diff --git a/winziprint/winziprint.py b/winziprint/winziprint.py
index c41fb12..9edf36a 100755
--- a/winziprint/winziprint.py
+++ b/winziprint/winziprint.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ def convert(input_files: list[str],
     tmp_file_names = []
     page_nums = []
 
-    html_files = [file for file in input_files if not file.endswith('.pdf')]
+    html_files = [file.lstrip('!') for file in input_files if not file.endswith('.pdf')]
     steps = len(html_files) + len(html_files) // BATCH_SIZE + 1
 
     try:
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ def convert(input_files: list[str],
         for n, file_name in enumerate(input_files):
             p0 = len(merger.pages)
             if file_name.endswith('.pdf'):
-                merger.append(file_name)
+                merger.append(file_name.lstrip('!'))
             else:
                 batch_page_nums = tmp_page_nums[i // BATCH_SIZE * BATCH_SIZE:(i // BATCH_SIZE + 1) * BATCH_SIZE]
                 page_start = sum(batch_page_nums[:i % BATCH_SIZE])
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ def convert(input_files: list[str],
                 i += 1
             p1 = len(merger.pages)
             page_nums.append(p1 - p0)
-            if padding and len(merger.pages) % 2 != 0:
+            if padding and file_name[0] != '!' and len(merger.pages) % 2 != 0:
                 merger.add_blank_page()
         merger.write(output_files)
         merger.close()