diff --git a/SIRF_data_preparation/create_Hoffman_VOIs.py b/SIRF_data_preparation/create_Hoffman_VOIs.py
index 53ed3fd..6a3eda5 100644
--- a/SIRF_data_preparation/create_Hoffman_VOIs.py
+++ b/SIRF_data_preparation/create_Hoffman_VOIs.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
     if scanID is None:
         print("Need to set the --dataset argument")
         exit(1)
-    if (args["--skip_write_PETRIC_VOIs"] is not None) and args["--skip_write_PETRIC_VOIs"]:
+    if args["--skip_write_PETRIC_VOIs"]:
         write_PETRIC_VOIs = False
 else:
     # set it by hand, e.g.
diff --git a/SIRF_data_preparation/get_penalisation_factor.py b/SIRF_data_preparation/get_penalisation_factor.py
index 21ee1cb..030d4ed 100755
--- a/SIRF_data_preparation/get_penalisation_factor.py
+++ b/SIRF_data_preparation/get_penalisation_factor.py
@@ -39,8 +39,7 @@
     if dataset is None or ref_dataset is None:
         print("Need to set the --dataset arguments")
         exit(1)
-    if args["--write_penalisation_factor"] is not None:
-        write_penalisation_factor = args["--write_penalisation_factor"]
+    write_penalisation_factor = args["--write_penalisation_factor"]
 
 else:         # set it by hand, e.g.
     ref_dataset = "NeuroLF_Hoffman_Dataset"
diff --git a/SIRF_data_preparation/run_BSREM.py b/SIRF_data_preparation/run_BSREM.py
index d36b844..0f2ded0 100644
--- a/SIRF_data_preparation/run_BSREM.py
+++ b/SIRF_data_preparation/run_BSREM.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 # logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO)
 
 scanID = args['<data_set>']
-num_updates = args['--updates']
+num_updates = int(args['--updates'])
 print(f"num_updates {num_updates}")
 
 if not all((SRCDIR.is_dir(), OUTDIR.is_dir())):