diff --git a/call_host.sh b/call_host.sh
index 743c2d8..1d3c240 100755
--- a/call_host.sh
+++ b/call_host.sh
@@ -19,8 +19,17 @@ if [ -z "$CALL_HOST_DIR" ]; then
 		export CALL_HOST_STATUS=disable
 	fi
 fi
-export CALL_HOST_DIR=$(readlink -f "$CALL_HOST_DIR")
-mkdir -p "$CALL_HOST_DIR"
+CALL_HOST_DIR_ORIG="$CALL_HOST_DIR"
+export CALL_HOST_DIR=$(readlink -f "$CALL_HOST_DIR_ORIG")
+if [ -z "$CALL_HOST_DIR" ]; then
+	echo "Warning: readlink -f failed for CALL_HOST_DIR $CALL_HOST_DIR_ORIG. disabling"
+	export CALL_HOST_STATUS=disable
+elif [ ! -d "$CALL_HOST_DIR" ]; then
+	echo "Warning: specified dir CALL_HOST_DIR $CALL_HOST_DIR does not exist. disabling"
+	export CALL_HOST_STATUS=disable
+else
+	mkdir -p "$CALL_HOST_DIR"
+fi
 # ensure the pipe dir is bound
 export APPTAINER_BIND=${APPTAINER_BIND}${APPTAINER_BIND:+,}${CALL_HOST_DIR}