diff --git a/gramps/plugins/lib/maps/geography.py b/gramps/plugins/lib/maps/geography.py
index 80c762746..a2bc7ed0c 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/lib/maps/geography.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/lib/maps/geography.py
@@ -142,8 +142,27 @@ class GeoGraphyView(OsmGps, NavigationView):
         self.centerlat = config.get("geography.center-lat")
         self.zoom = config.get("geography.zoom")
         self.lock = config.get("geography.lock")
-        if config.get('geography.path') == "":
+        tile_path = config.get('geography.path')
+        if tile_path == "":
             config.set('geography.path', GEOGRAPHY_PATH)
+        else:
+            # verify is the path always exists
+            if os.path.exists(tile_path) and os.path.isdir(tile_path):
+                self.tile_path_ok = True
+            else:
+                self.tile_path_ok = False
+                try:
+                    os.makedirs(tile_path, 0o755) # create dir like mkdir -p
+                except:
+                    from gramps.gui.dialog import WarningDialog
+                    WarningDialog(_("Tile path"),
+                                  _("The tile directory doesn't exist anymore:"
+                                    "\n%s\nTrying to create a new one failed."
+                                    "\nConfigure the view for the tile path"
+                                    " and restart gramps."
+                                    % tile_path),
+                                  parent=uistate.window)
+
         if not config.is_set('geography.personal-map'):
             config.set('geography.personal-map', "")
 
@@ -274,11 +293,12 @@ class GeoGraphyView(OsmGps, NavigationView):
         """
         Clear the map: places, markers, tracks, messages...
         """
-        self.place_list = []
-        self.remove_all_markers()
-        self.remove_all_gps()
-        self.remove_all_tracks()
-        self.message_layer.clear_messages()
+        if self.osm is not None:
+            self.place_list = []
+            self.remove_all_markers()
+            self.remove_all_gps()
+            self.remove_all_tracks()
+            self.message_layer.clear_messages()
 
     def change_db(self, dbse):
         """
@@ -291,7 +311,10 @@ class GeoGraphyView(OsmGps, NavigationView):
         dummy_dbse = dbse
         if self.active:
             self.bookmarks.redraw()
-        self.build_tree()
+        if self.osm is not None:
+            self.build_tree()
+            self.osm.grab_focus()
+            self.set_crosshair(config.get("geography.show_cross"))
 
     def can_configure(self):
         """
@@ -541,7 +564,8 @@ class GeoGraphyView(OsmGps, NavigationView):
         """
         Remove the specified layer
         """
-        self.osm.remove_layer(layer)
+        if self.osm is not None:
+            self.osm.remove_layer(layer)
 
     def add_marker(self, menu, event, lat, lon, event_type, differtype,
                    count, color=None):
@@ -568,19 +592,22 @@ class GeoGraphyView(OsmGps, NavigationView):
         """
         Remove all gps points on the map
         """
-        self.osm.gps_clear()
+        if self.osm is not None:
+            self.osm.gps_clear()
 
     def remove_all_tracks(self):
         """
         Remove all tracks on the map
         """
-        self.osm.track_remove_all()
+        if self.osm is not None:
+            self.osm.track_remove_all()
 
     def remove_all_markers(self):
         """
         Remove all markers on the map
         """
-        self.marker_layer.clear_markers()
+        if self.osm is not None:
+            self.marker_layer.clear_markers()
 
     def _present_in_places_list(self, index, string):
         """
diff --git a/gramps/plugins/view/geoclose.py b/gramps/plugins/view/geoclose.py
index a731525dc..99e96cc24 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/view/geoclose.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/view/geoclose.py
@@ -293,6 +293,8 @@ class GeoClose(GeoGraphyView):
         """
         Rebuild the tree with the given person handle as the root.
         """
+        if self.osm is None:
+            return
         self.place_list_active = []
         self.place_list_ref = []
         self.all_place_list = []
@@ -402,6 +404,8 @@ class GeoClose(GeoGraphyView):
         all handling of visibility is now in rebuild_trees, see that for more
         information.
         """
+        if self.osm is None:
+            return
         self.lifeway_layer.clear_ways()
         if not self.dbstate.is_open():
             return
diff --git a/gramps/plugins/view/geoevents.py b/gramps/plugins/view/geoevents.py
index a0b3bc025..f6f9ad066 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/view/geoevents.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/view/geoevents.py
@@ -216,6 +216,8 @@ class GeoEvents(GeoGraphyView):
         """
         Rebuild the tree with the given events handle as the root.
         """
+        if self.osm is None:
+            return
         self.places_found = []
         self.build_tree()
 
@@ -232,6 +234,8 @@ class GeoEvents(GeoGraphyView):
         all handling of visibility is now in rebuild_trees, see that for more
         information.
         """
+        if self.osm is None:
+            return
         if not self.dbstate.is_open():
             return
         active = self.uistate.get_active('Event')
@@ -320,6 +324,8 @@ class GeoEvents(GeoGraphyView):
         Create all markers for each people's event in the database which has
         a lat/lon.
         """
+        if self.osm is None:
+            return
         dbstate = self.dbstate
         self.place_list = []
         self.places_found = []
diff --git a/gramps/plugins/view/geofamclose.py b/gramps/plugins/view/geofamclose.py
index 912958fc4..c03057717 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/view/geofamclose.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/view/geofamclose.py
@@ -325,6 +325,8 @@ class GeoFamClose(GeoGraphyView):
         """
         Rebuild the tree with the given family handle as reference.
         """
+        if self.osm is None:
+            return
         self.place_list_active = []
         self.place_list_ref = []
         self.all_place_list = []
@@ -395,6 +397,8 @@ class GeoFamClose(GeoGraphyView):
         all handling of visibility is now in rebuild_trees, see that for more
         information.
         """
+        if self.osm is None:
+            return
         self.lifeway_layer.clear_ways()
         if not self.dbstate.is_open():
             return
diff --git a/gramps/plugins/view/geofamily.py b/gramps/plugins/view/geofamily.py
index 942c20051..e629f3fc0 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/view/geofamily.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/view/geofamily.py
@@ -216,6 +216,8 @@ class GeoFamily(GeoGraphyView):
         """
         Rebuild the tree with the given person handle as the root.
         """
+        if self.osm is None:
+            return
         self.build_tree()
 
     def build_tree(self):
@@ -435,6 +437,8 @@ class GeoFamily(GeoGraphyView):
         Create all markers for each people's event in the database which has
         a lat/lon.
         """
+        if self.osm is None:
+            return
         if not handle:
             return
         self.place_list = []
diff --git a/gramps/plugins/view/geomoves.py b/gramps/plugins/view/geomoves.py
index 23c4d711a..d31c05899 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/view/geomoves.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/view/geomoves.py
@@ -269,6 +269,8 @@ class GeoMoves(GeoGraphyView):
         """
         Rebuild the tree with the given family handle as reference.
         """
+        if self.osm is None:
+            return
         if not self.started:
             self.started = True
         self.place_list_active = []
@@ -290,6 +292,8 @@ class GeoMoves(GeoGraphyView):
         all handling of visibility is now in rebuild_trees, see that for more
         information.
         """
+        if self.osm is None:
+            return
         self.place_list_active = []
         self.place_list_ref = []
         self.sort = []
diff --git a/gramps/plugins/view/geoperson.py b/gramps/plugins/view/geoperson.py
index 1134ecca7..ed4e2dc8d 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/view/geoperson.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/view/geoperson.py
@@ -266,6 +266,8 @@ class GeoPerson(GeoGraphyView):
         """
         Rebuild the tree with the given person handle as the root.
         """
+        if self.osm is None:
+            return
         active = self.get_active()
         self._createmap(None)
         self.uistate.modify_statusbar(self.dbstate)
@@ -356,6 +358,8 @@ class GeoPerson(GeoGraphyView):
         a lat/lon.
         @param: active is mandatory but unused in this view. Fix : 10088
         """
+        if self.osm is None:
+            return
         dbstate = self.dbstate
         self.cal = config.get('preferences.calendar-format-report')
         self.place_list = []
diff --git a/gramps/plugins/view/geoplaces.py b/gramps/plugins/view/geoplaces.py
index bc520c7ff..64b08567a 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/view/geoplaces.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/view/geoplaces.py
@@ -267,6 +267,8 @@ class GeoPlaces(GeoGraphyView):
         """
         Rebuild the tree with the given places handle as the root.
         """
+        if self.osm is None:
+            return
         self.places_found = []
         self.build_tree()
 
@@ -332,6 +334,8 @@ class GeoPlaces(GeoGraphyView):
         Create all markers for each people's event in the database which has
         a lat/lon.
         """
+        if self.osm is None:
+            return
         dbstate = self.dbstate
         self.place_list = []
         self.places_found = []