diff --git a/library/database/mysql_db b/library/database/mysql_db
index 184c30381c..36ba6369e8 100644
--- a/library/database/mysql_db
+++ b/library/database/mysql_db
@@ -283,7 +283,8 @@ def main():
     target = module.params["target"]
 
     # make sure the target path is expanded for ~ and $HOME
-    target = os.path.expandvars(os.path.expanduser(target))
+    if target is not None:
+        target = os.path.expandvars(os.path.expanduser(target))
 
     # Either the caller passes both a username and password with which to connect to
     # mysql, or they pass neither and allow this module to read the credentials from