theskumar / theskumar/python-dotenv
dotenv get exits with code 1 for empty string values
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Description
Description
dotenv get KEY treats an empty string value as missing because the CLI uses a truthiness check (if stored_value:) instead of testing for key presence / None.
Empty values are valid in .env files (KEY= or KEY=""). The library API already returns them correctly via get_key / dotenv_values; only the CLI get command is wrong.
Steps to reproduce
import subprocess, sys, tempfile
from pathlib import Path
from dotenv import set_key
with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as directory:
path = Path(directory) / ".env"
set_key(path, "EMPTY", "")
result = subprocess.run(
[sys.executable, "-m", "dotenv", "-f", str(path), "get", "EMPTY"],
capture_output=True,
text=True,
)
print(result.returncode, repr(result.stdout))
Expected behavior
0 ''
(exit code 0, empty value printed)
Actual behavior
1 ''
(exit code 1 — same as a missing key)
dotenv get ZERO with ZERO=0 works (exit 0), so only falsy-but-present empty strings are affected.
Environment
- python-dotenv: 1.2.3 (current
main) - Python: 3.14
- OS: Windows
Suggested fix
In src/dotenv/cli.py get, distinguish missing/None from an empty string, e.g. exit only when the key is absent or the stored value is None.
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start in src/dotenv/cli.py at the dotenv get command and inspect how it distinguishes a missing key from an empty value. Reproduce the issue with the Python subprocess example in the report; done means an existing empty value prints an empty string and exits with code 0, while a missing key still exits with code 1.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- python
- Domain
- cli
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 2/5
- Estimated time
- 1-3 hours
- Activity status
- Active
- Clarity
- Clearly specified
- Newbie friendliness
- 88/100