diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 21421e3..9061780 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -22,8 +22,7 @@ These scripts work for [OpenWrt](https://openwrt.org) and include:
   that can be taped on the side of the router.
 
 * [betterspeedtest.sh](#betterspeedtestsh) &
-  [netperfrunner.sh](#netperfrunnersh) &
-  [networkhammer.sh](#networkhammersh) - scripts that measure the
+  [netperfrunner.sh](#netperfrunnersh) - scripts that measure the
   performance of your router or offer load to the network for testing.
 
 * [idlelatency.sh](#idlelatencysh) - a script to measure the latency of
@@ -344,12 +343,6 @@ This is not a bug, nor is it a problem with your internet connection.
 That's because the acknowledge messages sent back to the sender consume
 a significant fraction of the link's capacity (as much as 25%).
 
-## [networkhammer.sh](https://github.com/richb-hanover/OpenWrtScripts/blob/master/networkhammer.sh)
-
-The `networkhammer.sh` script continually invokes the netperfrunner script to
-provide a heavy load.
-It runs forever - Ctl-C will interrupt it.
-
 ## [idlelatency.sh](https://github.com/richb-hanover/OpenWrtScripts/blob/master/idlelatency.sh)
 
 _This script is no longer maintained.
diff --git a/betterspeedtest.sh b/betterspeedtest.sh
index d045d31..9995a51 100755
--- a/betterspeedtest.sh
+++ b/betterspeedtest.sh
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ measure_direction() {
   ERRFILE=$(mktemp /tmp/netperfErr.XXXXXX) || exit 1
   DIRECTION=$1
   
-  # start off the ping process
+# start off the ping process
   start_pings
 
   # Start netperf with the proper direction
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ measure_direction() {
   else
     dir="TCP_STREAM"
   fi
-  
+
   # Start $MAXSESSIONS datastreams between netperf client and the netperf server
   # netperf writes the sole output value (in Mbps) to stdout when completed
   for i in $( seq "$MAXSESSIONS" )
@@ -231,6 +231,13 @@ MAXSESSIONS="5"
 TESTPROTO="-4"
 IDLETEST=false
 
+# Check to see if netperf is installed and exit if not
+if ! command -v netperf >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo ""
+  echo "Error: netperf is not installed or not in PATH" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 # read the options
 
 # extract options and their arguments into variables.
@@ -287,6 +294,7 @@ if $IDLETEST
 then
   echo "$DATE Testing idle line while pinging $PINGHOST ($TESTDUR seconds)"
   SPEEDFILE=$(mktemp /tmp/netperfUL.XXXXXX) || exit 1
+  ERRFILE=$(mktemp /tmp/netperfErr.XXXXXX) || exit 1
   start_pings
   sleep "$TESTDUR"
   summarize_pings "$PINGFILE"
diff --git a/netperfrunner.sh b/netperfrunner.sh
index 3b90e57..05477d2 100755
--- a/netperfrunner.sh
+++ b/netperfrunner.sh
@@ -186,6 +186,13 @@ done
 
 # Start main test
 
+# Check to see if netperf is installed and exit if not
+if ! command -v netperf >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo ""
+  echo "Error: netperf is not installed or not in PATH" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 if [ $TESTPROTO -eq "-4" ]
 then
 	PROTO="ipv4"
diff --git a/networkhammer.sh b/networkhammer.sh
deleted file mode 100644
index 050acd8..0000000
--- a/networkhammer.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/sh
-# Continuously hammer the network with continuous netperfrunner tests
-# Initially created to put load on Wi-Fi for CeroWrt
-#
-
-echo "Hammering the network to gw.home.lan. Hit Ctl-C to cancel"
-while true;
-do
-  ./netperfrunner.sh -H gw.home.lan
-done