The problem could be due to several conditions. You may have shifted the parts slightly during assembly, which would spread the glue onto the surrounding surfaces. The glue may be too thin and ran during assembly. You mentioned that you applied a drop. That's kind of a subjective measure, so I'm not sure how big the drop was, relative to the glue surfaces, but it may very well have simply been squeeze out of the excess glue from the joint.
There are a couple things to do to prevent this in the future. First, limit the amount of glue used to only what is necessary, especially where removal of the excess will be a problem. Then use the glue most appropriate to the application. For areas where the glue surface is limited, you can use a gel CA glue. Aleene's Tacky glue is also good for situations like this. It's a little thicker, bonds quickly and dries clear, so a little git of squeeze out may not be as noticeable as some other glues.
Next, during assembly, take special note of the glue joints and clean up any excess before it dries. Once assembly is complete and you are ready for the finish, wipe the project down with mineral spirits. This will show you where there is glue that needs removed. Use a razor blade as a scraper, or sandpaper to remove as much of the excess glue as possible, without damaging the surrounding surfaces. Bottom line is, it's much easier to prevent excess glue squeeze out than it is to deal with it after the fact.
Good luck!
