fi
 }
 
-_id_from_file() {
-    _ID=$(head -1 "$1" | cut -d'/' -f2)
-    if [ ! -z "$(echo ${_ID} | sed 's/[a-f0-9]//g')" ]; then
-        error_exit "inability to parse valid repo ID from alleged key file at $1"
-    fi
-    printf "${_ID}"
-}
+_id_from_file() { head -1 "$1" | cut -d'/' -f2 }
 
 HELP_ARGS_backup_keys=' PATH'
 HELP_DESC_backup_keys="copy known keys to PATH/, with their repos' server names as filenames"
     fi
     _ensure_no_overwrite_at "${_PATH_TARGET_KEY}"
     _REPO_ID="$(_id_from_file ${_PATH_SOURCE})"
+    if [ ! -z "$(echo ${_REPO_ID} | sed 's/[a-f0-9]//g')" ]; then
+        error_exit "inability to parse valid repo ID from alleged key file at $1"
+    fi
     _PATH_TARGET_LOCATION="$(path_repo_location ${_REPO_ID})"
     _ensure_no_overwrite_at "${_PATH_TARGET_LOCATION}"
     mkdir -p "${PATH_BORG_CONF_KEYS}" "$(dirname ${_PATH_TARGET_LOCATION})"