diff --git a/tools/checkin_check.py b/tools/checkin_check.py
index 90194e5..6f62a0e 100644
--- a/tools/checkin_check.py
+++ b/tools/checkin_check.py
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ def print_report(rep, show_gaps: bool, fail: bool):
     adv = rep["advisory"]
     print(f"\nadvisory (never rc 1): {adv['missing_headings']} of {rep['checked']} "
           f"files lack a Did/Blocked/Next/Ask heading")
-    print(f"  -- A1: the four-heading rule postdates the archive; grade it where it applies")
+    print("  -- A1: the four-heading rule postdates the archive; grade it where it applies")
     if show_gaps:
         print(f"\n{'handle':<12} {'files':>5} {'days':>5} {'first':>10} {'last':>10} "
               f"{'span':>4} {'miss':>4} {'gap':>4} {'idle':>4}")
@@ -553,7 +553,6 @@ def selftest():
         cell("c20 --fail exits 1 when a fault exists", rc_fail == 1, str(rc_fail))
 
         # refusals: rc 2, never a traceback, never 1
-        jd = os.path.join(td, "j.json")
         miss = os.path.join(td, "no-such-dir")
         rc_missing = main(["--dir", miss, "--roster", "volt"])
         cell("c21 a missing checkins dir refuses at rc 2", rc_missing == 2, str(rc_missing))
diff --git a/tools/queue_append_audit.py b/tools/queue_append_audit.py
index ec382b0..f856f9c 100644
--- a/tools/queue_append_audit.py
+++ b/tools/queue_append_audit.py
@@ -70,7 +70,6 @@ import argparse
 import io
 import json
 import os
-import re
 import subprocess
 import sys
 import tempfile