diff --git a/scripts/projects.py b/scripts/projects.py
index 9ea8e188..aa5a3fcb 100644
--- a/scripts/projects.py
+++ b/scripts/projects.py
@@ -30,22 +30,24 @@ def err(*objs):
 def cache_func(func, args):
     d = cache
     depth = 0
-    for a in [ func.__name__ ] + args:
-        if a is None:
-            a = 'None'
+    keys = [ func.__name__ ] + args
+    l = len(keys)
+    for k in keys:
+        if k is None:
+            k = 'None'
         depth += 1
-        #debug('depth = ', depth, 'arg = ', a, 'd = ', str(d))
-        if a in d:
-            if len(args) == depth:
-                return d[a]
-            d = d[a]
+        #debug('depth = ', depth, 'key = ', k, 'd = ', str(d))
+        if k in d:
+            if l == depth:
+                return d[k]
+            d = d[k]
             continue
-        if len(args) == depth:
+        if l == depth:
             r = func(*args)
-            d[a] = r
+            d[k] = r
             return r
-        d[a] = {}
-        d = d[a]
+        d[k] = {}
+        d = d[k]
     raise Exception("cache algorithm failed for function", func.__name__, "in depth", depth)
 
 def proj_dir(name):