diff --git a/perl-xCAT/xCAT/SINV.pm b/perl-xCAT/xCAT/SINV.pm
index f982cdff7..e544b26f4 100644
--- a/perl-xCAT/xCAT/SINV.pm
+++ b/perl-xCAT/xCAT/SINV.pm
@@ -156,13 +156,13 @@ sub parse_and_run_sinv
         exit 1;
     }
 
-    if ( exists( $options{template_path} ) && ($options{template_path} !~ /^\//) ) {#relative path
+    if ( defined( $options{template_path} ) && ($options{template_path} !~ /^\//) ) {#relative path
         $options{template_path} = xCAT::Utils->full_path($options{template_path}, $request->{cwd}->[0]);
     }
-    if ( exists( $options{output_file} ) && ($options{output_file} !~ /^\//) ) {#relative path
+    if ( defined( $options{output_file} ) && ($options{output_file} !~ /^\//) ) {#relative path
         $options{output_file} = xCAT::Utils->full_path($options{output_file}, $request->{cwd}->[0]);
     }
-    if ( exists( $options{sinv_cmd_file} ) && ($options{sinv_cmd_file} !~ /^\//) ) {#relative path
+    if ( defined( $options{sinv_cmd_file} ) && ($options{sinv_cmd_file} !~ /^\//) ) {#relative path
         $options{sinv_cmd_file} = xCAT::Utils->full_path($options{sinv_cmd_file}, $request->{cwd}->[0]);
     }
     #