diff --git a/src/pmval/pmval.c b/src/pmval/pmval.c
index 61bb835..6fd1896 100644
--- a/src/pmval/pmval.c
+++ b/src/pmval/pmval.c
@@ -1119,6 +1119,9 @@ getargs(int		argc,		/* in - command line argument count */
 	exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
 
+    initapi(cntxt);
+    initinsts(cntxt);
+
     if (!(gui || port != -1) &&
 	*smpls == ALL_SAMPLES &&
 	last.tv_sec != INT_MAX &&
@@ -1126,16 +1129,43 @@ getargs(int		argc,		/* in - command line argument count */
 
 	*smpls = (long)((__pmtimevalToReal(&last) - __pmtimevalToReal(posn)) /
 		__pmtimevalToReal(delta));
-	/* if end is before start, no samples thanks */
-	if (*smpls < 0) *smpls = 0;
-	/* counters require 2 samples to produce reported sample */
-	if (*smpls > 0 && cntxt->desc.sem != PM_SEM_COUNTER)
-	    (*smpls)++;
+	if (*smpls < 0) 
+	    /* if end is before start, no samples thanks */
+	    *smpls = 0;
+	else {
+	    /*
+	     * p stands for posn
+	     * + p         + p+delta   + p+2*delta + p+3*delta        + last
+	     * |           |           |           |              |   |
+	     * +-----------+-----------+-----------+-- ...... ----+---+---> time
+	     *             1           2           3              smpls
+	     */
+	    if (cntxt->desc.sem != PM_SEM_COUNTER) {
+		/* non-counters are reported on the first sample as well */
+		(*smpls)++;
+	    }
+	}
 #ifdef PCP_DEBUG
-	if (pmDebug & DBG_TRACE_APPL0)
-	    fprintf(stderr, "getargs: first=%.6f posn=%.6f last=%.6f\ngetargs: delta=%.6f samples=%ld\n",
-	    __pmtimevalToReal(&first), __pmtimevalToReal(posn),
-	    __pmtimevalToReal(&last), __pmtimevalToReal(delta), *smpls);
+	if (pmDebug & DBG_TRACE_APPL0) {
+	    char		tbfr[26];
+	    char		*tp;
+	    fprintf(stderr, "getargs: first=%.6f", __pmtimevalToReal(&first));
+	    tp = pmCtime((time_t *)&first.tv_sec, tbfr);
+	    /*
+	     * tp -> Ddd Mmm DD HH:MM:SS YYYY\n
+	     *       0   4   8  1      1 2  2 2
+	     *                  1      8 0  3 4
+	     */
+	    fprintf(stderr, "[%8.8s]\n", &tp[11]);
+	    fprintf(stderr, "getargs: posn=%.6f", __pmtimevalToReal(posn));
+	    tp = pmCtime((time_t *)&posn->tv_sec, tbfr);
+	    fprintf(stderr, "[%8.8s]\n", &tp[11]);
+	    fprintf(stderr, "getargs: last=%.6f", __pmtimevalToReal(&last));
+	    tp = pmCtime((time_t *)&last.tv_sec, tbfr);
+	    fprintf(stderr, "[%8.8s]\n", &tp[11]);
+	    fprintf(stderr, "getargs: delta=%.6f samples=%ld\n",
+	    __pmtimevalToReal(delta), *smpls);
+	}
 #endif
     }
 
@@ -1173,8 +1203,6 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
     getargs(argc, argv, &cntxt, &now, &delta, &smpls, &cols);
     forever = (smpls == ALL_SAMPLES || gui);
-    initapi(&cntxt);
-    initinsts(&cntxt);
 
     if (cols <= 0) cols = howide(cntxt.desc.type);