diff --git a/geomagio/processing/copy_absolutes.py b/geomagio/processing/copy_absolutes.py
index d1318159ae57f5f7159aa3bbf51a455698d0c6b8..db38d3eff0519ac713e773070987f3a119e24f58 100644
--- a/geomagio/processing/copy_absolutes.py
+++ b/geomagio/processing/copy_absolutes.py
@@ -110,19 +110,22 @@ def create_reading_metadata(reading: Reading, created_by_label: str) -> Metadata
     -------
     metadata object for reading
     """
-    measurement_times = [m.time for m in reading.measurements if m.time]
-    metadata = Metadata(
-        category=MetadataCategory.READING,
-        created_by=(created_by_label),
-        endtime=max(measurement_times),
-        metadata=json.loads(reading.json()),
-        network="NT",
-        starttime=min(measurement_times),
-        station=reading.metadata["station"],
-        status="reviewed" if reading.metadata.get("reviewed") else "new",
-        updated_by=reading.metadata.get("reviewer"),
-    )
-    return metadata
+    try:
+        measurement_times = [m.time for m in reading.measurements if m.time]
+        metadata = Metadata(
+            category=MetadataCategory.READING,
+            created_by=(created_by_label),
+            endtime=max(measurement_times),
+            metadata=json.loads(reading.json()),
+            network="NT",
+            starttime=min(measurement_times),
+            station=reading.metadata["station"],
+            status="reviewed" if reading.metadata.get("reviewed") else "new",
+            updated_by=reading.metadata.get("reviewer"),
+        )
+        return metadata
+    except:
+        pass
 
 
 def get_readings(
@@ -184,7 +187,11 @@ def upload_reading(
     )
     # TODO: should this check if metadata was already uploaded?
     # TODO: should that check occur before calling this method?
-    return factory.create_metadata(metadata=metadata)
+    if metadata is not None:
+        return factory.create_metadata(metadata=metadata)
+    else:
+        print(" Absolute set is empty, skipping upload to webservice")
+        pass
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":