7 @@ class SPECCTRA_DB : public SPECCTRA_LEXER
     STRINGS         layerIds;       ///< indexed by PCB layer number
 
     /// maps BOARD layer number to PCB layer numbers
-    std::vector<LAYER_NUM> kicadLayer2pcb;
+    std::vector<int> kicadLayer2pcb;
 
     /// maps PCB layer number to BOARD layer numbers
     std::vector<LAYER_NUM> pcbLayer2kicad;
@@ -3606,9 +3606,13 @@ class SPECCTRA_DB : public SPECCTRA_LEXER
 
     /**
      * Function findLayerName
-     * returns the PCB layer index for a given layer name
+     * returns the PCB layer index for a given layer name, within the specctra session
+     * file.
+     *
+     * @return int - the layer index within the specctra session file, or -1 if
+     *  aLayerName is not found.
      */
-    LAYER_NUM findLayerName( const std::string& aLayerName ) const;
+    int findLayerName( const std::string& aLayerName ) const;
 
     /**
      * Function readCOMPnPIN
diff --git a/pcbnew/specctra_export.cpp b/pcbnew/specctra_export.cpp
index 7acb5cbe74..30fa3491ec 100644
--- a/pcbnew/specctra_export.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/specctra_export.cpp
@@ -783,8 +783,8 @@ void SPECCTRA_DB::fillBOUNDARY( BOARD* aBoard, BOUNDARY* boundary ) throw( IO_ER
         }
         else    // remove graphics not on EDGE_N layer
         {
-            ++i;
             D( items[i]->Show( 0, std::cout );)
+            ++i;
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/pcbnew/specctra_import.cpp b/pcbnew/specctra_import.cpp
index 988c08def3..d05834c91e 100644
--- a/pcbnew/specctra_import.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/specctra_import.cpp
@@ -319,8 +319,9 @@ SEGVIA* SPECCTRA_DB::makeVIA( PADSTACK* aPadstack, const POINT& aPoint, int aNet
     }
     else    // VIA_MICROVIA or VIA_BLIND_BURIED
     {
-        LAYER_NUM topLayerNdx = UNDEFINED_LAYER;
-        LAYER_NUM botLayerNdx = 7000; // Ask Dick if this number loses its magic
+        int topLayerNdx = -1;           // session layer detectors
+        int botLayerNdx = INT_MAX;
+
         int viaDiam = -1;
 
         for( int i=0; i<shapeCount;  ++i )
@@ -333,8 +334,8 @@ SEGVIA* SPECCTRA_DB::makeVIA( PADSTACK* aPadstack, const POINT& aPoint, int aNet
 
             CIRCLE* circle = (CIRCLE*) shape->shape;
 
-            LAYER_NUM layerNdx = findLayerName( circle->layer_id );
-            if( layerNdx == UNDEFINED_LAYER )
+            int layerNdx = findLayerName( circle->layer_id );
+            if( layerNdx == -1 )
             {
                 wxString layerName = FROM_UTF8( circle->layer_id.c_str() );
                 ThrowIOError( _("Session file uses invalid layer id \"%s\""),
@@ -363,10 +364,10 @@ SEGVIA* SPECCTRA_DB::makeVIA( PADSTACK* aPadstack, const POINT& aPoint, int aNet
 
         via->SetWidth( viaDiam );
 
-        topLayerNdx = pcbLayer2kicad[topLayerNdx];
-        botLayerNdx = pcbLayer2kicad[botLayerNdx];
+        LAYER_NUM topLayer = pcbLayer2kicad[topLayerNdx];
+        LAYER_NUM botLayer = pcbLayer2kicad[botLayerNdx];
 
-        via->SetLayerPair( topLayerNdx, botLayerNdx );
+        via->SetLayerPair( topLayer, botLayer );
     }
 
     if( via )