diff --git a/manuf/manuf.py b/manuf/manuf.py
index e5e9193..09e9687 100755
--- a/manuf/manuf.py
+++ b/manuf/manuf.py
@@ -65,8 +65,14 @@ class MacParser(object):
     WFA_URL = "https://gitlab.com/wireshark/wireshark/raw/master/wka"
 
     def  __init__(self, manuf_name=None, update=False):
-        self._manuf_name = manuf_name or self.get_packaged_manuf_file_path()
-        if update:
+        if manuf_name is not None:
+            self._manuf_name = manuf_name
+            self.external_db = True
+        else:
+            self._manuf_name = self.get_packaged_manuf_file_path()
+            self.external_db = False
+
+        if update and self.external_db:
             self.update()
         else:
             self.refresh()
@@ -134,6 +140,9 @@ class MacParser(object):
             URLError: If the download fails
 
         """
+        if manuf_url is None and not self.external_db:
+            return
+
         if not manuf_url:
             manuf_url = self.MANUF_URL
         if not manuf_name: