diff --git a/src/classes/PMsr2Data.cpp b/src/classes/PMsr2Data.cpp
index 00797ea7..0f44e5ad 100644
--- a/src/classes/PMsr2Data.cpp
+++ b/src/classes/PMsr2Data.cpp
@@ -1304,15 +1304,16 @@ bool PMsr2Data::PrepareGlobalInputFile(unsigned int tempRun, const string &msrOu
 
       // and do the fitting
       // check if MUSRFITPATH is set, if not issue a warning
-      string path;
-      try {
-        path = boost::lexical_cast<string>(getenv("MUSRFITPATH"));
-        path.append("/");
-      }
-      catch(boost::bad_lexical_cast &) {
+      string path("");
+      char *pathPtr(getenv("MUSRFITPATH"));
+      if (pathPtr) {
+        path = boost::lexical_cast<string>(pathPtr);
+        if (!path.empty()) {
+          path.append("/");
+        }
+      } else {
         cerr << endl << ">> msr2data: **WARNING** The MUSRFITPATH environment variable is not set!";
         cerr << endl << ">> msr2data: **WARNING** Please set it or at least ensure that musrfit can be found on the PATH!" << endl;
-        path = "";
       }
       ostringstream oss;
       oss << path << "musrfit" << " " << *fRunVectorIter << "-OneRunFit" << fFileExtension << ".msr";
diff --git a/src/msr2data.cpp b/src/msr2data.cpp
index 63dc7da3..bb57af86 100644
--- a/src/msr2data.cpp
+++ b/src/msr2data.cpp
@@ -689,15 +689,16 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
       // and do the fitting
       if (!onlyInputCreation) {
         // check if MUSRFITPATH is set, if not issue a warning
-        string path;
-        try {
-          path = boost::lexical_cast<string>(getenv("MUSRFITPATH"));
-          path.append("/");
-        }
-        catch(boost::bad_lexical_cast &) {
+        string path("");
+        char *pathPtr(getenv("MUSRFITPATH"));
+        if (pathPtr) {
+          path = boost::lexical_cast<string>(pathPtr);
+          if (!path.empty()) {
+            path.append("/");
+          }
+        } else {
           cerr << endl << ">> msr2data: **WARNING** The MUSRFITPATH environment variable is not set!";
           cerr << endl << ">> msr2data: **WARNING** Please set it or at least ensure that musrfit can be found on the PATH!" << endl;
-          path = "";
         }
         ostringstream oss;
         oss << path << "musrfit" << " " << strInfile.str() << " " << musrfitOptions;
@@ -774,15 +775,16 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
       // and do the fitting
         if (!onlyInputCreation) {
           // check if MUSRFITPATH is set, if not issue a warning
-          string path;
-          try {
-            path = boost::lexical_cast<string>(getenv("MUSRFITPATH"));
-            path.append("/");
-          }
-          catch(boost::bad_lexical_cast &) {
+          string path("");
+          char *pathPtr(getenv("MUSRFITPATH"));
+          if (pathPtr) {
+            path = boost::lexical_cast<string>(pathPtr);
+            if (!path.empty()) {
+              path.append("/");
+            }
+          } else {
             cerr << endl << ">> msr2data: **WARNING** The MUSRFITPATH environment variable is not set!";
             cerr << endl << ">> msr2data: **WARNING** Please set it or at least ensure that musrfit can be found on the PATH!" << endl;
-            path = "";
           }
           ostringstream oss;
           oss << path << "musrfit" << " " << strInfile.str() << " " << musrfitOptions;