diff --git a/datashuttle/utils/formatting.py b/datashuttle/utils/formatting.py
index 5e8cabbe3..1e1827fdc 100644
--- a/datashuttle/utils/formatting.py
+++ b/datashuttle/utils/formatting.py
@@ -368,10 +368,17 @@ def warn_on_inconsistent_sub_or_ses_leading_zeros(
     subject or session names, the number of leading zeros must be consistent
     across local and central projects.
     """
-    (
-        subs_are_inconsistent,
-        ses_are_inconsistent,
-    ) = project_has_inconsistent_num_leading_zeros(cfg)
+    try:
+        (
+            subs_are_inconsistent,
+            ses_are_inconsistent,
+        ) = project_has_inconsistent_num_leading_zeros(cfg)
+    except:
+        warnings.warn(
+            "Could not search local and remote respoistories. "
+            "Leading zero consistency checks not performed."
+        )
+        return
 
     failing_cases = list(
         compress(["sub", "ses"], [subs_are_inconsistent, ses_are_inconsistent])
diff --git a/tests/test_utils.py b/tests/test_utils.py
index c04126054..963a2f16a 100644
--- a/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -249,6 +249,7 @@ def get_default_folder_used():
 
 def get_config_path_with_cli(project_name=None):
     stdout = run_cli(" show_config_path", project_name)
+    breakpoint()
     path_ = stdout[0].split(".yaml")[0] + ".yaml"
     return path_
 
diff --git a/tests/tests_integration/test_command_line_interface.py b/tests/tests_integration/test_command_line_interface.py
index 4180a764b..28559ff5d 100644
--- a/tests/tests_integration/test_command_line_interface.py
+++ b/tests/tests_integration/test_command_line_interface.py
@@ -389,7 +389,6 @@ def test_make_config_file_not_defaults(
         )
 
         config_path = test_utils.get_config_path_with_cli(clean_project_name)
-
         test_utils.check_config_file(config_path, changed_configs)
 
     def test_make_sub_folders(self, setup_project):