diff --git a/charmhelpers/contrib/charmsupport/nrpe.py b/charmhelpers/contrib/charmsupport/nrpe.py
index 1c55b30f..e3d10c1c 100644
--- a/charmhelpers/contrib/charmsupport/nrpe.py
+++ b/charmhelpers/contrib/charmsupport/nrpe.py
@@ -410,16 +410,21 @@ def add_init_service_checks(nrpe, services, unit_name, immediate_check=True):
                 os.chmod(checkpath, 0o644)
 
 
-def copy_nrpe_checks():
+def copy_nrpe_checks(nrpe_files_dir=None):
     """
     Copy the nrpe checks into place
 
     """
     NAGIOS_PLUGINS = '/usr/local/lib/nagios/plugins'
-    nrpe_files_dir = os.path.join(os.getenv('CHARM_DIR'), 'hooks',
-                                  'charmhelpers', 'contrib', 'openstack',
-                                  'files')
-
+    default_nrpe_files_dir = os.path.join(
+        os.getenv('CHARM_DIR'),
+        'hooks',
+        'charmhelpers',
+        'contrib',
+        'openstack',
+        'files')
+    if not nrpe_files_dir:
+        nrpe_files_dir = default_nrpe_files_dir
     if not os.path.exists(NAGIOS_PLUGINS):
         os.makedirs(NAGIOS_PLUGINS)
     for fname in glob.glob(os.path.join(nrpe_files_dir, "check_*")):
diff --git a/charmhelpers/core/host.py b/charmhelpers/core/host.py
index 322ab2ac..e9fd38a0 100644
--- a/charmhelpers/core/host.py
+++ b/charmhelpers/core/host.py
@@ -972,6 +972,20 @@ def is_container():
 
 
 def add_to_updatedb_prunepath(path, updatedb_path=UPDATEDB_PATH):
+    """Adds the specified path to the mlocate's udpatedb.conf PRUNEPATH list.
+
+    This method has no effect if the path specified by updatedb_path does not
+    exist or is not a file.
+
+    @param path: string the path to add to the updatedb.conf PRUNEPATHS value
+    @param updatedb_path: the path the updatedb.conf file
+    """
+    if not os.path.exists(updatedb_path) or os.path.isdir(updatedb_path):
+        # If the updatedb.conf file doesn't exist then don't attempt to update
+        # the file as the package providing mlocate may not be installed on
+        # the local system
+        return
+
     with open(updatedb_path, 'r+') as f_id:
         updatedb_text = f_id.read()
         output = updatedb(updatedb_text, path)
diff --git a/hooks/glance_relations.py b/hooks/glance_relations.py
index bdbd95ac..1323bbfd 100755
--- a/hooks/glance_relations.py
+++ b/hooks/glance_relations.py
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ from glance_utils import (
     update_image_location_policy,
 )
 from charmhelpers.core.hookenv import (
+    charm_dir,
     config,
     Hooks,
     log as juju_log,
@@ -563,7 +564,9 @@ def update_nrpe_config():
     hostname = nrpe.get_nagios_hostname()
     current_unit = nrpe.get_nagios_unit_name()
     nrpe_setup = nrpe.NRPE(hostname=hostname)
-    nrpe.copy_nrpe_checks()
+    nrpe_files_dir = os.path.join(
+        charm_dir(), 'charmhelpers', 'contrib', 'openstack', 'files')
+    nrpe.copy_nrpe_checks(nrpe_files_dir=nrpe_files_dir)
     nrpe.add_init_service_checks(nrpe_setup, services(), current_unit)
     nrpe.add_haproxy_checks(nrpe_setup, current_unit)
     nrpe_setup.write()
diff --git a/tests/charmhelpers/core/host.py b/tests/charmhelpers/core/host.py
index 322ab2ac..e9fd38a0 100644
--- a/tests/charmhelpers/core/host.py
+++ b/tests/charmhelpers/core/host.py
@@ -972,6 +972,20 @@ def is_container():
 
 
 def add_to_updatedb_prunepath(path, updatedb_path=UPDATEDB_PATH):
+    """Adds the specified path to the mlocate's udpatedb.conf PRUNEPATH list.
+
+    This method has no effect if the path specified by updatedb_path does not
+    exist or is not a file.
+
+    @param path: string the path to add to the updatedb.conf PRUNEPATHS value
+    @param updatedb_path: the path the updatedb.conf file
+    """
+    if not os.path.exists(updatedb_path) or os.path.isdir(updatedb_path):
+        # If the updatedb.conf file doesn't exist then don't attempt to update
+        # the file as the package providing mlocate may not be installed on
+        # the local system
+        return
+
     with open(updatedb_path, 'r+') as f_id:
         updatedb_text = f_id.read()
         output = updatedb(updatedb_text, path)