diff --git a/bin/mn b/bin/mn
index 2fe6378..a7e6ffb 100755
--- a/bin/mn
+++ b/bin/mn
@@ -44,10 +44,10 @@ HOSTS = { 'process': Host }
 CONTROLLERDEF = 'ref'
 # a and b are the name and inNamespace params.
 CONTROLLERS = { 'ref': Controller,
-               'nox_dump': lambda a, b: NOX( a, b, 'packetdump' ),
-               'nox_pysw': lambda a, b: NOX( a, b, 'pyswitch' ),
-               'remote': lambda a, b: None,
-               'none': lambda a, b: None }
+               'nox_dump': lambda name: NOX( name, 'packetdump' ),
+               'nox_pysw': lambda name: NOX( name, 'pyswitch' ),
+               'remote': lambda name: None,
+               'none': lambda name: None }
 
 # optional tests to run
 TESTS = [ 'cli', 'build', 'pingAll', 'pingPair', 'iperf', 'all', 'iperfUdp',
diff --git a/mininet/net.py b/mininet/net.py
index 57e1d56..7f6d266 100755
--- a/mininet/net.py
+++ b/mininet/net.py
@@ -187,10 +187,10 @@ class Mininet( object ):
     def addController( self, controller ):
         """Add controller.
            controller: Controller class"""
-        controller = self.controller( 'c0', self.inNamespace )
-        if controller:  # allow controller-less setups
-            self.controllers.append( controller )
-            self.nameToNode[ 'c0' ] = controller
+        controller_new = self.controller( 'c0' )
+        if controller_new:  # allow controller-less setups
+            self.controllers.append( controller_new )
+            self.nameToNode[ 'c0' ] = controller_new
 
     # Control network support:
     #
diff --git a/mininet/node.py b/mininet/node.py
index 7c7b4b3..e9ab04c 100644
--- a/mininet/node.py
+++ b/mininet/node.py
@@ -661,10 +661,10 @@ class NOX( Controller ):
         """Init.
            name: name to give controller
            noxArgs: list of args, or single arg, to pass to NOX"""
-        if type( noxArgs ) != list:
-            noxArgs = [ noxArgs ]
         if not noxArgs:
             noxArgs = [ 'packetdump' ]
+        elif type( noxArgs ) != list:
+            noxArgs = [ noxArgs ]
 
         if 'NOX_CORE_DIR' not in os.environ:
             exit( 'exiting; please set missing NOX_CORE_DIR env var' )