diff --git a/tools/idf_py_actions/tools.py b/tools/idf_py_actions/tools.py
index 317784c447a..22c4d83ea72 100644
--- a/tools/idf_py_actions/tools.py
+++ b/tools/idf_py_actions/tools.py
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ def executable_exists(args: List) -> bool:
 
 
 def _idf_version_from_cmake() -> Optional[str]:
+    """Acquires version of ESP-IDF from version.cmake"""
     version_path = os.path.join(os.environ['IDF_PATH'], 'tools/cmake/version.cmake')
     regex = re.compile(r'^\s*set\s*\(\s*IDF_VERSION_([A-Z]{5})\s+(\d+)')
     ver = {}
@@ -113,7 +114,7 @@ def idf_version() -> Optional[str]:
             '--work-tree=%s' % os.environ['IDF_PATH'],
             'describe', '--tags', '--dirty', '--match', 'v*.*',
         ]).decode('utf-8', 'ignore').strip()
-    except (subprocess.CalledProcessError, UnicodeError):
+    except Exception:
         # if failed, then try to parse cmake.version file
         sys.stderr.write('WARNING: Git version unavailable, reading from source\n')
         version = _idf_version_from_cmake()
@@ -148,7 +149,7 @@ def get_default_serial_port() -> Any:
 
 # function prints warning when autocompletion is not being performed
 # set argument stream to sys.stderr for errors and exceptions
-def print_warning(message: str, stream: TextIO=None) -> None:
+def print_warning(message: str, stream: Optional[TextIO]=None) -> None:
     if not SHELL_COMPLETE_RUN:
         print(message, file=stream or sys.stderr)
 
@@ -277,8 +278,9 @@ def fit_text_in_terminal(out: str) -> str:
 
 
 class RunTool:
-    def __init__(self, tool_name: str, args: List, cwd: str, env: Dict=None, custom_error_handler: FunctionType=None, build_dir: str=None,
-                 hints: bool=True, force_progression: bool=False, interactive: bool=False, convert_output: bool=False) -> None:
+    def __init__(self, tool_name: str, args: List, cwd: str, env: Optional[Dict]=None, custom_error_handler: Optional[FunctionType]=None,
+                 build_dir: Optional[str]=None, hints: bool=True, force_progression: bool=False, interactive: bool=False, convert_output: bool=False
+                 ) -> None:
         self.tool_name = tool_name
         self.args = args
         self.cwd = cwd
@@ -460,7 +462,7 @@ def run_tool(*args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
 
 
 def run_target(target_name: str, args: 'PropertyDict', env: Optional[Dict]=None,
-               custom_error_handler: FunctionType=None, force_progression: bool=False, interactive: bool=False) -> None:
+               custom_error_handler: Optional[FunctionType]=None, force_progression: bool=False, interactive: bool=False) -> None:
     """Run target in build directory."""
     if env is None:
         env = {}
@@ -543,7 +545,7 @@ def _detect_cmake_generator(prog_name: str) -> Any:
 
 
 def ensure_build_directory(args: 'PropertyDict', prog_name: str, always_run_cmake: bool=False,
-                           env: Dict=None) -> None:
+                           env: Optional[Dict]=None) -> None:
     """Check the build directory exists and that cmake has been run there.
 
     If this isn't the case, create the build directory (if necessary) and
@@ -660,7 +662,7 @@ def merge_action_lists(*action_lists: Dict) -> Dict:
     return merged_actions
 
 
-def get_sdkconfig_filename(args: 'PropertyDict', cache_cmdl: Dict=None) -> str:
+def get_sdkconfig_filename(args: 'PropertyDict', cache_cmdl: Optional[Dict]=None) -> str:
     """
     Get project's sdkconfig file name.
     """
@@ -709,7 +711,7 @@ def is_target_supported(project_path: str, supported_targets: List) -> bool:
 
 
 def _check_idf_target(args: 'PropertyDict', prog_name: str, cache: Dict,
-                      cache_cmdl: Dict, env: Dict=None) -> None:
+                      cache_cmdl: Dict, env: Optional[Dict]=None) -> None:
     """
     Cross-check the three settings (sdkconfig, CMakeCache, environment) and if there is
     mismatch, fail with instructions on how to fix this.