Weird -404 Online 5.0 error on update by hostvar

We are using ESQL/C 5.00.UC2 and OnLine 5.00.UC3 on SUN 690 MP OS 4.1.2. I hope someone (from informix perhaps) can help me with the following (as finderr says, "... if this statement only refers to host variables by name, this error should not occur ..."): $long h1; $loc_t h2; $declare c1 cursor with hold for select col1 from tab for update of col2; $prepare p1 from "update tab set col2 = ? where current of c1"; $begin work; $fetch c1 into :h1; $ifdef fail; $execute p1 using :h2; /* fails with -404 */ $else; $update tab set col2 = :h2 where current of c1; /* succeeds */ $endif; ... The (BYTE) locator h2 has (presumably) been set up properly, insofar as the direct update succeeds. Any suggestions would be most appreciated. Thanks in advance, Andrew Shaw AT&T Bell Labs andrew.shaw@att.com