diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 05f5ef3..4b1fd1a 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,14 @@ All notable changes to WuttaSync will be documented in this file.
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](http://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/)
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
+## v0.2.1 (2025-06-29)
+
+### Fix
+
+- avoid empty keys for importer
+- do not assign simple/supported fields in Importer constructor
+- make `--input-path` optional for import/export commands
+
 ## v0.2.0 (2024-12-07)
 
 ### Feat
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index a198b0e..fc09dc9 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ build-backend = "hatchling.build"
 
 [project]
 name = "WuttaSync"
-version = "0.2.0"
+version = "0.2.1"
 description = "Wutta Framework for data import/export and real-time sync"
 readme = "README.md"
 authors = [{name = "Lance Edgar", email = "lance@wuttaproject.org"}]
diff --git a/src/wuttasync/importing/base.py b/src/wuttasync/importing/base.py
index 59017d7..6e06cfb 100644
--- a/src/wuttasync/importing/base.py
+++ b/src/wuttasync/importing/base.py
@@ -200,8 +200,6 @@ class Importer:
 
         self.__dict__.update(kwargs)
 
-        self.simple_fields = self.get_simple_fields()
-        self.supported_fields = self.get_supported_fields()
         self.fields = self.get_fields()
 
         # fields could be comma-delimited string from cli param
diff --git a/src/wuttasync/importing/handlers.py b/src/wuttasync/importing/handlers.py
index ac3f89f..03a6179 100644
--- a/src/wuttasync/importing/handlers.py
+++ b/src/wuttasync/importing/handlers.py
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ class ImportHandler(GenericHandler):
         """
         Run import/export operations for the specified models.
 
-        :param \*keys: One or more importer/exporter (model) keys, as
+        :param \\*keys: One or more importer/exporter (model) keys, as
            defined by the handler.
 
         Each key specified must be present in :attr:`importers` and
@@ -460,6 +460,9 @@ class ImportHandler(GenericHandler):
         Returns an importer/exporter instance corresponding to the
         given key.
 
+        Note that this will always create a *new* instance; they are
+        not cached.
+
         The key will be the "model name" mapped to a particular
         importer/exporter class and thus must be present in
         :attr:`importers`.
@@ -472,6 +475,8 @@ class ImportHandler(GenericHandler):
 
         :param key: Model key for desired importer/exporter.
 
+        :param \\**kwargs: Extra/override kwargs for the importer.
+
         :returns: Instance of (subclass of)
            :class:`~wuttasync.importing.base.Importer`.
         """
@@ -481,6 +486,11 @@ class ImportHandler(GenericHandler):
 
         kwargs = self.get_importer_kwargs(key, **kwargs)
         kwargs['handler'] = self
+
+        # nb. default logic should (normally) determine keys
+        if 'keys' in kwargs and not kwargs['keys']:
+            del kwargs['keys']
+
         factory = self.importers[key]
         return factory(self.config, **kwargs)
 
@@ -493,7 +503,7 @@ class ImportHandler(GenericHandler):
         :param key: Model key for the desired importer/exporter,
            e.g. ``'Widget'``
 
-        :param \**kwargs: Any kwargs we have so collected far.
+        :param \\**kwargs: Any kwargs we have so collected far.
 
         :returns: Final kwargs dict for new importer/exporter.
         """
diff --git a/tests/importing/test_base.py b/tests/importing/test_base.py
index ff2ca6e..feab115 100644
--- a/tests/importing/test_base.py
+++ b/tests/importing/test_base.py
@@ -24,8 +24,6 @@ class TestImporter(DataTestCase):
         imp = self.make_importer(model_class=model.Setting)
 
         # fields
-        self.assertEqual(imp.supported_fields, ['name', 'value'])
-        self.assertEqual(imp.simple_fields, ['name', 'value'])
         self.assertEqual(imp.fields, ['name', 'value'])
 
         # orientation etc.
diff --git a/tests/importing/test_handlers.py b/tests/importing/test_handlers.py
index dac37d6..3c2fe49 100644
--- a/tests/importing/test_handlers.py
+++ b/tests/importing/test_handlers.py
@@ -169,6 +169,18 @@ class TestImportHandler(DataTestCase):
         importer = handler.get_importer('Setting', model_class=model.Setting)
         self.assertIsInstance(importer, Importer)
 
+        # specifying empty keys
+        handler.importers['Setting'] = Importer
+        importer = handler.get_importer('Setting', model_class=model.Setting,
+                                        keys=None)
+        self.assertIsInstance(importer, Importer)
+        importer = handler.get_importer('Setting', model_class=model.Setting,
+                                        keys='')
+        self.assertIsInstance(importer, Importer)
+        importer = handler.get_importer('Setting', model_class=model.Setting,
+                                        keys=[])
+        self.assertIsInstance(importer, Importer)
+
         # key not found
         self.assertRaises(KeyError, handler.get_importer, 'BunchOfNonsense', model_class=model.Setting)