diff --git a/dockarea/DockArea.py b/dockarea/DockArea.py
index d49f02ad..78d512f3 100644
--- a/dockarea/DockArea.py
+++ b/dockarea/DockArea.py
@@ -208,6 +208,10 @@ class DockArea(Container, QtGui.QWidget, DockDrop):
     def restoreState(self, state):
         """
         Restore Dock configuration as generated by saveState.
+        
+        Note that this function does not create any Docks--it will only 
+        restore the arrangement of an existing set of Docks.
+        
         """
         
         ## 1) make dict of all docks and list of existing containers
@@ -240,8 +244,11 @@ class DockArea(Container, QtGui.QWidget, DockDrop):
         typ, contents, state = state
         pfx = "  " * depth
         if typ == 'dock':
-            obj = docks[contents]
-            del docks[contents]
+            try:
+                obj = docks[contents]
+                del docks[contents]
+            except KeyError:
+                raise Exception('Cannot restore dock state; no dock with name "%s"' % contents)
         else:
             obj = self.makeContainer(typ)
             
@@ -270,7 +277,7 @@ class DockArea(Container, QtGui.QWidget, DockDrop):
         
         if isinstance(obj, Dock):
             d[obj.name()] = obj
-        else:
+        elif obj is not None:
             c.append(obj)
             for i in range(obj.count()):
                 o2 = obj.widget(i)
diff --git a/graphicsItems/GradientEditorItem.py b/graphicsItems/GradientEditorItem.py
index 33970d2c..3c078ede 100644
--- a/graphicsItems/GradientEditorItem.py
+++ b/graphicsItems/GradientEditorItem.py
@@ -165,6 +165,9 @@ class TickSliderItem(GraphicsWidget):
         tick.setPos(pos)
         self.ticks[tick] = float(newX) / self.length
     
+    def tickMoveFinished(self, tick):
+        pass
+    
     def tickClicked(self, tick, ev):
         if ev.button() == QtCore.Qt.RightButton:
             self.removeTick(tick)
@@ -340,16 +343,18 @@ class GradientEditorItem(TickSliderItem):
     customizable by the user. :class: `GradientWidget <pyqtgraph.GradientWidget>` provides a widget
     with a GradientEditorItem that can be added to a GUI. 
     
-    ======================== ===========================================================
+    ================================ ===========================================================
     **Signals**
-    sigGradientChanged(self) Signal is emitted anytime the gradient changes. The signal 
-                             is emitted in real time while ticks are being dragged or 
-                             colors are being changed.
-    ======================== ===========================================================    
+    sigGradientChanged(self)         Signal is emitted anytime the gradient changes. The signal 
+                                     is emitted in real time while ticks are being dragged or 
+                                     colors are being changed.
+    sigGradientChangeFinished(self)  Signal is emitted when the gradient is finished changing.
+    ================================ ===========================================================    
  
     """
     
     sigGradientChanged = QtCore.Signal(object)
+    sigGradientChangeFinished = QtCore.Signal(object)
     
     def __init__(self, *args, **kargs):
         """
@@ -381,6 +386,7 @@ class GradientEditorItem(TickSliderItem):
         
         self.colorDialog.currentColorChanged.connect(self.currentColorChanged)
         self.colorDialog.rejected.connect(self.currentColorRejected)
+        self.colorDialog.accepted.connect(self.currentColorAccepted)
         
         self.backgroundRect.setParentItem(self)
         self.gradRect.setParentItem(self)
@@ -508,6 +514,9 @@ class GradientEditorItem(TickSliderItem):
         self.setTickColor(self.currentTick, self.currentTickColor)
         self.updateGradient()
         
+    def currentColorAccepted(self):
+        self.sigGradientChangeFinished.emit(self)
+        
     def tickClicked(self, tick, ev):
         #private
         if ev.button() == QtCore.Qt.LeftButton:
@@ -533,6 +542,9 @@ class GradientEditorItem(TickSliderItem):
         TickSliderItem.tickMoved(self, tick, pos)
         self.updateGradient()
 
+    def tickMoveFinished(self, tick):
+        self.sigGradientChangeFinished.emit(self)
+    
 
     def getGradient(self):
         """Return a QLinearGradient object."""
@@ -669,7 +681,7 @@ class GradientEditorItem(TickSliderItem):
         TickSliderItem.mouseReleaseEvent(self, ev)
         self.updateGradient()
         
-    def addTick(self, x, color=None, movable=True):
+    def addTick(self, x, color=None, movable=True, finish=True):
         """
         Add a tick to the gradient. Return the tick.
         
@@ -688,7 +700,17 @@ class GradientEditorItem(TickSliderItem):
         t = TickSliderItem.addTick(self, x, color=color, movable=movable)
         t.colorChangeAllowed = True
         t.removeAllowed = True
+        
+        if finish:
+            self.sigGradientChangeFinished.emit(self)
         return t
+
+
+    def removeTick(self, tick, finish=True):
+        TickSliderItem.removeTick(self, tick)
+        if finish:
+            self.sigGradientChangeFinished.emit(self)
+        
         
     def saveState(self):
         """
@@ -723,13 +745,14 @@ class GradientEditorItem(TickSliderItem):
         ## public
         self.setColorMode(state['mode'])
         for t in list(self.ticks.keys()):
-            self.removeTick(t)
+            self.removeTick(t, finish=False)
         for t in state['ticks']:
             c = QtGui.QColor(*t[1])
-            self.addTick(t[0], c)
+            self.addTick(t[0], c, finish=False)
         self.updateGradient()
+        self.sigGradientChangeFinished.emit(self)
 
-
+        
 class Tick(GraphicsObject):
     ## private class
     
@@ -791,6 +814,7 @@ class Tick(GraphicsObject):
             if ev.isFinish():
                 self.moving = False
                 self.sigMoved.emit(self)
+                self.view().tickMoveFinished(self)
 
     def mouseClickEvent(self, ev):
         if  ev.button() == QtCore.Qt.RightButton and self.moving:
diff --git a/graphicsItems/PlotDataItem.py b/graphicsItems/PlotDataItem.py
index 34af641a..ce5b11aa 100644
--- a/graphicsItems/PlotDataItem.py
+++ b/graphicsItems/PlotDataItem.py
@@ -361,9 +361,11 @@ class PlotDataItem(GraphicsObject):
         
         self.updateItems()
         prof.mark('update items')
+        
         view = self.getViewBox()
         if view is not None:
             view.itemBoundsChanged(self)  ## inform view so it can update its range if it wants
+        
         self.sigPlotChanged.emit(self)
         prof.mark('emit')
         prof.finish()
diff --git a/graphicsItems/PlotItem/PlotItem.py b/graphicsItems/PlotItem/PlotItem.py
index 46bc4d5b..3177a176 100644
--- a/graphicsItems/PlotItem/PlotItem.py
+++ b/graphicsItems/PlotItem/PlotItem.py
@@ -506,12 +506,14 @@ class PlotItem(GraphicsWidget):
             self.curves.append(item)
             #self.addItem(c)
             
+        if hasattr(item, 'setLogMode'):
+            item.setLogMode(self.ctrl.logXCheck.isChecked(), self.ctrl.logYCheck.isChecked())
+            
         if isinstance(item, PlotDataItem):
             ## configure curve for this plot
             (alpha, auto) = self.alphaState()
             item.setAlpha(alpha, auto)
             item.setFftMode(self.ctrl.fftCheck.isChecked())
-            item.setLogMode(self.ctrl.logXCheck.isChecked(), self.ctrl.logYCheck.isChecked())
             item.setDownsampling(self.downsampleMode())
             item.setPointMode(self.pointMode())
             
@@ -526,6 +528,7 @@ class PlotItem(GraphicsWidget):
             #c.connect(c, QtCore.SIGNAL('plotChanged'), self.plotChanged)
             #item.sigPlotChanged.connect(self.plotChanged)
             #self.plotChanged()
+            
 
     def addDataItem(self, item, *args):
         print("PlotItem.addDataItem is deprecated. Use addItem instead.")
@@ -878,8 +881,9 @@ class PlotItem(GraphicsWidget):
     def updateLogMode(self):
         x = self.ctrl.logXCheck.isChecked()
         y = self.ctrl.logYCheck.isChecked()
-        for c in self.curves:
-            c.setLogMode(x,y)
+        for i in self.items:
+            if hasattr(i, 'setLogMode'):
+                i.setLogMode(x,y)
         self.getAxis('bottom').setLogMode(x)
         self.getAxis('top').setLogMode(x)
         self.getAxis('left').setLogMode(y)
diff --git a/parametertree/parameterTypes.py b/parametertree/parameterTypes.py
index 315081ce..3aab5a6d 100644
--- a/parametertree/parameterTypes.py
+++ b/parametertree/parameterTypes.py
@@ -516,6 +516,7 @@ class ListParameter(Parameter):
         if opts.get('limits', None) is None:
             opts['limits'] = []
         Parameter.__init__(self, **opts)
+        self.setLimits(opts['limits'])
         
     def setLimits(self, limits):
         self.forward, self.reverse = self.mapping(limits)
diff --git a/widgets/GradientWidget.py b/widgets/GradientWidget.py
index ecf3f585..2b9b52d2 100644
--- a/widgets/GradientWidget.py
+++ b/widgets/GradientWidget.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ __all__ = ['TickSlider', 'GradientWidget', 'BlackWhiteSlider']
 class GradientWidget(GraphicsView):
     
     sigGradientChanged = QtCore.Signal(object)
+    sigGradientChangeFinished = QtCore.Signal(object)
     
     def __init__(self, parent=None, orientation='bottom',  *args, **kargs):
         GraphicsView.__init__(self, parent, useOpenGL=False, background=None)
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ class GradientWidget(GraphicsView):
         kargs['tickPen'] = 'k'
         self.item = GradientEditorItem(*args, **kargs)
         self.item.sigGradientChanged.connect(self.sigGradientChanged)
+        self.item.sigGradientChangeFinished.connect(self.sigGradientChangeFinished)
         self.setCentralItem(self.item)
         self.setOrientation(orientation)
         self.setCacheMode(self.CacheNone)
diff --git a/widgets/TreeWidget.py b/widgets/TreeWidget.py
index ef2f1ec9..97fbe953 100644
--- a/widgets/TreeWidget.py
+++ b/widgets/TreeWidget.py
@@ -201,8 +201,10 @@ class TreeWidget(QtGui.QTreeWidget):
         for item in items:
             self.prepareMove(item)
         QtGui.QTreeWidget.clear(self)
-        for item in items:
-            self.informTreeWidgetChange(item)
+        
+        ## Why do we want to do this? It causes RuntimeErrors. 
+        #for item in items:
+            #self.informTreeWidgetChange(item)
         
             
 class TreeWidgetItem(QtGui.QTreeWidgetItem):