There seems to be a problem in \setuphead, it produces a spurious else from the alternative=middle. In the reference manual I see the possibilities: alternative = normal inmargin middle TEXT. Of these middle is the only one giving the else. minimal example: \setuphead[chapter][alternative=middle] \starttext \startchapter[title=TITLE] \stopchapter \stoptext Is there a quick repair? ConTeXt ver: 2014.10.06 00:29 MKIV beta fmt: 2014.10.6 int: english/english Hans van der Meer