diff --git a/src/preprocessor.py b/src/preprocessor.py
index c56a70adc..c174d865d 100644
--- a/src/preprocessor.py
+++ b/src/preprocessor.py
@@ -66,7 +66,6 @@ class PreprocessorFunctionBase(abc.ABC):
       function is capable of converting into the format requested by the POD.
     - :meth:`process`, which actually implements the data format conversion.
     """
-
     def __init__(self, *args):
         """Called during Preprocessor's init."""
         pass
@@ -1557,11 +1556,12 @@ def __init__(self,
         # initialize PreprocessorFunctionBase objects
         super().__init__(model_paths, config)
         self.file_preproc_functions = [f for f in self._functions]
-        if any([s for s in config.user_pp_scripts]):
-            self.add_user_pp_scripts(config)
-            self.module_root = os.path.join(config.CODE_ROOT, "user_scripts")
-        else:
-            self.user_pp_scripts = None
+        if hasattr(config, 'user_pp_scripts'):
+            if any([s for s in config.user_pp_scripts]):
+                self.add_user_pp_scripts(config)
+                self.module_root = os.path.join(config.CODE_ROOT, "user_scripts")
+            else:
+                self.user_pp_scripts = None
 
     def add_user_pp_scripts(self, runtime_config: util.NameSpace):
         self.user_pp_scripts = [s for s in runtime_config.user_pp_scripts]