diff --git a/transition_machine/src/Config.cpp b/transition_machine/src/Config.cpp
index b33755bd686af7db27a23d42849c66b43fbb8fea..2849c8a797bff05e81922c4067fb9b007862dcb3 100644
--- a/transition_machine/src/Config.cpp
+++ b/transition_machine/src/Config.cpp
@@ -820,6 +820,9 @@ void Config::setLastIndexPrinted(int lastIndexPrinted)
 
 void Config::setGovsAsUD(bool ref)
 {
+  if (!hasTape("GOV"))
+    return;
+
   auto & ids = getTape("ID");
   auto & govs = getTape("GOV");