The default for ASDF's *central-registry* in SBCL contains a (let (...) (when ...)) which can and *will* return NIL in some cases (i.e. when an executable SBCL image is run).
On the other hand, sysdef-central-registry-search calls directory-pathname-p on each entry, which assumes that NIL is an invalid entry.
My proposed solution: directory-pathname-p should check that its argument is indeed a pathname designator.
[ François-René ÐVB Rideau | Reflection&Cybernethics | http://fare.tunes.org ] Computerese Irregular Verb Conjugation: I have preferences. You have biases. He/She has prejudices.