diff --git a/gramps/plugins/lib/libmetadata.py b/gramps/plugins/lib/libmetadata.py
index 46293aca3..d1166921d 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/lib/libmetadata.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/lib/libmetadata.py
@@ -21,6 +21,13 @@
 #
 # $Id$
 #
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+#
+# Python modules
+#
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+import os
+
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
 # GNOME modules
@@ -172,10 +179,13 @@ class MetadataView(Gtk.TreeView):
         """
         self.sections = {}
         self.model.clear()
-
-        try:
-            metadata = GExiv2.Metadata(full_path)
-        except:
+        
+        if os.path.exists(full_path):
+            try:
+                metadata = GExiv2.Metadata(full_path)
+            except:
+                return False
+        else:
             return False
 
         get_human = metadata.get_tag_interpreted_string
@@ -221,9 +231,12 @@ class MetadataView(Gtk.TreeView):
         """
         Return True if the gramplet has data, else return False.
         """
-        try:
-            metadata = GExiv2.Metadata(full_path)
-        except:
+        if os.path.exists(full_path):
+            try:
+                metadata = GExiv2.Metadata(full_path)
+            except:
+                return False
+        else:
             return False
 
         for tag in TAGS: