diff --git a/SAS/TMSS/backend/src/tmss/tmssapp/adapters/parset.py b/SAS/TMSS/backend/src/tmss/tmssapp/adapters/parset.py
index 6e68befba89f0156a33dd27c6776756e8fea291b..3fbe0cf941a4b761f588e1e40988bc445bfb0132 100644
--- a/SAS/TMSS/backend/src/tmss/tmssapp/adapters/parset.py
+++ b/SAS/TMSS/backend/src/tmss/tmssapp/adapters/parset.py
@@ -537,7 +537,7 @@ def _convert_to_parset_dict_for_preprocessing_pipeline_schema(subtask: models.Su
     parset = _common_parset_dict_for_pipeline_schemas(subtask)
     parset["Observation.processSubtype"] = "Averaging Pipeline"
     parset["Observation.ObservationControl.PythonControl.pythonProgram"] = "preprocessing_pipeline.py"
-    parset["Observation.ObservationControl.PythonControl.softwareVersion"] = spec['software_version']
+    parset["Observation.ObservationControl.PythonControl.softwareVersion"] = spec.get('software_version', "")
 
     # DPPP steps
     dppp_steps = []
@@ -701,7 +701,7 @@ def _convert_to_parset_dict_for_pulsarpipeline_schema(subtask: models.Subtask) -
     parset = _common_parset_dict_for_pipeline_schemas(subtask)
     parset["Observation.processSubtype"] = "Pulsar Pipeline"
     parset["Observation.ObservationControl.PythonControl.pythonProgram"] = "pulsar_pipeline.py"
-    parset["Observation.ObservationControl.PythonControl.softwareVersion"] = spec['software_version']
+    parset["Observation.ObservationControl.PythonControl.softwareVersion"] = spec.get('software_version', "lofar-pulp:tmss")
 
     # Pulsar pipeline settings
     parset["Observation.ObservationControl.PythonControl.Pulsar.2bf2fits_extra_opts"] = spec["presto"]["2bf2fits_extra_opts"]