diff --git a/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs b/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs
index c8a3ce716..36aab586a 100644
--- a/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs
+++ b/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs
@@ -1727,13 +1727,15 @@ pub unsafe extern "C" fn dc_imex(
 
     let ctx = &*context;
 
-    let param1 = to_opt_string_lossy(param1);
-
-    spawn(async move {
-        imex::imex(&ctx, what, param1)
-            .await
-            .log_err(ctx, "IMEX failed")
-    });
+    if let Some(param1) = to_opt_string_lossy(param1) {
+        spawn(async move {
+            imex::imex(&ctx, what, &param1)
+                .await
+                .log_err(ctx, "IMEX failed")
+        });
+    } else {
+        eprintln!("dc_imex called without a valid directory");
+    }
 }
 
 #[no_mangle]
diff --git a/examples/repl/cmdline.rs b/examples/repl/cmdline.rs
index c89126957..7d416d976 100644
--- a/examples/repl/cmdline.rs
+++ b/examples/repl/cmdline.rs
@@ -443,20 +443,20 @@ pub async fn cmdline(context: Context, line: &str, chat_id: &mut ChatId) -> Resu
         }
         "export-backup" => {
             let dir = dirs::home_dir().unwrap_or_default();
-            imex(&context, ImexMode::ExportBackup, Some(&dir)).await?;
+            imex(&context, ImexMode::ExportBackup, &dir).await?;
             println!("Exported to {}.", dir.to_string_lossy());
         }
         "import-backup" => {
             ensure!(!arg1.is_empty(), "Argument <backup-file> missing.");
-            imex(&context, ImexMode::ImportBackup, Some(arg1)).await?;
+            imex(&context, ImexMode::ImportBackup, arg1).await?;
         }
         "export-keys" => {
             let dir = dirs::home_dir().unwrap_or_default();
-            imex(&context, ImexMode::ExportSelfKeys, Some(&dir)).await?;
+            imex(&context, ImexMode::ExportSelfKeys, &dir).await?;
             println!("Exported to {}.", dir.to_string_lossy());
         }
         "import-keys" => {
-            imex(&context, ImexMode::ImportSelfKeys, Some(arg1)).await?;
+            imex(&context, ImexMode::ImportSelfKeys, arg1).await?;
         }
         "export-setup" => {
             let setup_code = create_setup_code(&context);
diff --git a/src/accounts.rs b/src/accounts.rs
index 1c4ba734e..5426525b6 100644
--- a/src/accounts.rs
+++ b/src/accounts.rs
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ impl Accounts {
         let id = self.add_account().await?;
         let ctx = self.get_account(id).await.expect("just added");
 
-        match crate::imex::imex(&ctx, crate::imex::ImexMode::ImportBackup, Some(file)).await {
+        match crate::imex::imex(&ctx, crate::imex::ImexMode::ImportBackup, &file).await {
             Ok(_) => Ok(id),
             Err(err) => {
                 // remove temp account
diff --git a/src/imex.rs b/src/imex.rs
index 9f78efd3e..ba3bde24e 100644
--- a/src/imex.rs
+++ b/src/imex.rs
@@ -79,11 +79,7 @@ pub enum ImexMode {
 ///
 /// Only one import-/export-progress can run at the same time.
 /// To cancel an import-/export-progress, drop the future returned by this function.
-pub async fn imex(
-    context: &Context,
-    what: ImexMode,
-    param1: Option<impl AsRef<Path>>,
-) -> Result<()> {
+pub async fn imex(context: &Context, what: ImexMode, param1: impl AsRef<Path>) -> Result<()> {
     let cancel = context.alloc_ongoing().await?;
 
     let res = async {
@@ -442,20 +438,10 @@ pub fn normalize_setup_code(s: &str) -> String {
     out
 }
 
-async fn imex_inner(
-    context: &Context,
-    what: ImexMode,
-    param: Option<impl AsRef<Path>>,
-) -> Result<()> {
-    let path = if let Some(ref p) = param {
-        info!(context, "Import/export dir: {}", p.as_ref().display());
-        p
-    } else {
-        return Err(format_err!("Imex: Param was None"));
-    };
-
-    context.emit_event(EventType::ImexProgress(10));
+async fn imex_inner(context: &Context, what: ImexMode, path: impl AsRef<Path>) -> Result<()> {
+    info!(context, "Import/export dir: {}", path.as_ref().display());
     ensure!(context.sql.is_open().await, "Database not opened.");
+    context.emit_event(EventType::ImexProgress(10));
 
     if what == ImexMode::ExportBackup || what == ImexMode::ExportSelfKeys {
         // before we export anything, make sure the private key exists
@@ -1089,16 +1075,16 @@ mod tests {
     async fn test_export_and_import_key() {
         let context = TestContext::new().await;
         context.configure_alice().await;
-        let blobdir = "$BLOBDIR";
-        assert!(imex(&context.ctx, ImexMode::ExportSelfKeys, Some(blobdir))
-            .await
-            .is_ok());
+        let blobdir = context.ctx.get_blobdir().to_str().unwrap();
+        if let Err(err) = imex(&context.ctx, ImexMode::ExportSelfKeys, blobdir).await {
+            panic!("got error on export: {:?}", err);
+        }
 
         let context2 = TestContext::new().await;
         context2.configure_alice().await;
-        assert!(imex(&context2.ctx, ImexMode::ImportSelfKeys, Some(blobdir))
-            .await
-            .is_ok());
+        if let Err(err) = imex(&context2.ctx, ImexMode::ImportSelfKeys, blobdir).await {
+            panic!("got error on import: {:?}", err);
+        }
     }
 
     #[test]