diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 178717b3ea..51d84c9bca 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -52,3 +52,7 @@ timer.dat
 
 # .vscode
 .vscode
+
+# files created via testing
+nul
+run.out
diff --git a/arc/parser.py b/arc/parser.py
index a39c5a92b2..fc005af31c 100644
--- a/arc/parser.py
+++ b/arc/parser.py
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ def parse_frequencies(path: str,
 
 def parse_normal_mode_displacement(path: str,
                                    software: Optional[str] = None,
-                                   raise_error: bool = True, # TODO: Why is this true? What is it supposed to do?
+                                   raise_error: bool = False, # TODO: Why is this true? What is it supposed to do?
                                    ) -> Tuple[np.ndarray, np.ndarray]:
     """
     Parse frequencies and normal mode displacement.
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ def parse_normal_mode_displacement(path: str,
                 parse_normal_mode_disp = True
             elif parse and not line or '-------------------' in line:
                 parse = False
-    if software == 'qchem':
+    elif software == 'qchem':
         number_freqs_per_line = 3
         parse, parse_normal_mode_disp = False, False
         for line in lines + ['']: