diff --git a/application/cmd/cre_main.py b/application/cmd/cre_main.py
index ead5a4281..2e24be47c 100644
--- a/application/cmd/cre_main.py
+++ b/application/cmd/cre_main.py
@@ -277,8 +277,8 @@ def register_standard(
         # calculate gap analysis
         populate_neo4j_db(db_connection_str)
         jobs = []
-        pending_stadards = collection.standards()
-        for standard_name in pending_stadards:
+        pending_standards = collection.standards()
+        for standard_name in pending_standards:
             if standard_name == importing_name:
                 continue
 
@@ -293,9 +293,9 @@ def register_standard(
                     jobs.append(forward_job)
                 except exceptions.NoSuchJobError as nje:
                     logger.error(
-                        f"Could not find gap analysis job for for {importing_name} and {standard_name} putting {standard_name} back in the queue"
+                        f"Could not find gap analysis job for {importing_name} and {standard_name} putting {standard_name} back in the queue"
                     )
-                    pending_stadards.append(standard_name)
+                    pending_standards.append(standard_name)
 
             bw_key = gap_analysis.make_resources_key([standard_name, importing_name])
             if not collection.gap_analysis_exists(bw_key):
@@ -308,9 +308,9 @@ def register_standard(
                     jobs.append(backward_job)
                 except exceptions.NoSuchJobError as nje:
                     logger.error(
-                        f"Could not find gap analysis job for for {importing_name} and {standard_name} putting {standard_name} back in the queue"
+                        f"Could not find gap analysis job for {importing_name} and {standard_name} putting {standard_name} back in the queue"
                     )
-                    pending_stadards.append(standard_name)
+                    pending_standards.append(standard_name)
         redis.wait_for_jobs(jobs)
         conn.set(standard_hash, value="")
 
diff --git a/application/database/db.py b/application/database/db.py
index d4ac9b7e8..1d5fa38d4 100644
--- a/application/database/db.py
+++ b/application/database/db.py
@@ -981,23 +981,23 @@ def get_by_tags(self, tags: List[str]) -> List[cre_defs.Document]:
             cre_where_clause.append(sqla.and_(CRE.tags.like("%{}%".format(tag))))
 
         nodes = Node.query.filter(*nodes_where_clause).all() or []
-        for node in nodes:
-            node = self.get_nodes(
-                name=node.name,
-                section=node.section,
-                subsection=node.subsection,
-                version=node.version,
-                link=node.link,
-                ntype=node.ntype,
-                sectionID=node.section_id,
+        for db_node in nodes:
+            resolved = self.get_nodes(
+                name=db_node.name,
+                section=db_node.section,
+                subsection=db_node.subsection,
+                version=db_node.version,
+                link=db_node.link,
+                ntype=db_node.ntype,
+                sectionID=db_node.section_id,
             )
-            if node:
-                documents.extend(node)
+            if resolved:
+                documents.extend(resolved)
             else:
                 logger.fatal(
-                    "db.get_node returned None for"
+                    "get_nodes() returned no documents for "
                     "Node %s:%s:%s that exists, BUG!"
-                    % (node.name, node.section, node.section_id)
+                    % (db_node.name, db_node.section, db_node.section_id)
                 )
 
         cres = CRE.query.filter(*cre_where_clause).all() or []
@@ -1582,7 +1582,6 @@ def add_node(
     ) -> Optional[Node]:
         if not node:
             raise ValueError(f"Node is None")
-            return None
         dbnode = dbNodeFromNode(node)
         if not dbnode:
             logger.warning(f"{node} could not be transformed to a DB object")
diff --git a/application/tests/db_test.py b/application/tests/db_test.py
index 1d13bd0be..98c5525c5 100644
--- a/application/tests/db_test.py
+++ b/application/tests/db_test.py
@@ -125,6 +125,26 @@ def test_get_by_tags(self) -> None:
         self.assertEqual(self.collection.get_by_tags([]), [])
         self.assertEqual(self.collection.get_by_tags(["this should not be a tag"]), [])
 
+    @patch("application.database.db.logger")
+    def test_get_by_tags_empty_nodes_regression(self, mock_logger) -> None:
+        """
+        Simulate get_nodes returning an empty list to test the error path in get_by_tags.
+        See PR #837 regression fix.
+        """
+        dbstandard = db.Node(
+            section="regression_section",
+            name="regression_name",
+            tags="regression_tag",
+            ntype=defs.Standard.__name__,
+        )
+        self.collection.session.add(dbstandard)
+        self.collection.session.commit()
+
+        with patch.object(self.collection, "get_nodes", return_value=[]):
+            res = self.collection.get_by_tags(["regression_tag"])
+            self.assertEqual(res, [])
+            mock_logger.fatal.assert_called_once()
+
     def test_get_standards_names(self) -> None:
         result = self.collection.get_node_names()
         expected = [("Standard", "BarStand"), ("Standard", "Unlinked")]
diff --git a/application/utils/gap_analysis.py b/application/utils/gap_analysis.py
index 9e3dab04d..64e547dba 100644
--- a/application/utils/gap_analysis.py
+++ b/application/utils/gap_analysis.py
@@ -41,9 +41,9 @@ def get_path_score(path):
 
         if step["relationship"] == "CONTAINS":
             penalty_type = f"CONTAINS_{get_relation_direction(step, previous_id)}"
-        pentalty = PENALTIES[penalty_type]
-        score += pentalty
-        step["score"] = pentalty
+        penalty = PENALTIES[penalty_type]
+        score += penalty
+        step["score"] = penalty
         previous_id = get_next_id(step, previous_id)
     return score
 
diff --git a/application/web/web_main.py b/application/web/web_main.py
index 29567470a..80e86faa9 100644
--- a/application/web/web_main.py
+++ b/application/web/web_main.py
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 from rq import job, exceptions
 
 from application.utils import spreadsheet_parsers
-from application.utils import oscal_utils, redis
 from application.database import db
 from application.cmd import cre_main
 from application.defs import cre_defs as defs