diff --git a/monitor.py b/monitor.py
index 875891e9..e1fbf037 100644
--- a/monitor.py
+++ b/monitor.py
@@ -124,9 +124,16 @@ class EDLogs(FileSystemEventHandler):  # type: ignore # See below
 
     def start(self, root: 'tkinter.Tk'):
         self.root = root
-        logdir = expanduser(config.get('journaldir') or config.default_journal_dir)  # type: ignore # config is weird
+        journal_dir = config.get('journaldir') or config.default_journal_dir
 
-        if not logdir or not isdir(logdir):  # type: ignore # config does weird things in its get
+        if journal_dir is None:
+            journal_dir = ''
+        
+        # TODO(A_D): this is ignored for type checking due to all the different types config.get returns
+        # When that is refactored, remove the magic comment
+        logdir = expanduser(journal_dir)  # type: ignore # config is weird
+
+        if not logdir or not isdir(logdir):
             self.stop()
             return False