diff --git a/caravel.py b/caravel.py
index 2692b4f..fe4b69d 100644
--- a/caravel.py
+++ b/caravel.py
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ class CaravelConfig():
                     if row == 0 and col <= 1:
                         continue
 
+                    logging.debug(self.num_projects)
                     if num_macros_placed < self.num_projects:
                         if orientation == 'N':
                             # scanchain first
diff --git a/configure.py b/configure.py
index cd4601f..e801fe6 100755
--- a/configure.py
+++ b/configure.py
@@ -56,17 +56,21 @@ class Projects():
                 continue
             if args.end_at != 0 and index > args.end_at:
                 continue
-            if self.project_config[index]['status'] == 'disable':
-                continue
+
             """
             try:
                 email = self.git_url_to_email_map[git_url]
             except KeyError:
                 email = 'none'
             """
+
             git_url = self.project_config[index]['url']
             filler = self.project_config[index]['fill']
 
+            # not sure if this is a good idea
+            if self.project_config[index]['status'] == 'disable':
+                filler = True
+
             # fill projects don't have their own directory, reuse the first project which is always fill
             if filler:
                 project_dir = os.path.join(os.path.join(self.project_dir, f'{0 :03}'))
@@ -123,6 +127,8 @@ class Projects():
         all_gds_files = [project.get_macro_gds_filename() for project in self.projects if not project.is_fill()]
         self.assert_unique(all_gds_files)
 
+        logging.info(f"loaded {len(self.projects)} projects")
+
     def assert_unique(self, check):
         duplicates = [item for item, count in collections.Counter(check).items() if count > 1]
         if duplicates:
@@ -136,8 +142,10 @@ class Projects():
         total_physical_cells = 0
         max_cells = 0
         min_cells = 1000
+        max_cell_project = None
         max_util = 0
         min_util = 100
+        max_util_project = None
         languages = {}
 
         for project in self.projects:
@@ -149,7 +157,7 @@ class Projects():
                 total_wire_length += int(project.metrics['wire_length'])
                 total_wires_count += int(project.metrics['wires_count'])
                 util = float(project.metrics['OpenDP_Util'])
-                num_cells = project.check_num_cells()
+                num_cells = project.get_cell_count_from_synth()
                 total_physical_cells += num_cells
 
                 yaml_data = project.get_project_doc_yaml()
diff --git a/project.py b/project.py
index 837ee95..395eb2b 100644
--- a/project.py
+++ b/project.py
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ class Project():
                 exit(1)
 
     def check_num_cells(self):
-        num_cells = self.get_cell_count_from_gl()
+        num_cells = self.get_cell_count_from_synth()
         if self.is_hdl():
             if num_cells < 20:
                 logging.warning(f"{self} only has {num_cells} cells")
@@ -486,8 +486,24 @@ class Project():
                 cell_links = [f'[{name}]({CELL_URL}{name})' for name in cat_dict['examples']]
                 print(f'|{cat_name} | {" ".join(cell_links)} | {cat_dict["count"]}|')
 
+    # get cell count from synth report
+    def get_cell_count_from_synth(self):
+        num_cells = 0
+        try:
+            yosys_report = glob.glob(f'{self.local_dir}/runs/wokwi/reports/synthesis/1-synthesis.*0.stat.rpt')[0]  # can't open a file with \ in the path
+            with open(yosys_report) as fh:
+                for line in fh.readlines():
+                    m = re.search(r'Number of cells:\s+(\d+)', line)
+                    if m is not None:
+                        num_cells = int(m.group(1))
+
+        except IndexError:
+            logging.warning(f"couldn't open yosys cell report for cell checking {self}")
+
+        return num_cells
+        
     # Parse the lib, cell and drive strength an OpenLane gate-level Verilog file
-    def get_cell_count_from_gl(self):
+    def get_cell_counts_from_gl(self):
         cell_count = {}
         total = 0
         gl_files = glob.glob(os.path.join(self.local_dir, 'runs/wokwi/results/final/verilog/gl/*.nl.v'))