re.search when used within an if/else fails

[Kevin T]

python version 2.4.3, yes i know that it is old.  getting the sysadmin to update the OS requires a first born.

with the following code..
                for signal in register['signals'] :

351                   sigName = signal['functionName']
352                   if re.search( "rsrvd", sigName ) == None :
353                      print sigName
354                      newVal = "%s%s" % ( '1'*signal['bits'] , newVal ) #prepend 0's
355                   if re.search( "rsrvd", sigName ) != None :
356                      print sigName
357                      newVal = "%s%s" % ( '0'*signal['bits'], newVal )

regardless of how i code line 352, i can not EVER use an else clause with it.  if i use an else clause, the else will NEVER get executed...

has any one experienced anything like this behavior?  any suggestions?  the above code works but... why should i have to code it like this?

kevin