diff --git a/ldvspec/lofardata/tasks.py b/ldvspec/lofardata/tasks.py
index 6e2939b9073718f0391d56d6ea91726c91641b2a..462e05830a5ef36e248912cd10b276a5a55b51fd 100644
--- a/ldvspec/lofardata/tasks.py
+++ b/ldvspec/lofardata/tasks.py
@@ -156,7 +156,13 @@ def insert_task_into_atdb(workspecification_id: int):
         pk=workspecification_id
     )
     inputs: Dict[str, Any] = work_spec.inputs.copy()
-    entries: List[dict] = inputs.pop("surls")
+
+    try:
+        entries: List[dict] = inputs.pop("surls")
+    except IndexError:
+        logger.error("Work specification does not contain any surls. This should never happen")
+        raise RequestNotOk
+
 
     batches = split_entries_to_batches(entries, work_spec.batch_size)