diff --git a/gstlal-inspiral/python/svd_bank.py b/gstlal-inspiral/python/svd_bank.py
index 18387e3905b371c032d8a174349924e44c90ca6a..b0060c947fedbdeca2920ffc7a6abfced60cf0b8 100644
--- a/gstlal-inspiral/python/svd_bank.py
+++ b/gstlal-inspiral/python/svd_bank.py
@@ -460,6 +460,8 @@ def read_banks(filename, contenthandler, verbose = False):
 		if raw_psd is not None:
 			# reproduce the whitening psd and attach a reference to the psd
 			bank.processed_psd = cbc_template_fir.condition_psd(raw_psd, bank.newdeltaF, minfs = (bank.working_f_low, bank.f_low), maxfs = (bank.sample_rate_max / 2.0 * 0.90, bank.sample_rate_max / 2.0))
+		else:
+			bank.processed_psd = None
 
 		# Read bank fragments
 		bank.bank_fragments = []