diff --git a/aws-experiment-launch/experiment/commander/main.go b/aws-experiment-launch/experiment/commander/main.go
index 66bd97772..2a34c64e7 100644
--- a/aws-experiment-launch/experiment/commander/main.go
+++ b/aws-experiment-launch/experiment/commander/main.go
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ func readConfigFile() [][]string {
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatal("Failed to create local file", err)
 	}
-	defer out.Close()
 
 	// get remote config file
 	resp, err := http.Get(setting.configURL)
@@ -52,6 +51,7 @@ func readConfigFile() [][]string {
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatal("Failed to copy file")
 	}
+	out.Close()
 
 	// log config file
 	content, err := ioutil.ReadFile(configFile)
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ func readConfigFile() [][]string {
 	}
 	log.Println("Successfully downloaded config")
 	log.Println(string(content))
+
 	file, err := os.Open(configFile)
 	defer file.Close()
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/aws-experiment-launch/utils/utils.py b/aws-experiment-launch/utils/utils.py
index 771416c38..1236ddb7c 100644
--- a/aws-experiment-launch/utils/utils.py
+++ b/aws-experiment-launch/utils/utils.py
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ def generate_distribution_config(shard_number, client_number, ip_list, distribut
     with open(distribution_config, "w") as fout:
         for i in range(len(ip_list)):
             ip, node_name_tag = ip_list[i].split(" ")
-            elif leader_id < shard_number:
+            if leader_id < shard_number:
                 fout.write("%s 9000 leader %d %s\n" % (ip, leader_id, node_name_tag))
                 leader_id = leader_id + 1
             elif validator_id < validator_number: