diff --git a/sumsel.sh b/sumsel.sh
index cc34094..5b56307 100755
--- a/sumsel.sh
+++ b/sumsel.sh
@@ -58,6 +58,15 @@ do
   esac
 done
 
+check_var_exists() {
+  local var_name=$1
+
+  if [[ ! -v ${var_name} ]]; then
+    echo "${var_name} not set"
+    exit 1
+  fi
+}
+
 set_lockfile() {
   local BASENAME=$(basename "$0")
   local LOCK_FILE="${LOCK_DIR}/${BASENAME}"
@@ -80,18 +89,10 @@ del_lockfile() {
 }
 
 simulate() {
-  if [[ ! -v REC_DIR ]]; then 
-    echo "REC_DIR not set"
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  if [[ ! -v REC_PREFIX ]]; then
-    echo "REC_PREFIX not set"
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  if [[ ! -v SIM_EXAMPLE_FILE ]]; then
-    echo "SIM_EXAMPLE_FILE not set"
-    exit 1
-  fi
+  check_var_exists "REC_DIR"
+  check_var_exists "REC_PREFIX"
+  check_var_exists "SIM_EXAMPLE_FILE"
+
   local COUNTER=0
 
   mkdir -p ${REC_DIR}
@@ -107,22 +108,10 @@ simulate() {
 }
 
 record() {
-  if [[ ! -v REC_DEVICE ]]; then
-    echo "REC_DEVICE not set"
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  if [[ ! -v REC_FILE_TIME ]]; then
-    echo "REC_FILE_TIME not set"
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  if [[ ! -v REC_PREFIX ]]; then
-    echo "REC_PREFIX not set"
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  if [[ ! -v REC_DIR ]]; then
-    echo "REC_DIR not set"
-    exit 1
-  fi
+  check_var_exists "REC_DEVICE"
+  check_var_exists "REC_FILE_TIME"
+  check_var_exists "REC_PREFIX"
+  check_var_exists "REC_DIR"
 
   mkdir -p ${REC_DIR}
   arecord --format=cd --device=${REC_DEVICE} --max-file-time ${REC_FILE_TIME} ${REC_DIR}/${REC_PREFIX}.wav 
@@ -130,25 +119,17 @@ record() {
 }
 
 convert() {
-  if [[ ! -v REC_DIR ]]; then
-    echo "REC_DIR not set"
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  if [[ ! -v UPL_DIR ]]; then
-    echo "UPL_DIR not set"
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  if [[ ! -v UPL_SUFFIX ]]; then
-    echo "UPL_SUFFIX not set"
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  if [[ ! -v REMOTE_DIR ]]; then
-    echo "REMOTE_DIR not set"
-    exit 1
-  fi
+  check_var_exists "REC_DIR"
+  check_var_exists "UPL_DIR"
+  check_var_exists "UPL_SUFFIX"
+  check_var_exists "REMOTE_DIR"
 
   if set_lockfile;
   then
+
+    mkdir -p ${REC_DIR}
+    mkdir -p ${UPL_DIR}
+
     #Alle WAV Files ausser das letzte File. 
     #Das letzte File wird gerade recorded und wird beim naechsten Durchlauf verarbeitet
     local FILES=$(ls -tr ${REC_DIR} |head -n -1)