diff --git a/bbp_ng/OP_EXPORT_virtools.py b/bbp_ng/OP_EXPORT_virtools.py
index 4979b0a..7157c29 100644
--- a/bbp_ng/OP_EXPORT_virtools.py
+++ b/bbp_ng/OP_EXPORT_virtools.py
@@ -44,10 +44,16 @@ class BBP_OT_export_virtools(bpy.types.Operator, UTIL_file_browser.ExportVirtool
             self.report({'ERROR'}, 'You must specify at least one encoding for file saving (e.g. cp1252, gbk)!')
             return {'CANCELLED'}
 
+        # check file name
+        filename = self.general_get_filename()
+        if not os.path.isfile(filename):
+            self.report({'ERROR'}, 'No file was selected!')
+            return {'CANCELLED'}
+
         # start exporting
         with UTIL_ioport_shared.ExportEditModeBackup() as editmode_guard:
             _export_virtools(
-                self.general_get_filename(),
+                filename,
                 encodings,
                 texture_save_opt,
                 self.general_get_use_compress(),
@@ -74,7 +80,7 @@ _TTexturePair = tuple[bpy.types.Image, bmap.BMTexture]
 
 def _export_virtools(
         file_name_: str, 
-        encodings_: tuple[str], 
+        encodings_: tuple[str, ...], 
         texture_save_opt_: UTIL_virtools_types.CK_TEXTURE_SAVEOPTIONS,
         use_compress_: bool,
         compress_level_: int, 
diff --git a/bbp_ng/OP_IMPORT_virtools.py b/bbp_ng/OP_IMPORT_virtools.py
index 611cef8..58e3b07 100644
--- a/bbp_ng/OP_IMPORT_virtools.py
+++ b/bbp_ng/OP_IMPORT_virtools.py
@@ -32,8 +32,14 @@ class BBP_OT_import_virtools(bpy.types.Operator, UTIL_file_browser.ImportVirtool
             self.report({'ERROR'}, 'You must specify at least one encoding for file loading (e.g. cp1252, gbk)!')
             return {'CANCELLED'}
 
+        # check file name
+        filename = self.general_get_filename()
+        if not os.path.isfile(filename):
+            self.report({'ERROR'}, 'No file was selected!')
+            return {'CANCELLED'}
+
         _import_virtools(
-            self.general_get_filename(),
+            filename,
             encodings,
             self.general_get_conflict_resolver()
         )
@@ -46,7 +52,7 @@ class BBP_OT_import_virtools(bpy.types.Operator, UTIL_file_browser.ImportVirtool
         self.draw_virtools_params(context, layout, True)
         self.draw_ballance_params(layout, True)
 
-def _import_virtools(file_name_: str, encodings_: tuple[str], resolver: UTIL_ioport_shared.ConflictResolver) -> None:
+def _import_virtools(file_name_: str, encodings_: tuple[str, ...], resolver: UTIL_ioport_shared.ConflictResolver) -> None:
     # create temp folder
     with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as vt_temp_folder:
         tr_text: str = bpy.app.translations.pgettext_rpt(