diff --git a/rowers/alerts.py b/rowers/alerts.py
index 9226f517..7a3eaa09 100644
--- a/rowers/alerts.py
+++ b/rowers/alerts.py
@@ -111,6 +111,9 @@ def alert_get_stats(alert,nperiod=0):
             'nr_strokes_qualifying':0,
             'percentage':0,
             'nperiod':nperiod,
+            'median': 0,
+            'median_q': 0,
+            'standard_dev': 0,
         }
 
     # check if filters are in columns list
@@ -143,6 +146,9 @@ def alert_get_stats(alert,nperiod=0):
             'nr_strokes_qualifying':0,
             'percentage':0,
             'nperiod':nperiod,
+            'median': 0,
+            'median_q': 0,
+            'standard_dev': 0,
         }
         
         
diff --git a/rowers/dataprepnodjango.py b/rowers/dataprepnodjango.py
index ed9dfc5f..9fd3d196 100644
--- a/rowers/dataprepnodjango.py
+++ b/rowers/dataprepnodjango.py
@@ -1104,7 +1104,11 @@ def dataprep(rowdatadf,id=0,bands=True,barchart=True,otwpower=True,
     if barchart:
         # time increments for bar chart
         time_increments = rowdatadf.loc[:,' ElapsedTime (sec)'].diff()
-        time_increments[0] = time_increments[1]
+        try:
+            time_increments.iloc[0] = time_increments.iloc[1]
+        except (KeyError, IndexError):
+            time_increments.iloc[1] = 1.
+            
         time_increments = 0.5*time_increments+0.5*np.abs(time_increments)
         x_right =  (t2+time_increments.apply(lambda x:timedeltaconv(x)))
 
diff --git a/rowers/tasks.py b/rowers/tasks.py
index cf0bae49..617a3de9 100644
--- a/rowers/tasks.py
+++ b/rowers/tasks.py
@@ -791,14 +791,33 @@ def handle_send_email_alert(
         othertexts = None
 
     report = {}
-    report['Percentage'] = int(stats['percentage'])
-    report['Number of workouts'] = int(stats['workouts'])
-    report['Data set'] = "{a} strokes out of {b}".format(
+    try:
+        report['Percentage'] = int(stats['percentage'])
+    except KeyError:
+        pass
+
+    try:
+        report['Number of workouts'] = int(stats['workouts'])
+    except KeyError:
+        pass
+
+    try:
+        report['Data set'] = "{a} strokes out of {b}".format(
         a = stats['nr_strokes_qualifying'],
         b = stats['nr_strokes']
         )
-    report['Median'] = sigdig(stats['median'])
-    report['Median of qualifying strokes'] = sigdig(stats['median_q'])
+    except KeyError:
+        pass
+
+    try:
+        report['Median'] = sigdig(stats['median'])
+    except KeyError:
+        pass
+
+    try:
+        report['Median of qualifying strokes'] = sigdig(stats['median_q'])
+    except KeyError:
+        pass
 
     subject = "Rowsandall.com: {alertname} ({startdate} to {enddate})".format(
         startdate = stats['startdate'],