When copying and pasting config lines to httpd.conf from a WP app, I copied in curly quotes without realizing it and <FilesMatch “\.php$”> SetHandler proxy:fcgi://127.0.0.1:9000 </FilesMatch> is not the same as <FilesMatch "\.php$"> SetHandler proxy:fcgi://127.0.0.1:9000 </FilesMatch> So my PHP files weren't being routed through the proxy. apachectl configtest returns Syntax OK on either version of this file. Now, I know the mistake was mine, but if httpd isn't going to take curly quoted parameters and treat them like that, perhaps configtest should warn if it sees them. This may be an enhancement, rather than minor, but I chose minor as the severity. If the shadow council disagrees and knocks it down to enhancement, I'm good with that.