diff --git a/lib/http_tools.sh b/lib/http_tools.sh
index 3c84f05..88afc0b 100755
--- a/lib/http_tools.sh
+++ b/lib/http_tools.sh
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ fi
 
 conditional_get () {
 
-	if ! $COMMAND_PATHS; then
+	if [ "$COMMAND_PATHS" != true ]; then
 		echo "ERROR: $FUNCNAME: global command paths not found" >&2
 		return 2
 	fi
@@ -418,8 +418,8 @@ conditional_get () {
 
 get_response_code () {
 
-	if ! $COMMAND_PATHS; then
-		echo "ERROR: global command paths not found" >&2
+	if [ "$COMMAND_PATHS" != true ]; then
+		echo "ERROR: $FUNCNAME: global command paths not found" >&2
 		return 2
 	fi
 	
@@ -460,8 +460,8 @@ get_response_code () {
 
 get_header_value () {
 
-	if ! $COMMAND_PATHS; then
-		echo "ERROR: global command paths not found" >&2
+	if [ "$COMMAND_PATHS" != true ]; then
+		echo "ERROR: $FUNCNAME: global command paths not found" >&2
 		return 2
 	fi
 	
diff --git a/lib/md_tools.sh b/lib/md_tools.sh
index 9ed23e1..1249787 100755
--- a/lib/md_tools.sh
+++ b/lib/md_tools.sh
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@ fi
 #######################################################################
 getEntityFromFile () {
 
-	if ! $COMMAND_PATHS; then
-		echo "ERROR: global command paths not found" >&2
+	if [ "$COMMAND_PATHS" != true ]; then
+		echo "ERROR: $FUNCNAME: global command paths not found" >&2
 		return 2
 	fi
 	
@@ -115,8 +115,8 @@ getEntityFromFile () {
 #######################################################################
 getEntityFromServer () {
 
-	if ! $COMMAND_PATHS; then
-		echo "ERROR: global command paths not found" >&2
+	if [ "$COMMAND_PATHS" != true ]; then
+		echo "ERROR: $FUNCNAME: global command paths not found" >&2
 		return 2
 	fi