diff --git a/lang/python/examples/howto/local-sign-group.py b/lang/python/examples/howto/local-sign-group.py
index 812042dd..0353646d 100755
--- a/lang/python/examples/howto/local-sign-group.py
+++ b/lang/python/examples/howto/local-sign-group.py
@@ -1,163 +1,183 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 from __future__ import absolute_import, division, unicode_literals
 
 import gpg
 import os.path
 import subprocess
 import sys
 
 from groups import group_lists
 
 # Copyright (C) 2018 Ben McGinnes <ben@gnupg.org>
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under
 # the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software
 # Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later
 # version.
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under
 # the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free
 # Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option)
 # any later version.
 #
 # This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
 # ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS
 # FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License and the GNU
 # Lesser General Public License for more details.
 #
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License and the GNU
 # Lesser General Public along with this program; if not, see
 # <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 print("""
 This script applies a local signature or certification to every key in a group.
 
 Usage: local-sign-group.py <group name> [signing keyid] [gnupg homedir]
 """)
 
 c = gpg.Context(armor=True)
 mkfpr = None
 defkey_fpr = None
 enckey_fpr = None
 to_certify = []
 
 if len(sys.argv) >= 4:
     clique = sys.argv[1]
     sigkey = sys.argv[2]
     homedir = sys.argv[3]
 elif len(sys.argv) == 3:
     clique = sys.argv[1]
     sigkey = sys.argv[2]
     homedir = input("Enter the GPG configuration directory path (optional): ")
 elif len(sys.argv) == 2:
     clique = sys.argv[1]
     sigkey = input("Enter the key ID to sign with (conditionally optional): ")
     homedir = input("Enter the GPG configuration directory path (optional): ")
 else:
     clique = input("Enter the group matching the key(s) to locally sign: ")
     sigkey = input("Enter the key ID to sign with (conditionally optional): ")
     homedir = input("Enter the GPG configuration directory path (optional): ")
 
 if len(homedir) == 0:
     homedir = None
 elif homedir.startswith("~"):
     userdir = os.path.expanduser(homedir)
     if os.path.exists(userdir) is True:
         homedir = os.path.realpath(userdir)
     else:
         homedir = None
 else:
     homedir = os.path.realpath(homedir)
 
 if homedir is not None and os.path.exists(homedir) is False:
     homedir = None
 elif homedir is not None and os.path.exists(homedir) is True:
     if os.path.isdir(homedir) is False:
         homedir = None
     else:
         pass
 
 if homedir is not None:
     c.home_dir = homedir
 else:
     pass
 
 if len(sigkey) == 0:
     sigkey = None
 else:
     pass
 
 if sys.platform == "win32":
     gpgconfcmd = "gpgconf.exe --list-options gpg"
 else:
     gpgconfcmd = "gpgconf --list-options gpg"
 
 try:
     lines = subprocess.getoutput(gpgconfcmd).splitlines()
 except:
     process = subprocess.Popen(gpgconfcmd.split(), stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
     procom = process.communicate()
     if sys.version_info[0] == 2:
         lines = procom[0].splitlines()
     else:
         lines = procom[0].decode().splitlines()
 
 for i in range(len(lines)):
     if lines[i].startswith("default-key") is True:
         dline = lines[i]
     elif lines[i].startswith("encrypt-to") is True:
         eline = lines[i]
     else:
         pass
 
 defkey_fpr = dline.split(":")[-1].replace('"', '').split(',')[0].upper()
 enckey_fpr = eline.split(":")[-1].replace('"', '').split(',')[0].upper()
 
+try:
+    dkey = c.keylist(pattern=defkey_fpr, secret=True)
+    dk = list(dkey)
+except Exception as de:
+    print(de)
+    dk = None
+    print("No valid default key.")
+
+try:
+    ekey = c.keylist(pattern=defkey_fpr, secret=True)
+    ek = list(ekey)
+except Exception as ee:
+    print(ee)
+    ek = None
+    print("No valid always encrypt to key.")
+
 if sigkey is not None:
-    mykey = c.keylist(pattern=sigkey)
+    mykey = c.keylist(pattern=sigkey, secret=True)
     mk = list(mykey)
     mkfpr = mk[0].fpr.upper()
+    c.signers = mk
 else:
-    pass
+    if dk is None and ek is not None:
+        c.signers = ek
+    else:
+        pass
 
 for group in group_lists:
     if group[0] == clique:
         for logrus in group[1]:
             khole = c.keylist(pattern=logrus)
             k = list(khole)
             to_certify.append(k[0].fpr.upper())
     else:
         pass
 
 if mkfpr is not None:
     if to_certify.count(mkfpr) > 0:
         for n in range(to_certify.count(mkfpr)):
             to_certify.remove(mkfpr)
     else:
         pass
 else:
     pass
 
 if defkey_fpr is not None:
     if to_certify.count(defkey_fpr) > 0:
         for n in range(to_certify.count(defkey_fpr)):
             to_certify.remove(defkey_fpr)
     else:
         pass
 else:
     pass
 
 if enckey_fpr is not None:
     if to_certify.count(enckey_fpr) > 0:
         for n in range(to_certify.count(enckey_fpr)):
             to_certify.remove(enckey_fpr)
     else:
         pass
 else:
     pass
 
 for fpr in to_certify:
     key = c.get_key(fpr)
     c.key_sign(key, uids=None, expires_in=False, local=True)