diff --git a/site_ansto/instrument/util/gen_sct.py b/site_ansto/instrument/util/gen_sct.py
index a4130931..050897cd 100755
--- a/site_ansto/instrument/util/gen_sct.py
+++ b/site_ansto/instrument/util/gen_sct.py
@@ -1283,7 +1283,10 @@ def put_group(MyDriver, MyGroup):
             if fetch_func == 'none':
                 fetch_func = 'getValue'
             read_func = MyVar['read_function']
-            read_command =  MyVar['read_command']
+            if 'read_command' in MyVar:
+                read_command = MyVar['read_command']
+            else:
+                read_command = ''
             txt += ['    hsetprop ${scobj_hpath}/%s read ${ns}::%s ${scobj_hpath} %s {%s}' % (nodename, fetch_func, read_func, read_command)]
             txt += ['    hsetprop ${scobj_hpath}/%s %s ${ns}::%s ${scobj_hpath}' % (nodename, read_func, read_func)]
         if MyVar['writeable'] > 0 or MyVar['driveable']: