diff --git a/pylot/core/pick/autopick.py b/pylot/core/pick/autopick.py
index 1d1f9feb..f1c18284 100644
--- a/pylot/core/pick/autopick.py
+++ b/pylot/core/pick/autopick.py
@@ -756,9 +756,17 @@ def autopickstation(wfstream, pickparam, verbose=False,
               'bad P onset, skipping S picking!')
 
     ##############################################################
+    try:
+       iplot = int(iplot)
+    except:
+       if iplot == True or iplot == 'True':
+           iplot = 2
+       else:
+           iplot = 0
+
     if iplot > 0:
         # plot vertical trace
-        if not fig_dict:
+        if fig_dict == None or fig_dict == 'None':
             fig = plt.figure()
             plt_flag = 1
         else:
diff --git a/pylot/core/pick/picker.py b/pylot/core/pick/picker.py
index ba96e650..c72f1f60 100644
--- a/pylot/core/pick/picker.py
+++ b/pylot/core/pick/picker.py
@@ -155,6 +155,14 @@ class AICPicker(AutoPicker):
         self.slope = None
         self.SNR = None
         plt_flag = 0
+        try:
+            iplot = int(self.iplot)
+        except:
+            if self.iplot == True or self.iplot == 'True':
+               iplot = 2
+            else:
+               iplot = 0
+
         # find NaN's
         nn = np.isnan(self.cf)
         if len(nn) > 1:
@@ -243,7 +251,7 @@ class AICPicker(AutoPicker):
                     print("AICPicker: Maximum for slope determination right at the beginning of the window!")
                     print("Choose longer slope determination window!")
                     if self.iplot > 1:
-                        if not self.fig:
+                        if self.fig == None or self.fig == 'None':
                             fig = plt.figure()  # self.iplot) ### WHY? MP MP
                             plt_flag = 1
                         else:
@@ -276,8 +284,8 @@ class AICPicker(AutoPicker):
             self.SNR = None
             self.slope = None
 
-        if self.iplot > 1:
-            if not self.fig:
+        if iplot > 1:
+            if self.fig == None or self.fig == 'None':
                 fig = plt.figure()  # self.iplot)
                 plt_flag = 1
             else:
@@ -338,6 +346,14 @@ class PragPicker(AutoPicker):
 
     def calcPick(self):
 
+        try:
+            iplot = int(self.getiplot())
+        except:
+            if self.getiplot() == True or self.getiplot() == 'True':
+               iplot = 2
+            else:
+               iplot = 0
+
         if self.getpick1() is not None:
             print('PragPicker: Get most likely pick from HOS- or AR-CF using pragmatic picking algorithm ...')
 
@@ -421,8 +437,8 @@ class PragPicker(AutoPicker):
                 self.Pick = None
                 pickflag = 0
 
-            if self.getiplot() > 1:
-                if not self.fig:
+            if iplot > 1:
+                if self.fig == None or self.fig == 'None':
                     fig = plt.figure()  # self.getiplot())
                     plt_flag = 1
                 else:
diff --git a/pylot/core/pick/utils.py b/pylot/core/pick/utils.py
index a6625fcd..3fbb119c 100644
--- a/pylot/core/pick/utils.py
+++ b/pylot/core/pick/utils.py
@@ -51,6 +51,14 @@ def earllatepicker(X, nfac, TSNR, Pick1, iplot=0, verbosity=1, fig=None):
     EPick = None
     PickError = None
     plt_flag = 0
+    try:
+        iplot = int(iplot)
+    except:
+        if iplot == True or iplot == 'True':
+           iplot = 2
+        else:
+           iplot = 0
+
     if verbosity:
         print('earllatepicker: Get earliest and latest possible pick'
               ' relative to most likely pick ...')
@@ -119,7 +127,7 @@ def earllatepicker(X, nfac, TSNR, Pick1, iplot=0, verbosity=1, fig=None):
     PickError = symmetrize_error(diffti_te, diffti_tl)
 
     if iplot > 1:
-        if not fig:
+        if fig == None or fig == 'None':
             fig = plt.figure()  # iplot)
             plt_flag = 1
         ax = fig.add_subplot(111)
@@ -174,6 +182,14 @@ def fmpicker(Xraw, Xfilt, pickwin, Pick, iplot=0, fig=None):
     '''
 
     plt_flag = 0
+    try:
+        iplot = int(iplot)
+    except:
+        if iplot == True or iplot == 'True':
+           iplot = 2
+        else:
+           iplot = 0
+
     warnings.simplefilter('ignore', np.RankWarning)
 
     assert isinstance(Xraw, Stream), "%s is not a stream object" % str(Xraw)
@@ -297,7 +313,7 @@ def fmpicker(Xraw, Xfilt, pickwin, Pick, iplot=0, fig=None):
         print("fmpicker: Found polarity %s" % FM)
 
     if iplot > 1:
-        if not fig:
+        if fig == None or fig == 'None':
             fig = plt.figure()  # iplot)
             plt_flag = 1
         ax1 = fig.add_subplot(211)
@@ -698,6 +714,14 @@ def checksignallength(X, pick, TSNR, minsiglength, nfac, minpercent, iplot=0, fi
     '''
 
     plt_flag = 0
+    try:
+        iplot = int(self.iplot)
+    except:
+        if iplot == True or iplot == 'True':
+           iplot = 2
+        else:
+           iplot = 0
+
     assert isinstance(X, Stream), "%s is not a stream object" % str(X)
 
     print("Checking signal length ...")
@@ -740,7 +764,7 @@ def checksignallength(X, pick, TSNR, minsiglength, nfac, minpercent, iplot=0, fi
         returnflag = 0
 
     if iplot > 1:
-        if not fig:
+        if fig == None or fig == 'None':
             fig = plt.figure()  # iplot)
             plt_flag = 1
         ax = fig.add_subplot(111)