diff --git a/bwkeepass.py b/bwkeepass.py
index faafb87..69e6294 100644
--- a/bwkeepass.py
+++ b/bwkeepass.py
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ except (FileNotFoundError, IndexError):
 
 
 def _get_contents_from_keepass(path):
+    if not KEEPASS_FILE or not KEEPASS_PASS:
+        raise FaultUnavailable('BW_KEEPASS_FILE and/or BW_KEEPASS_PASSWORD missing')
+
     if isinstance(path, list):
         list_path = path
         string_path = '|'.join(path)
@@ -47,9 +50,6 @@ def _get_contents_from_keepass(path):
         path=list_path,
         file=KEEPASS_FILE,
     )):
-        if not KEEPASS_FILE or not KEEPASS_PASS:
-            raise FaultUnavailable('BW_KEEPASS_FILE and/or BW_KEEPASS_PASSWORD missing')
-
         try:
             keepass = PyKeePass(expanduser(KEEPASS_FILE), KEEPASS_PASS)