diff --git a/get_spec_file.py b/get_spec_file.py
index 83f22c9..87767c9 100644
--- a/get_spec_file.py
+++ b/get_spec_file.py
@@ -95,21 +95,28 @@ def get_file(vcs_link, commit_hash, is_readme):
                     shutil.rmtree(other_temp_path, ignore_errors=True)
                     return "KeyError -- the file is not in the commit tree"
         '''
-    print(target_filename)
+    targetfile = ""
     for blob in commit0.tree.blobs:
+        #print(type(blob.path))
         if "README" in blob.path:
             targetfile = blob
-            print(blob.path)
+            #print(blob.path)
         # why would a file not be in the commit tree? but would be in the directory?
         #shutil.rmtree(full_temp_path, ignore_errors=True)
     #    return "KeyError -- the file is not in the commit tree"
+    if targetfile == "":
+        shutil.rmtree(full_temp_path, ignore_errors=True)
+        shutil.rmtree(other_temp_path, ignore_errors=True)
+        return "KeyError -- the file is not in the commit tree"
+
     if is_readme:
         last_path = "readme"
     else:
         last_path = "contributing"
-    with open("/data/users/mgaughan/kkex/time_specific_files/" + last_path + "/" + full_temp_path[len(temp_dir):-4] + "_" + last_path + ".md", "w") as file:
+    with open("/data/users/mgaughan/kkex/time_specific_files/" + last_path + "/" + full_temp_path[len(temp_dir):-4] + "_" + targetfile.path , "w") as file:
         with io.BytesIO(targetfile.data_stream.read()) as f:
-            file.write(f.read().decode('utf-8'))
+            file.write(f.read().decode('utf-8', errors='ignore'))
+            #file.write(f.read())
         file.close()
     shutil.rmtree(full_temp_path, ignore_errors=True)
     shutil.rmtree(other_temp_path, ignore_errors=True)