diff --git a/src/spec2006-tests/configs-spec2006-tests/run_spec.py b/src/spec2006-tests/configs-spec2006-tests/run_spec.py
index 55573fc..b35d3d2 100644
--- a/src/spec2006-tests/configs-spec2006-tests/run_spec.py
+++ b/src/spec2006-tests/configs-spec2006-tests/run_spec.py
@@ -216,6 +216,13 @@
     no_copy_logs = args.no_copy_logs
     allow_listeners = args.allow_listeners
 
+    if not no_copy_logs and not os.path.isabs(m5.options.outdir):
+        print("Please specify the --outdir (output directory) of gem5"
+              " in the form of an absolute path")
+        print("An example: build/X86/gem5.opt --outdir /home/user/m5out/"
+              " configs-spec-tests/run_spec ...")
+        exit(1)
+
     output_dir = os.path.join(m5.options.outdir, "speclogs")
 
     # Get the DetailedCPU class from its name
diff --git a/src/spec2006-tests/configs-spec2006-tests/system/__init__.py b/src/spec2006-tests/configs-spec2006-tests/system/__init__.py
index 1fc22f3..099d7c5 100644
--- a/src/spec2006-tests/configs-spec2006-tests/system/__init__.py
+++ b/src/spec2006-tests/configs-spec2006-tests/system/__init__.py
@@ -27,4 +27,4 @@
 #
 # Authors: Jason Lowe-Power
 
-from system import MySystem
+from .system import MySystem
diff --git a/src/spec2006-tests/configs-spec2006-tests/system/system.py b/src/spec2006-tests/configs-spec2006-tests/system/system.py
index 03ad234..2f39061 100644
--- a/src/spec2006-tests/configs-spec2006-tests/system/system.py
+++ b/src/spec2006-tests/configs-spec2006-tests/system/system.py
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@
 import m5
 from m5.objects import *
 from m5.util import convert
-from fs_tools import *
-from caches import *
+from .fs_tools import *
+from .caches import *
 
 
 class MySystem(System):
@@ -104,35 +104,39 @@
     def totalInsts(self):
         return sum([cpu.totalInsts() for cpu in self.cpu])
 
+    def createCPUThreads(self, cpu):
+        for c in cpu:
+            c.createThreads()
+
     def createCPU(self, num_cpus, TimingCPUModel):
         if self._no_kvm:
             self.cpu = [AtomicSimpleCPU(cpu_id = i, switched_out = False)
                               for i in range(num_cpus)]
-            map(lambda c: c.createThreads(), self.cpu)
+            self.createCPUThreads(self.cpu)
             self.mem_mode = 'timing'
 
         else:
             # Note KVM needs a VM and atomic_noncaching
             self.cpu = [X86KvmCPU(cpu_id = i)
                         for i in range(num_cpus)]
-            map(lambda c: c.createThreads(), self.cpu)
+            self.createCPUThreads(self.cpu)
             self.kvm_vm = KvmVM()
             self.mem_mode = 'atomic_noncaching'
 
             self.atomicCpu = [AtomicSimpleCPU(cpu_id = i,
                                               switched_out = True)
                               for i in range(num_cpus)]
-            map(lambda c: c.createThreads(), self.atomicCpu)
+            self.createCPUThreads(self.atomicCpu)
 
         self.detailed_cpu = [TimingCPUModel(cpu_id = i,
-                                     switched_out = True)
-                   for i in range(num_cpus)]
+                                            switched_out = True)
+                             for i in range(num_cpus)]
 
-        map(lambda c: c.createThreads(), self.detailed_cpu)
+        self.createCPUThreads(self.detailed_cpu)
 
     def switchCpus(self, old, new):
         assert(new[0].switchedOut())
-        m5.switchCpus(self, zip(old, new))
+        m5.switchCpus(self, list(zip(old, new)))
 
     def setDiskImages(self, img_path_1, img_path_2):
         disk0 = CowDisk(img_path_1)