diff --git a/archivebox/misc/checks.py b/archivebox/misc/checks.py
index ffab850b..62983aa9 100644
--- a/archivebox/misc/checks.py
+++ b/archivebox/misc/checks.py
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ def check_data_dir_permissions():
     
     # data_owned_by_default_user = data_dir_uid == DEFAULT_PUID or data_dir_gid == DEFAULT_PGID
     data_owner_doesnt_match = (data_dir_uid != ARCHIVEBOX_USER and data_dir_gid != ARCHIVEBOX_GROUP) if not IS_ROOT else False
-    data_not_writable = not (os.isdir(DATA_DIR) and os.access(DATA_DIR, os.W_OK))     #  and os.access(CONSTANTS.LIB_DIR, os.W_OK) and os.access(CONSTANTS.TMP_DIR, os.W_OK))
+    data_not_writable = not (os.path.isdir(DATA_DIR) and os.access(DATA_DIR, os.W_OK))     #  and os.access(CONSTANTS.LIB_DIR, os.W_OK) and os.access(CONSTANTS.TMP_DIR, os.W_OK))
     if data_owned_by_root:
         STDERR.print('\n[yellow]:warning: Warning: ArchiveBox [blue]DATA_DIR[/blue] is currently owned by [red]root[/red], ArchiveBox will refuse to run![/yellow]')
     elif data_owner_doesnt_match or data_not_writable:
diff --git a/archivebox/plugins_pkg/puppeteer/apps.py b/archivebox/plugins_pkg/puppeteer/apps.py
index adec6032..d8b63e25 100644
--- a/archivebox/plugins_pkg/puppeteer/apps.py
+++ b/archivebox/plugins_pkg/puppeteer/apps.py
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ class PuppeteerBinProvider(BaseBinProvider):
                 f"{self.__class__.__name__} install method is not available on this host ({self.INSTALLER_BIN} not found in $PATH)"
             )
         packages = packages or self.on_get_packages(bin_name)
+        assert packages, f"No packages specified for installation of {bin_name}"
 
         # print(f'[*] {self.__class__.__name__}: Installing {bin_name}: {self.INSTALLER_BIN_ABSPATH} install {packages}')
 
diff --git a/archivebox/vendor/pydantic-pkgr b/archivebox/vendor/pydantic-pkgr
index b1c4fcb3..e198bfc7 160000
--- a/archivebox/vendor/pydantic-pkgr
+++ b/archivebox/vendor/pydantic-pkgr
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit b1c4fcb349e6d8fa2772e96c80549648cce3d9a9
+Subproject commit e198bfc7eabb1f68f14df8731081a5c83c5825de
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 498cab56..53d9a1cd 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "archivebox"
-version = "0.8.5rc13"
+version = "0.8.5rc14"
 requires-python = ">=3.10"
 description = "Self-hosted internet archiving solution."
 authors = [{name = "Nick Sweeting", email = "pyproject.toml@archivebox.io"}]