diff --git a/src/server/distrend.c b/src/server/distrend.c
--- a/src/server/distrend.c
+++ b/src/server/distrend.c
@@ -258,6 +258,9 @@ int prepare_distrenjob(struct distrenjob
   if(tmp)
     return 1;
 
+  general_info.highest_jobnum++;
+
+  distrenjob->jobnum = general_info.highest_jobnum;
   distrenjob->type = 1;
   distrenjob->name = name;
   distrenjob->submitter = submitter;
@@ -283,12 +286,17 @@ int prepare_distrenjob(struct distrenjob
   }
 
   /* add job to queue */
+  fprintf(stderr, "\nprepare_distrenjob: attempting makeJobDataXML()\n");
   makeJobDataXML(distrenjob);
+  fprintf(stderr, "\nprepare_distrenjob: attempting distrenjob_enqueue()\n");
   distrenjob_enqueue(head, distrenjob);
 
   general_info.jobs_in_queue++;
+  fprintf(stderr, "\nprepare_distrenjob: attempting updateJobListXML()\n");
   updateJobListXML(head);
+  fprintf(stderr, "\nprepare_distrenjob: attempting updateGeneralInfo()\n");
   updateGeneralInfo();
+  fprintf(stderr, "\nprepare_distrenjob: attempting updateJobStatsXML()\n");
   updateJobStatsXML(distrenjob);
 
   return 0;
@@ -916,6 +924,14 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     CLIENTSTATUS_IDLE = 2
   } clientstatus;
 
+  // initialize general_info struct, this should be done by start_data()
+  general_info.jobs_in_queue = 0;
+  general_info.free_clients = 0;
+  general_info.rendering_clients = 0;
+  general_info.total_finished_jobs = 0;
+  general_info.total_frames_rendered = 0;
+  general_info.highest_jobnum = 0;
+  general_info.hibernate = 0;
 
   int command;
   jobnum_t jobnum;