diff --git a/gramps/gen/db/generic.py b/gramps/gen/db/generic.py
index 9030e5594..3f2de01f9 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/db/generic.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/db/generic.py
@@ -2025,13 +2025,14 @@ class DbGeneric(DbWriteBase, DbReadBase, UpdateCallback, Callback):
         """
         In DbGeneric, the database is in a text file at the path
         """
-        filepath = os.path.join(self._directory, "name.txt")
-        try:
-            with open(filepath, "r") as name_file:
-                name = name_file.readline().strip()
-        except (OSError, IOError) as msg:
-            LOG.error(str(msg))
-            name = None
+        name = None
+        if self._directory:
+            filepath = os.path.join(self._directory, "name.txt")
+            try:
+                with open(filepath, "r") as name_file:
+                    name = name_file.readline().strip()
+            except (OSError, IOError) as msg:
+                LOG.error(str(msg))
         return name
 
     def _order_by_person_key(self, person):