diff --git a/tools/setup_ci.sh b/tools/setup_ci.sh
index cdc1e276..546945fb 100755
--- a/tools/setup_ci.sh
+++ b/tools/setup_ci.sh
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ fi
 
 python_version=$1
 
-conda config --remove channels defaults  # get conda-forge, not main, packages
+conda config --remove channels defaults || :  # get conda-forge, not main, packages
 conda create --yes -q -n python${python_version} -c salilab -c conda-forge python=${python_version} pip scipy matplotlib imp-nightly libboost-devel gxx_linux-64 eigen cereal swig cmake
 eval "$(conda shell.bash hook)"
 conda activate python${python_version}