-GPG_CMD="$GPG_CMD --secret-keyring $SECRETKEYRING"
-GPG_CMD="$GPG_CMD --trustdb-name ${TRUSTDBDIR}/trustdb.gpg"
-
-# now create the trustdb with an (empty) dummy keyring
-$GPG_CMD --quiet --check-trustdb --keyring $SECRETKEYRING
-# and make sure that gpg isn't trying to update the file
+GPG_CMD="$GPG_CMD --homedir $GPGHOMEDIR"
+# create the trustdb with an (empty) dummy keyring
+# older gpgs required it, newer gpgs even warn that it isn't needed,
+# but require it nonetheless for some commands, so we just play safe
+# here for the foreseeable future and create a dummy one
+$GPG_CMD --quiet --check-trustdb --keyring $SECRETKEYRING >/dev/null 2>&1
+# tell gpg that it shouldn't try to maintain a trustdb file