diff --git a/src/cmake.cc b/src/cmake.cc
index ea756f37..cd6e752e 100644
--- a/src/cmake.cc
+++ b/src/cmake.cc
@@ -34,14 +34,9 @@ CMake::CMake(const boost::filesystem::path &path) {
 }
 
 bool CMake::update_default_build(const boost::filesystem::path &default_build_path, bool force) {
-  if(project_path.empty())
+  if(project_path.empty() || !boost::filesystem::exists(project_path/"CMakeLists.txt") || default_build_path.empty())
     return false;
   
-  if(!boost::filesystem::exists(project_path/"CMakeLists.txt"))
-    return false;
-  
-  if(default_build_path.empty())
-    return false;
   if(!boost::filesystem::exists(default_build_path)) {
     boost::system::error_code ec;
     boost::filesystem::create_directories(default_build_path, ec);
@@ -82,14 +77,9 @@ bool CMake::update_default_build(const boost::filesystem::path &default_build_pa
 }
 
 bool CMake::update_debug_build(const boost::filesystem::path &debug_build_path, bool force) {
-  if(project_path.empty())
+  if(project_path.empty() || !boost::filesystem::exists(project_path/"CMakeLists.txt") || debug_build_path.empty())
     return false;
   
-  if(!boost::filesystem::exists(project_path/"CMakeLists.txt"))
-    return false;
-  
-  if(debug_build_path.empty())
-    return false;
   if(!boost::filesystem::exists(debug_build_path)) {
     boost::system::error_code ec;
     boost::filesystem::create_directories(debug_build_path, ec);
diff --git a/src/compile_commands.cc b/src/compile_commands.cc
index d3f6a387..8e69c3b9 100644
--- a/src/compile_commands.cc
+++ b/src/compile_commands.cc
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ CompileCommands::CompileCommands(const boost::filesystem::path &build_path) {
       bool backslash=false;
       bool single_quote=false;
       bool double_quote=false;
-      size_t parameter_start_pos=-1;
+      size_t parameter_start_pos=std::string::npos;
       size_t parameter_size=0;
       auto add_parameter=[&parameters, &parameters_str, &parameter_start_pos, &parameter_size] {
         auto parameter=parameters_str.substr(parameter_start_pos, parameter_size);
@@ -49,9 +49,9 @@ CompileCommands::CompileCommands(const boost::filesystem::path &build_path) {
         else if(parameters_str[c]=='\\')
           backslash=true;
         else if((parameters_str[c]==' ' || parameters_str[c]=='\t') && !backslash && !single_quote && !double_quote) {
-          if(parameter_start_pos!=static_cast<size_t>(-1)) {
+          if(parameter_start_pos!=std::string::npos) {
             add_parameter();
-            parameter_start_pos=-1;
+            parameter_start_pos=std::string::npos;
             parameter_size=0;
           }
           continue;
@@ -65,11 +65,11 @@ CompileCommands::CompileCommands(const boost::filesystem::path &build_path) {
           continue;
         }
         
-        if(parameter_start_pos==static_cast<size_t>(-1))
+        if(parameter_start_pos==std::string::npos)
           parameter_start_pos=c;
         ++parameter_size;
       }
-      if(parameter_start_pos!=static_cast<size_t>(-1))
+      if(parameter_start_pos!=std::string::npos)
         add_parameter();
       
       commands.emplace_back(Command{directory, parameters, boost::filesystem::absolute(file, build_path)});
diff --git a/src/compile_commands.h b/src/compile_commands.h
index 37476514..f065a2a0 100644
--- a/src/compile_commands.h
+++ b/src/compile_commands.h
@@ -20,4 +20,4 @@ class CompileCommands {
   std::vector<Command> commands;
 };
 
-#endif // JUCI_COMPILE_COMMANDS_H_
\ No newline at end of file
+#endif // JUCI_COMPILE_COMMANDS_H_
diff --git a/src/meson.cc b/src/meson.cc
index ccab7e15..7a8737af 100644
--- a/src/meson.cc
+++ b/src/meson.cc
@@ -33,14 +33,9 @@ Meson::Meson(const boost::filesystem::path &path) {
 }
 
 bool Meson::update_default_build(const boost::filesystem::path &default_build_path, bool force) {
-  if(project_path.empty())
+  if(project_path.empty() || !boost::filesystem::exists(project_path/"meson.build") || default_build_path.empty())
       return false;
   
-  if(!boost::filesystem::exists(project_path/"meson.build"))
-    return false;
-  
-  if(default_build_path.empty())
-    return false;
   if(!boost::filesystem::exists(default_build_path)) {
     boost::system::error_code ec;
     boost::filesystem::create_directories(default_build_path, ec);
@@ -65,14 +60,9 @@ bool Meson::update_default_build(const boost::filesystem::path &default_build_pa
 }
 
 bool Meson::update_debug_build(const boost::filesystem::path &debug_build_path, bool force) {
-  if(project_path.empty())
+  if(project_path.empty() || !boost::filesystem::exists(project_path/"meson.build") || debug_build_path.empty())
     return false;
   
-  if(!boost::filesystem::exists(project_path/"meson.build"))
-    return false;
-  
-  if(debug_build_path.empty())
-    return false;
   if(!boost::filesystem::exists(debug_build_path)) {
     boost::system::error_code ec;
     boost::filesystem::create_directories(debug_build_path, ec);
diff --git a/src/project.cc b/src/project.cc
index 05c05590..6b39b05c 100644
--- a/src/project.cc
+++ b/src/project.cc
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ void Project::Clang::recreate_build() {
 std::pair<std::string, std::string> Project::Clang::debug_get_run_arguments() {
   auto debug_build_path=build->get_debug_path();
   auto default_build_path=build->get_default_path();
-  if(debug_build_path.empty())
+  if(debug_build_path.empty() || default_build_path.empty())
     return {"", ""};
   
   auto project_path=build->project_path.string();
@@ -384,11 +384,10 @@ Gtk::Popover *Project::Clang::debug_get_options() {
 
 void Project::Clang::debug_start() {
   auto debug_build_path=build->get_debug_path();
-  if(debug_build_path.empty() || !build->update_debug())
-    return;
   auto default_build_path=build->get_default_path();
-  if(default_build_path.empty())
+  if(debug_build_path.empty() || !build->update_debug() || default_build_path.empty())
     return;
+  
   auto project_path=std::make_shared<boost::filesystem::path>(build->project_path);
   
   auto run_arguments_it=debug_run_arguments.find(project_path->string());
diff --git a/tests/meson_build_test.cc b/tests/meson_build_test.cc
index 6584287f..97b5caa6 100644
--- a/tests/meson_build_test.cc
+++ b/tests/meson_build_test.cc
@@ -31,4 +31,4 @@ int main() {
   
   build=Project::Build::create(meson_test_files_path/"a_subdir");
   g_assert(dynamic_cast<Project::MesonBuild*>(build.get()));
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}