diff --git a/pipelines/steps/generate_flags.py b/pipelines/steps/generate_flags.py
index 9dd4e5e..dd56015 100644
--- a/pipelines/steps/generate_flags.py
+++ b/pipelines/steps/generate_flags.py
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ def generate_species_flags(data_table : pd.DataFrame, calib_param_dict : dict, f
 
     manual_json_flags, csv_flags = get_flags_from_folder(flagsFolderPath)
     #print(manual_json_flags,csv_flags)
-
+    interpolated_cpc_flags = []
     if csv_flags:
 
         # Loop over CSV files in the flags folder
@@ -264,7 +264,9 @@ def generate_species_flags(data_table : pd.DataFrame, calib_param_dict : dict, f
 
     numflag_columns = [col for col in data_table.columns if 'numflag_' in col]
 
-    data_table = reconcile_flags(data_table, interpolated_cpc_flags, 0, interpolated_cpc_flags.size, numflag_columns)
+    if interpolated_cpc_flags:
+
+        data_table = reconcile_flags(data_table, interpolated_cpc_flags, 0, interpolated_cpc_flags.size, numflag_columns)
 
     #print(numflag_columns)
     for flag_filename in manual_json_flags:
diff --git a/pipelines/steps/update_datachain_params.py b/pipelines/steps/update_datachain_params.py
index bb7d6aa..b0f13a8 100644
--- a/pipelines/steps/update_datachain_params.py
+++ b/pipelines/steps/update_datachain_params.py
@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@ def sync_yaml_files(src_filepath, dest_filepath):
     src_yaml = load_yaml(src_filepath)
     dest_yaml = load_yaml(dest_filepath)    
 
+    # TODO validate yaml files first before attempting syncronization
+
     if src_yaml is None or dest_yaml is None:
         print(f"Skipping synchronization for {os.path.basename(src_filepath)} due to YAML loading errors.")
         return