diff --git a/flare/scripts/otf_train.py b/flare/scripts/otf_train.py
index 899eee185..8bae02691 100644
--- a/flare/scripts/otf_train.py
+++ b/flare/scripts/otf_train.py
@@ -285,6 +285,8 @@ def get_sgp_calc(flare_config):
             sae_dct
         ), "'single_atom_energies' should be the same length as 'species'"
         single_atom_energies = {i: sae_dct[i] for i in range(n_species)}
+    else:
+        single_atom_energies = {i: 0 for i in range(n_species)}
 
     sgp = SGP_Wrapper(
         kernels=kernels,