diff --git a/lang/python/examples/howto/export-key.py b/lang/python/examples/howto/export-key.py
index c17f2471..ff3345a7 100755
--- a/lang/python/examples/howto/export-key.py
+++ b/lang/python/examples/howto/export-key.py
@@ -62,9 +62,9 @@ elif homedir.startswith("~"):
 else:
     homedir = os.path.realpath(homedir)
 
-if os.path.exists(homedir) is False:
+if homedir is not None and os.path.exists(homedir) is False:
     homedir = None
-else:
+elif homedir is not None and os.path.exists(homedir) is True:
     if os.path.isdir(homedir) is False:
         homedir = None
     else:
diff --git a/lang/python/examples/howto/export-minimised-key.py b/lang/python/examples/howto/export-minimised-key.py
index a5a453ce..ffd75248 100755
--- a/lang/python/examples/howto/export-minimised-key.py
+++ b/lang/python/examples/howto/export-minimised-key.py
@@ -62,9 +62,9 @@ elif homedir.startswith("~"):
 else:
     homedir = os.path.realpath(homedir)
 
-if os.path.exists(homedir) is False:
+if homedir is not None and os.path.exists(homedir) is False:
     homedir = None
-else:
+elif homedir is not None and os.path.exists(homedir) is True:
     if os.path.isdir(homedir) is False:
         homedir = None
     else:
diff --git a/lang/python/examples/howto/export-secret-key.py b/lang/python/examples/howto/export-secret-key.py
index e7d4e3af..af1aa70a 100755
--- a/lang/python/examples/howto/export-secret-key.py
+++ b/lang/python/examples/howto/export-secret-key.py
@@ -65,9 +65,9 @@ elif homedir.startswith("~"):
 else:
     homedir = os.path.realpath(homedir)
 
-if os.path.exists(homedir) is False:
+if homedir is not None and os.path.exists(homedir) is False:
     homedir = None
-else:
+elif homedir is not None and os.path.exists(homedir) is True:
     if os.path.isdir(homedir) is False:
         homedir = None
     else:
diff --git a/lang/python/examples/howto/export-secret-keys.py b/lang/python/examples/howto/export-secret-keys.py
index f0fddc6d..f4e50085 100755
--- a/lang/python/examples/howto/export-secret-keys.py
+++ b/lang/python/examples/howto/export-secret-keys.py
@@ -74,9 +74,9 @@ elif homedir.startswith("~"):
 else:
     homedir = os.path.realpath(homedir)
 
-if os.path.exists(homedir) is False:
+if homedir is not None and os.path.exists(homedir) is False:
     homedir = None
-else:
+elif homedir is not None and os.path.exists(homedir) is True:
     if os.path.isdir(homedir) is False:
         homedir = None
     else:
diff --git a/lang/python/examples/howto/send-key-to-keyserver.py b/lang/python/examples/howto/send-key-to-keyserver.py
index 3541b198..261c8b65 100755
--- a/lang/python/examples/howto/send-key-to-keyserver.py
+++ b/lang/python/examples/howto/send-key-to-keyserver.py
@@ -60,9 +60,9 @@ elif homedir.startswith("~"):
 else:
     homedir = os.path.realpath(homedir)
 
-if os.path.exists(homedir) is False:
+if homedir is not None and os.path.exists(homedir) is False:
     homedir = None
-else:
+elif homedir is not None and os.path.exists(homedir) is True:
     if os.path.isdir(homedir) is False:
         homedir = None
     else: