diff --git a/R/aFIPC.R b/R/aFIPC.R
index 62546519..c96d7411 100644
--- a/R/aFIPC.R
+++ b/R/aFIPC.R
@@ -86,8 +86,8 @@ autoFIPC <-
 
     if (!is.character(itemtype)) stop('Security Error: itemtype must be a character vector')
     nItems <- NA_integer_
-    if (is.data.frame(newformXData) || is.matrix(newformXData)) nItems <- ncol(as.data.frame(newformXData))
-    else if (is.data.frame(oldformYData) || is.matrix(oldformYData)) nItems <- ncol(as.data.frame(oldformYData))
+    if (is.data.frame(newformXData) || is.matrix(newformXData)) nItems <- ncol(newformXData)
+    else if (is.data.frame(oldformYData) || is.matrix(oldformYData)) nItems <- ncol(oldformYData)
     if (!is.na(nItems) && !(length(itemtype) == 1 || length(itemtype) == nItems)) stop(sprintf('Security Error: itemtype must be length 1 or length %d (number of items).', nItems))
 
     # boolean parameter validation
diff --git a/test_validation.R b/test_validation.R
deleted file mode 100644
index f0841168..00000000
--- a/test_validation.R
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-source("R/aFIPC.R")
-source("R/surveyFA.R")
-print("Syntax check passed")