diff --git a/nested/src/editors/list/cmd.rs b/nested/src/editors/list/cmd.rs
index 1cf3c8e..6c10b30 100644
--- a/nested/src/editors/list/cmd.rs
+++ b/nested/src/editors/list/cmd.rs
@@ -71,55 +71,53 @@ impl ObjCommander for ListEditor {
                         match cur.mode {
                             ListCursorMode::Select => {                        
                                 if let Some(mut item) = self.get_item().clone() {
-                                    if self.is_listlist() {
-                                        let item_cur = item.get_cursor();
-
-                                        match cmd.get() {
-                                            ListCmd::DeletePxev => {
-                                                if idx > 0
-                                                    && item_cur.tree_addr.iter().fold(
-                                                        true,
-                                                        |is_zero, x| is_zero && (*x == 0)
-                                                    )
-                                                {
-                                                    self.listlist_join_pxev(idx);
-                                                    TreeNavResult::Continue
-                                                } else {
-                                                    item.send_cmd_obj(cmd_obj)
-                                                }
-                                            }
-
-                                            ListCmd::DeleteNexd => {
-                                                let item_cur = item.get_cursor_warp();
-                                                let next_idx = idx as usize + 1;
-
-                                                if next_idx < self.data.len()
-                                                    && item_cur.tree_addr.iter().fold(
-                                                        true,
-                                                        |is_end, x| is_end && (*x == -1)
-                                                    )
-                                                {
-                                                    self.listlist_join_nexd(idx as usize);
-                                                    TreeNavResult::Continue
-                                                } else {
-                                                    item.send_cmd_obj(cmd_obj)
-                                                }
-                                            }
-
-                                            ListCmd::Split => {
-                                                self.listlist_split();
-                                                TreeNavResult::Continue
-                                            }
-
-                                            _ => {
-                                                item.send_cmd_obj(cmd_obj);
+                                    let item_cur = item.get_cursor();
+                                    
+                                    match cmd.get() {
+                                        ListCmd::DeletePxev => {
+                                            eprintln!("SELECT: delete pxev");
+                                            if idx > 0
+                                                && item_cur.tree_addr.iter().fold(
+                                                    true,
+                                                    |is_zero, x| is_zero && (*x == 0)
+                                                )
+                                            {
+                                                self.listlist_join_pxev(idx);
                                                 TreeNavResult::Continue
+                                            } else {
+                                                item.send_cmd_obj(cmd_obj)
                                             }
                                         }
-                                    } else {
-                                        TreeNavResult::Exit
+
+                                        ListCmd::DeleteNexd => {
+                                            let item_cur = item.get_cursor_warp();
+                                            let next_idx = idx as usize + 1;
+
+                                            if next_idx < self.data.len()
+                                                && item_cur.tree_addr.iter().fold(
+                                                    true,
+                                                    |is_end, x| is_end && (*x == -1)
+                                                )
+                                            {
+                                                self.listlist_join_nexd(idx as usize);
+                                                TreeNavResult::Continue
+                                            } else {
+                                                item.send_cmd_obj(cmd_obj)
+                                            }
+                                        }
+
+                                        ListCmd::Split => {
+                                            self.listlist_split();
+                                            TreeNavResult::Continue
+                                        }
+
+                                        _ => {
+                                            item.send_cmd_obj(cmd_obj);
+                                            TreeNavResult::Continue
+                                        }
                                     }
                                 } else {
+                                    eprintln!("ptylist: no item");
                                     TreeNavResult::Exit
                                 }
                             },
diff --git a/nested/src/editors/list/editor.rs b/nested/src/editors/list/editor.rs
index a926605..7875864 100644
--- a/nested/src/editors/list/editor.rs
+++ b/nested/src/editors/list/editor.rs
@@ -245,7 +245,9 @@ impl ListEditor {
                     if self.is_listlist() {
                         cur.mode = ListCursorMode::Select;
                     } else {
-                        cur.idx = Some(idx + 1);               
+                        eprintln!("list insert: is not a listlist ({:?})", self.typ);
+                        item.write().unwrap().goto(TreeCursor::none());
+                        cur.idx = Some(idx + 1);
                     }
                 }
 
diff --git a/nested/src/editors/list/pty_editor.rs b/nested/src/editors/list/pty_editor.rs
index 8238a93..ccb5812 100644
--- a/nested/src/editors/list/pty_editor.rs
+++ b/nested/src/editors/list/pty_editor.rs
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ impl PTYListStyle {
 
 //<<<<>>>><<>><><<>><<<*>>><<>><><<>><<<<>>>>
 
+// todo: rename to CharController
+
 pub struct PTYListController {
     pub editor: Arc<RwLock<ListEditor>>,
 
diff --git a/nested/src/type_system/context.rs b/nested/src/type_system/context.rs
index 7904994..41df4a5 100644
--- a/nested/src/type_system/context.rs
+++ b/nested/src/type_system/context.rs
@@ -196,6 +196,18 @@ impl Context {
             TypeTerm::TypeID(id) => {
                 self.list_types.contains(id)
             }
+            TypeTerm::Ladder(args) |
+            TypeTerm::App(args) => {
+                if args.len() > 0 {
+                    if self.is_list_type(&args[0]) {
+                        true
+                    } else {
+                        false
+                    }
+                } else {
+                    false
+                }
+            }
             _ => false
         }
     }