diff --git a/lib/tests/test-query.cc b/lib/tests/test-query.cc
index d84fbea3..2ebcdd1e 100644
--- a/lib/tests/test-query.cc
+++ b/lib/tests/test-query.cc
@@ -54,12 +54,14 @@ test_query()
 
 	auto dump_matches = [](const QueryResults& res) {
 		size_t n{};
-		for (auto&& item : res)
+		for (auto&& item : res) {
+			std::cout << item.query_match() << '\n';
 			if (g_test_verbose())
 				g_debug("%02zu %s %s",
 					++n,
 					item.path().value_or("<none>").c_str(),
 					item.message_id().value_or("<none>").c_str());
+		}
 	};
 
 	g_assert_cmpuint(store->size(), ==, 19);
@@ -69,6 +71,9 @@ test_query()
 		g_assert_true(!!res);
 		g_assert_cmpuint(res->size(), ==, 19);
 		dump_matches(*res);
+
+		g_assert_cmpuint(store->count_query(""), ==, 19);
+
 	}
 
 	{
diff --git a/lib/utils/mu-sexp.cc b/lib/utils/mu-sexp.cc
index ef8182e4..a8e1ff65 100644
--- a/lib/utils/mu-sexp.cc
+++ b/lib/utils/mu-sexp.cc
@@ -208,6 +208,8 @@ Sexp::to_sexp_string() const
 	return sstrm.str();
 }
 
+// LCOV_EXCL_START
+
 std::string
 Sexp::to_json_string() const
 {
@@ -264,3 +266,5 @@ Sexp::to_json_string() const
 
 	return sstrm.str();
 }
+
+// LCOV_EXCL_STOP
diff --git a/lib/utils/mu-util.c b/lib/utils/mu-util.c
index ab38e719..51928881 100644
--- a/lib/utils/mu-util.c
+++ b/lib/utils/mu-util.c
@@ -435,42 +435,6 @@ mu_util_print_encoded (const char *frm, ...)
 	return rv;
 }
 
-gboolean
-mu_util_printerr_encoded (const char *frm, ...)
-{
-	va_list args;
-	gboolean rv;
-
-	g_return_val_if_fail (frm, FALSE);
-
-	va_start (args, frm);
-	rv = print_args (stderr, frm, args);
-	va_end (args);
-
-	return rv;
-}
-
-
-char*
-mu_util_read_password (const char *prompt)
-{
-	char *pass;
-
-	g_return_val_if_fail (prompt, NULL);
-
-	/* note: getpass is obsolete; replace with something better */
-
-	pass = getpass (prompt); /* returns static mem, don't free */
-	if (!pass) {
-		if (errno)
-			g_warning ("error: %s", g_strerror(errno));
-		return NULL;
-	}
-
-	return g_strdup(pass);
-}
-
-
 char*
 mu_str_summarize (const char* str, size_t max_lines)
 {
diff --git a/lib/utils/mu-util.h b/lib/utils/mu-util.h
index 86423efe..95978113 100644
--- a/lib/utils/mu-util.h
+++ b/lib/utils/mu-util.h
@@ -139,26 +139,6 @@ gboolean mu_util_fputs_encoded (const char *str, FILE *stream);
  */
 gboolean mu_util_print_encoded (const char *frm, ...) G_GNUC_PRINTF(1,2);
 
-/**
- * print a formatted string (assumed to be in utf8-format) to stderr,
- * converted to the current locale
- *
- * @param a standard printf() format string, followed by a parameter list
- *
- * @return TRUE if printing worked, FALSE otherwise
- */
-gboolean mu_util_printerr_encoded (const char *frm, ...) G_GNUC_PRINTF(1,2);
-
-
-/**
- * read a password from stdin (without echoing), and return it.
- *
- * @param prompt the prompt text before the password
- *
- * @return the password (free with g_free), or NULL
- */
-char* mu_util_read_password (const char *prompt)
-	G_GNUC_MALLOC G_GNUC_WARN_UNUSED_RESULT;
 
 /**
  * Try to 'play' (ie., open with it's associated program) a file. On
diff --git a/lib/utils/mu-xapian-utils.hh b/lib/utils/mu-xapian-utils.hh
index 110a34b3..12f3c2ce 100644
--- a/lib/utils/mu-xapian-utils.hh
+++ b/lib/utils/mu-xapian-utils.hh
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@
 
 namespace Mu {
 
+// LCOV_EXCL_START
+
 // avoid exception-handling boilerplate.
 template <typename Func>
 void
@@ -77,8 +79,7 @@ try {
 	return Err(Error::Code::Internal, "caught exception");
 }
 
-
-
+// LCOV_EXCL_STOP
 
 } // namespace Mu
 
diff --git a/lib/utils/tests/test-sexp.cc b/lib/utils/tests/test-sexp.cc
index d0bfc0f9..770a1570 100644
--- a/lib/utils/tests/test-sexp.cc
+++ b/lib/utils/tests/test-sexp.cc
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ test_prop_list()
 	l1.add_prop(":foo", Sexp::make_string("bar"));
 	Sexp s2{Sexp::make_list(std::move(l1))};
 	assert_equal(s2.to_sexp_string(), "(:foo \"bar\")");
+	g_assert_true(s2.is_prop_list());
 
 	Sexp::List        l2;
 	const std::string x{"bar"};
@@ -151,6 +152,16 @@ test_prop_list_remove()
 
 		assert_equal(Sexp::make_list(Sexp::List{lst}).to_sexp_string(),
 			     R"((:foo "123"))");
+
+		lst.clear();
+		g_assert_cmpuint(lst.size(), ==, 0);
+	}
+
+	{
+		Sexp::List lst;
+		lst.add(Sexp::make_number(123));
+		Sexp s2{Sexp::make_list(std::move(lst))};
+		g_assert_false(s2.is_prop_list());
 	}
 }