diff --git a/.pylintrc b/.pylintrc
index e634a21..d917385 100644
--- a/.pylintrc
+++ b/.pylintrc
@@ -2,4 +2,8 @@
 
 [MESSAGES CONTROL]
 disable=all
-enable=dangerous-default-value
+enable=dangerous-default-value,
+        inconsistent-return-statements,
+        redefined-argument-from-local,
+        unspecified-encoding,
+        unused-import,
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/app.py b/src/wuttjamaican/app.py
index c7d0e23..7047f43 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/app.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/app.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 ################################################################################
 #
 #  WuttJamaican -- Base package for Wutta Framework
-#  Copyright © 2023-2024 Lance Edgar
+#  Copyright © 2023-2025 Lance Edgar
 #
 #  This file is part of Wutta Framework.
 #
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 WuttJamaican - app handler
 """
 
-import datetime
 import importlib
 import logging
 import os
@@ -230,7 +229,7 @@ class AppHandler:
 
         If ``obj`` is *not* specified, this behaves a bit differently.
         It first will look for a :term:`config setting` named
-        ``wutta.app_dist`` (or similar, dpending on :attr:`appname`).
+        ``wutta.app_dist`` (or similar, depending on :attr:`appname`).
         If there is such a config value, it is returned.  Otherwise
         the "auto-locate" logic described above happens, but using
         ``self`` instead of ``obj``.
@@ -281,8 +280,7 @@ class AppHandler:
             return dist
 
         # fall back to configured dist, if obj lookup failed
-        if obj is not None:
-            return self.config.get(f'{self.appname}.app_dist')
+        return self.config.get(f'{self.appname}.app_dist')
 
     def get_version(self, dist=None, obj=None):
         """
@@ -302,6 +300,7 @@ class AppHandler:
             dist = self.get_distribution(obj=obj)
         if dist:
             return version(dist)
+        return None
 
     def get_model(self):
         """
@@ -464,7 +463,7 @@ class AppHandler:
         """
         output = template.render(**context)
         if output_path:
-            with open(output_path, 'wt') as f:
+            with open(output_path, 'wt', encoding='utf_8') as f:
                 f.write(output)
         return output
 
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/auth.py b/src/wuttjamaican/auth.py
index 0643cff..fa3054f 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/auth.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/auth.py
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ class AuthHandler(GenericHandler):
         if user and user.active and user.password:
             if self.check_user_password(user, password):
                 return user
+        return None
 
     def authenticate_user_token(self, session, token):
         """
@@ -122,6 +123,7 @@ class AuthHandler(GenericHandler):
             user = token.user
             if user.active:
                 return user
+        return None
 
     def check_user_password(self, user, password, **kwargs):
         """
@@ -158,7 +160,7 @@ class AuthHandler(GenericHandler):
         model = self.app.model
 
         if not key:
-            return
+            return None
 
         # maybe it is a uuid
         if isinstance(key, _uuid.UUID):
@@ -188,6 +190,7 @@ class AuthHandler(GenericHandler):
                               session=session)
         if key:
             return self.get_role(session, key)
+        return None
 
     def get_user(self, obj, session=None, **kwargs):
         """
@@ -256,6 +259,7 @@ class AuthHandler(GenericHandler):
         person = self.app.get_person(obj)
         if person:
             return person.user
+        return None
 
     def make_person(self, **kwargs):
         """
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/conf.py b/src/wuttjamaican/conf.py
index 3eff415..103d2cc 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/conf.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/conf.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 ################################################################################
 #
 #  WuttJamaican -- Base package for Wutta Framework
-#  Copyright © 2023-2024 Lance Edgar
+#  Copyright © 2023-2025 Lance Edgar
 #
 #  This file is part of Wutta Framework.
 #
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ WuttJamaican - app configuration
 """
 
 import configparser
-import importlib
 import logging
 import logging.config
 import os
@@ -274,7 +273,7 @@ class WuttaConfig:
         # re-write as temp file with "final" values
         fd, temp_path = tempfile.mkstemp(suffix='.ini')
         os.close(fd)
-        with open(temp_path, 'wt') as f:
+        with open(temp_path, 'wt', encoding='utf_8') as f:
             temp_config.write(f)
 
         # and finally, load that into our main config
@@ -286,14 +285,14 @@ class WuttaConfig:
         # bring in any "required" files
         requires = config.get(f'{self.appname}.config.require')
         if requires:
-            for path in self.parse_list(requires):
-                self._load_ini_configs(path, configs, require=True)
+            for p in self.parse_list(requires):
+                self._load_ini_configs(p, configs, require=True)
 
         # bring in any "included" files
         includes = config.get(f'{self.appname}.config.include')
         if includes:
-            for path in self.parse_list(includes):
-                self._load_ini_configs(path, configs, require=False)
+            for p in self.parse_list(includes):
+                self._load_ini_configs(p, configs, require=False)
 
     def get_prioritized_files(self):
         """
@@ -467,6 +466,8 @@ class WuttaConfig:
         if default is not UNSPECIFIED:
             return default
 
+        return None
+
     def get_from_db(self, key, session=None, **kwargs):
         """
         Retrieve a config value from database settings table.
@@ -511,6 +512,7 @@ class WuttaConfig:
         value = self.get(*args, **kwargs)
         if value is not None:
             return int(value)
+        return None
 
     def get_list(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """
@@ -525,6 +527,7 @@ class WuttaConfig:
         value = self.get(*args, **kwargs)
         if value is not None:
             return self.parse_list(value)
+        return None
 
     def get_dict(self, prefix):
         """
@@ -611,7 +614,7 @@ class WuttaConfig:
         # write INI file and return path
         fd, path = tempfile.mkstemp(suffix='.conf')
         os.close(fd)
-        with open(path, 'wt') as f:
+        with open(path, 'wt', encoding='utf_8') as f:
             parser.write(f)
         return path
 
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/auth.py b/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/auth.py
index eb42a47..b776d04 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/auth.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/auth.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ import sqlalchemy as sa
 from sqlalchemy import orm
 from sqlalchemy.ext.associationproxy import association_proxy
 
-from .base import Base, uuid_column, uuid_fk_column
+from . import Base, uuid_column, uuid_fk_column
 
 
 class Role(Base):
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/base.py b/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/base.py
index 8086cd0..9dc49ae 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/base.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/base.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 ################################################################################
 #
 #  WuttJamaican -- Base package for Wutta Framework
-#  Copyright © 2023-2024 Lance Edgar
+#  Copyright © 2023-2025 Lance Edgar
 #
 #  This file is part of Wutta Framework.
 #
@@ -36,8 +36,7 @@ import sqlalchemy as sa
 from sqlalchemy import orm
 from sqlalchemy.ext.associationproxy import association_proxy
 
-from wuttjamaican.db.util import (naming_convention, ModelBase,
-                                  uuid_column, uuid_fk_column)
+from wuttjamaican.db.util import naming_convention, ModelBase, uuid_column
 
 
 class WuttaModelBase(ModelBase):
@@ -215,3 +214,4 @@ class Person(Base):
 
         if self.users:
             return self.users[0]
+        return None
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/batch.py b/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/batch.py
index 9b414b5..e253e84 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/batch.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/batch.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 ################################################################################
 #
 #  WuttJamaican -- Base package for Wutta Framework
-#  Copyright © 2023-2024 Lance Edgar
+#  Copyright © 2023-2025 Lance Edgar
 #
 #  This file is part of Wutta Framework.
 #
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ from sqlalchemy import orm
 from sqlalchemy.ext.declarative import declared_attr
 from sqlalchemy.ext.orderinglist import ordering_list
 
-from wuttjamaican.db.model import uuid_column, uuid_fk_column, User
+from wuttjamaican.db.model import uuid_column, User
 from wuttjamaican.db.util import UUID
 
 
@@ -263,6 +263,7 @@ class BatchMixin:
         """
         if self.id:
             return f'{self.id:08d}'
+        return None
 
 
 class BatchRowMixin:
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/upgrades.py b/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/upgrades.py
index 750a9a6..8e94abd 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/upgrades.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/upgrades.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 ################################################################################
 #
 #  WuttJamaican -- Base package for Wutta Framework
-#  Copyright © 2023-2024 Lance Edgar
+#  Copyright © 2023-2025 Lance Edgar
 #
 #  This file is part of Wutta Framework.
 #
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import datetime
 import sqlalchemy as sa
 from sqlalchemy import orm
 
-from .base import Base, uuid_column, uuid_fk_column
+from . import Base, uuid_column, uuid_fk_column
 from wuttjamaican.enum import UpgradeStatus
 from wuttjamaican.db.util import UUID
 from wuttjamaican.util import make_true_uuid
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/db/util.py b/src/wuttjamaican/db/util.py
index ff4b69b..ebaf0b1 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/db/util.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/db/util.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 ################################################################################
 #
 #  WuttJamaican -- Base package for Wutta Framework
-#  Copyright © 2023-2024 Lance Edgar
+#  Copyright © 2023-2025 Lance Edgar
 #
 #  This file is part of Wutta Framework.
 #
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ class ModelBase:
         state = sa.inspect(self)
         if hasattr(state.attrs, key):
             return getattr(self, key)
+        raise KeyError(f"model instance has no attr with key: {key}")
 
 
 class UUID(sa.types.TypeDecorator):
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/email.py b/src/wuttjamaican/email.py
index af039d6..8ad9997 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/email.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/email.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 ################################################################################
 #
 #  WuttJamaican -- Base package for Wutta Framework
-#  Copyright © 2023-2024 Lance Edgar
+#  Copyright © 2023-2025 Lance Edgar
 #
 #  This file is part of Wutta Framework.
 #
@@ -358,6 +358,7 @@ class EmailHandler(GenericHandler):
             if instance:
                 setting = setting(self.config)
             return setting
+        return None
 
     def make_message(self, **kwargs):
         """
@@ -573,6 +574,7 @@ class EmailHandler(GenericHandler):
         if template:
             context = context or {}
             return template.render(**context)
+        return None
 
     def get_auto_html_body(self, key, context=None):
         """
@@ -585,6 +587,7 @@ class EmailHandler(GenericHandler):
         if template:
             context = context or {}
             return template.render(**context)
+        return None
 
     def get_auto_body_template(self, key, mode):
         """ """
@@ -601,6 +604,7 @@ class EmailHandler(GenericHandler):
             return templates.get_template(f'{key}.{mode}.mako')
         except TopLevelLookupException:
             pass
+        return None
 
     def get_notes(self, key):
         """
@@ -652,8 +656,8 @@ class EmailHandler(GenericHandler):
 
         :returns: True if this email type is enabled, otherwise false.
         """
-        for key in set([key, 'default']):
-            enabled = self.config.get_bool(f'{self.config.appname}.email.{key}.enabled')
+        for k in set([key, 'default']):
+            enabled = self.config.get_bool(f'{self.config.appname}.email.{k}.enabled')
             if enabled is not None:
                 return enabled
         return True
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/install.py b/src/wuttjamaican/install.py
index 28dfb60..8ca35ec 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/install.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/install.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 ################################################################################
 #
 #  WuttJamaican -- Base package for Wutta Framework
-#  Copyright © 2023-2024 Lance Edgar
+#  Copyright © 2023-2025 Lance Edgar
 #
 #  This file is part of Wutta Framework.
 #
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ Install Handler
 """
 
 import os
-import shutil
 import stat
 import subprocess
 import sys
@@ -255,6 +254,7 @@ class InstallHandler(GenericHandler):
             sa.inspect(engine).has_table('whatever')
         except Exception as error:
             return str(error)
+        return None
 
     def make_template_context(self, dbinfo, **kwargs):
         """
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/people.py b/src/wuttjamaican/people.py
index 1c855a8..1cc6fda 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/people.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/people.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 ################################################################################
 #
 #  WuttJamaican -- Base package for Wutta Framework
-#  Copyright © 2023-2024 Lance Edgar
+#  Copyright © 2023-2025 Lance Edgar
 #
 #  This file is part of Wutta Framework.
 #
@@ -88,3 +88,5 @@ class PeopleHandler(GenericHandler):
             user = obj
             if user.person:
                 return user.person
+
+        return None
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/problems.py b/src/wuttjamaican/problems.py
index 76a5282..608ef66 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/problems.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/problems.py
@@ -308,14 +308,14 @@ class ProblemHandler(GenericHandler):
         if not self.is_enabled(check):
             log.debug("problem check is not enabled: %s", key)
             if not force:
-                return
+                return None
 
         weekday = datetime.date.today().weekday()
         if not self.should_run_for_weekday(check, weekday):
             log.debug("problem check is not scheduled for %s: %s",
                       calendar.day_name[weekday], key)
             if not force:
-                return
+                return None
 
         check_instance = check(self.config)
         problems = self.find_problems(check_instance)
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/reports.py b/src/wuttjamaican/reports.py
index 6d5cb88..7a55a19 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/reports.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/reports.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 ################################################################################
 #
 #  WuttJamaican -- Base package for Wutta Framework
-#  Copyright © 2023-2024 Lance Edgar
+#  Copyright © 2023-2025 Lance Edgar
 #
 #  This file is part of Wutta Framework.
 #
@@ -196,6 +196,7 @@ class ReportHandler(GenericHandler):
             if instance:
                 report = report(self.config)
             return report
+        return None
 
     def make_report_data(self, report, params=None, progress=None, **kwargs):
         """
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/testing.py b/src/wuttjamaican/testing.py
index 5d34960..3ec7ae8 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/testing.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/testing.py
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ class FileTestCase(TestCase):
            myconf = self.write_file('my.conf', '<file contents>')
         """
         path = os.path.join(self.tempdir, filename)
-        with open(path, 'wt') as f:
+        with open(path, 'wt', encoding='utf_8') as f:
             f.write(content)
         return path
 
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/util.py b/src/wuttjamaican/util.py
index 161dbce..6296bb5 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/util.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/util.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 ################################################################################
 #
 #  WuttJamaican -- Base package for Wutta Framework
-#  Copyright © 2023-2024 Lance Edgar
+#  Copyright © 2023-2025 Lance Edgar
 #
 #  This file is part of Wutta Framework.
 #
@@ -256,11 +256,11 @@ def parse_list(value):
     parser.whitespace += ','
     parser.whitespace_split = True
     values = list(parser)
-    for i, value in enumerate(values):
-        if value.startswith('"') and value.endswith('"'):
-            values[i] = value[1:-1]
-        elif value.startswith("'") and value.endswith("'"):
-            values[i] = value[1:-1]
+    for i, val in enumerate(values):
+        if val.startswith('"') and val.endswith('"'):
+            values[i] = val[1:-1]
+        elif val.startswith("'") and val.endswith("'"):
+            values[i] = val[1:-1]
     return values
 
 
@@ -354,8 +354,8 @@ def resource_path(path):
 
         package, filename = path.split(':')
         ref = files(package) / filename
-        with as_file(ref) as path:
-            return str(path)
+        with as_file(ref) as p:
+            return str(p)
 
     return path
 
diff --git a/tests/db/model/test_batch.py b/tests/db/model/test_batch.py
index fa16d25..308cb6f 100644
--- a/tests/db/model/test_batch.py
+++ b/tests/db/model/test_batch.py
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@ else:
             batch = MyBatch(id=42, uuid=_uuid.UUID('0675cdac-ffc9-7690-8000-6023de1c8cfd'))
             self.assertEqual(repr(batch), "MyBatch(uuid=UUID('0675cdac-ffc9-7690-8000-6023de1c8cfd'))")
             self.assertEqual(str(batch), "00000042")
+            self.assertEqual(batch.id_str, "00000042")
+
+            batch2 = MyBatch()
+            self.assertIsNone(batch2.id_str)
 
 
     class TestBatchRowMixin(DataTestCase):
diff --git a/tests/db/test_util.py b/tests/db/test_util.py
index 44ff6f0..f2002b8 100644
--- a/tests/db/test_util.py
+++ b/tests/db/test_util.py
@@ -22,9 +22,11 @@ else:
         def test_dict_behavior(self):
             setting = Setting()
             self.assertEqual(list(iter(setting)), [('name', None), ('value', None)])
+            self.assertIsNone(setting.name)
             self.assertIsNone(setting['name'])
             setting.name = 'foo'
             self.assertEqual(setting['name'], 'foo')
+            self.assertRaises(KeyError, lambda: setting['notfound'])
 
 
     class TestUUID(TestCase):
diff --git a/tests/test_app.py b/tests/test_app.py
index e20e324..e05334d 100644
--- a/tests/test_app.py
+++ b/tests/test_app.py
@@ -375,6 +375,10 @@ app_title = WuttaTest
         ver = self.app.get_version(obj=query)
         self.assertEqual(ver, version('SQLAlchemy'))
 
+        # random object will not yield a dist nor version
+        ver = self.app.get_version(obj=42)
+        self.assertIsNone(ver)
+
         # can override dist via config
         self.config.setdefault('wuttatest.app_dist', 'python-configuration')
         ver = self.app.get_version()
diff --git a/tests/test_reports.py b/tests/test_reports.py
index 7b19385..7d730e7 100644
--- a/tests/test_reports.py
+++ b/tests/test_reports.py
@@ -94,6 +94,10 @@ class TestReportHandler(ConfigTestCase):
             self.assertTrue(issubclass(report, mod.Report))
             self.assertIs(report, MockFooReport)
 
+            # not found
+            report = handler.get_report('unknown')
+            self.assertIsNone(report)
+
     def test_make_report_data(self):
         providers = {
             'wuttatest': MagicMock(report_modules=['tests.test_reports']),