ESS 5.2.11 is old (November 30, 2005). The current release is Jun 3 15:05 ess-5.3.1 Please update ESS. If the problem is still there, run M-x ess-submit-bug-report RET and send the output from that function and your excessively detailed description to ess-bugs at stat.math.ethz.ch Please use a subject header on the email. Rich