diff --git a/libkeyringctl/cli.py b/libkeyringctl/cli.py
index 881c666..5fa9087 100644
--- a/libkeyringctl/cli.py
+++ b/libkeyringctl/cli.py
@@ -133,15 +133,17 @@ def main() -> None:
                     )
                 )
             elif "export" == args.subcommand:
-                print(
-                    export(
-                        working_dir=working_dir,
-                        keyring_root=keyring_root,
-                        sources=args.source,
-                        output=args.output,
-                    ),
-                    end="",
+                result = export(
+                    working_dir=working_dir,
+                    keyring_root=keyring_root,
+                    sources=args.source,
+                    output=args.output,
                 )
+                if result:
+                    print(
+                        result,
+                        end="",
+                    )
             elif "build" == args.subcommand:
                 build(
                     working_dir=working_dir,
diff --git a/libkeyringctl/keyring.py b/libkeyringctl/keyring.py
index 07f9768..5c2128a 100644
--- a/libkeyringctl/keyring.py
+++ b/libkeyringctl/keyring.py
@@ -62,8 +62,6 @@ def get_cert_paths(paths: Iterable[Path]) -> Set[Path]:
     visit: List[Path] = list(paths)
     while visit:
         path = visit.pop()
-        if not path.exists():
-            continue
         # this level contains a certificate, abort depth search
         if list(path.glob("*.asc")):
             cert_paths.add(path)
@@ -580,7 +578,7 @@ def convert(
         get_fingerprints(
             working_dir=working_dir,
             sources=source,
-            paths=[keyring_root],
+            paths=[keyring_root] if keyring_root.exists() else [],
         ).keys()
     )
 
@@ -832,7 +830,7 @@ def export(
     keyring_root: Path,
     sources: Optional[List[Path]] = None,
     output: Optional[Path] = None,
-) -> str:
+) -> Optional[str]:
     """Export all provided PGP packet files to a single output file
 
     If sources contains directories, any .asc files below them are considered.
@@ -876,6 +874,9 @@ def export(
         )
         certificates.append(output_path)
 
+    if not certificates:
+        return None
+
     return keyring_merge(certificates, output, force=True)