diff --git a/my/core/_deprecated/kompress.py b/my/core/_deprecated/kompress.py
index cd09c06..1cd2636 100644
--- a/my/core/_deprecated/kompress.py
+++ b/my/core/_deprecated/kompress.py
@@ -141,9 +141,10 @@ open = kopen # TODO deprecate
 def kexists(path: PathIsh, subpath: str) -> bool:
     try:
         kopen(path, subpath)
-        return True
     except Exception:
         return False
+    else:
+        return True
 
 
 import zipfile
diff --git a/my/core/time.py b/my/core/time.py
index 5a47c3d..6de4105 100644
--- a/my/core/time.py
+++ b/my/core/time.py
@@ -11,10 +11,11 @@ def user_forced() -> Sequence[str]:
     # https://stackoverflow.com/questions/36067621/python-all-possible-timezone-abbreviations-for-given-timezone-name-and-vise-ve
     try:
         from my.config import time as user_config
-        return user_config.tz.force_abbreviations # type: ignore[attr-defined]
     except:
         # todo log/apply policy
         return []
+    else:
+        return user_config.tz.force_abbreviations  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
 
 
 @lru_cache(1)
diff --git a/ruff.toml b/ruff.toml
index c2c88ef..9a932ef 100644
--- a/ruff.toml
+++ b/ruff.toml
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ lint.extend-select = [
     "PT",   # pytest stuff
     "RET",  # early returns
     "RUF",  # various ruff-specific rules
+    "TRY",  # various exception handling rules
     "UP",   # detect deprecated python stdlib stuff
     # "FA",  # TODO enable later after we make sure cachew works?
     # "PTH", # pathlib migration -- TODO enable later
@@ -108,4 +109,10 @@ lint.ignore = [
     "COM812",  # trailing comma missing -- TODO maybe use this?
 
     "PD901",   # generic variable name df
+
+    "TRY003",  # suggests defining exception messages in exception class -- kinda annoying
+    "TRY004",  # prefer TypeError -- don't see the point
+    "TRY201",  # raise without specifying exception name -- sometimes hurts readability
+    "TRY400",  # TODO double check this, might be useful
+    "TRY401",  # redundant exception in logging.exception call? TODO double check, might result in excessive logging
 ]