diff --git a/gstlal-inspiral/python/lloidhandler.py b/gstlal-inspiral/python/lloidhandler.py
index 10ff1957db7bb0fc51efcb7b87a702e8cf389d08..b5cda81e2294823d4b55fb30042743ad51f798d3 100644
--- a/gstlal-inspiral/python/lloidhandler.py
+++ b/gstlal-inspiral/python/lloidhandler.py
@@ -1103,6 +1103,9 @@ class Handler(simplehandler.Handler):
 			# FIXME:  ugly way to get the instrument
 			instruments = set([event.ifo for event in events])
 
+			# check if these triggers are noise model triggers
+			buf_is_noise_model = events and events[0].search == "noise_model"
+
 			# FIXME calculate a chisq weighted SNR and store it in the Gamma2 column
 			for event in events:
 				event.Gamma2 = event.snr / ((1 + max(1., event.chisq)**3)/2.0)**(1./5.)
@@ -1212,7 +1215,7 @@ class Handler(simplehandler.Handler):
 			# must be done before running stream thinca (below)
 			# so that the "how many instruments were on test"
 			# is aware of this buffer.
-			if not buf_is_gap:
+			if not buf_is_gap and not buf_is_noise_model:
 				snr_min = self.rankingstat.snr_min
 				for instrument in instruments:
 					# FIXME At the moment, empty triggers are added to
diff --git a/gstlal-inspiral/python/streamthinca.py b/gstlal-inspiral/python/streamthinca.py
index 3b9275b7122d74d4f9d786f11599e3271f57ddf9..ebd029677308d621cb94a41b456c92a141d17c28 100644
--- a/gstlal-inspiral/python/streamthinca.py
+++ b/gstlal-inspiral/python/streamthinca.py
@@ -303,6 +303,10 @@ class StreamThinca(object):
 		self.last_coincs.clear()
 		max_last_coinc_snr = {}
 		for node, events in self.time_slide_graph.pull(newly_reported = newly_reported, flushed = flushed, flushed_unused = flushed_unused, coinc_sieve = coinc_sieve, event_collector = self.backgroundcollector, flush = flush):
+			# if the candidates is for noise model
+			if events[0].search == "noise_model":
+				continue
+
 			# construct row objects for coinc tables.
 
 			coinc, coincmaps, coinc_inspiral = self.coinc_tables.coinc_rows(self.process_id, node.time_slide_id, events, seglists = snr_segments)