diff --git a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_events_user_services.py b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_events_user_services.py
index 64563278d4c..a6976796560 100644
--- a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_events_user_services.py
+++ b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_events_user_services.py
@@ -237,9 +237,9 @@ async def progress_create_containers(
     start_duration = (
         scheduler_data.dynamic_sidecar.instrumentation.elapsed_since_start_request()
     )
-    assert start_duration is not None  # nosec
-    get_instrumentation(app).dynamic_sidecar_metrics.start_time_duration.labels(
-        **get_metrics_labels(scheduler_data)
-    ).observe(start_duration)
+    if start_duration is not None:
+        get_instrumentation(app).dynamic_sidecar_metrics.start_time_duration.labels(
+            **get_metrics_labels(scheduler_data)
+        ).observe(start_duration)
 
     _logger.info("Internal state after creating user services %s", scheduler_data)
diff --git a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_events_utils.py b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_events_utils.py
index e861ad9f30c..e3b6d024bf8 100644
--- a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_events_utils.py
+++ b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_events_utils.py
@@ -385,10 +385,10 @@ async def attempt_pod_removal_and_data_saving(
     stop_duration = (
         scheduler_data.dynamic_sidecar.instrumentation.elapsed_since_close_request()
     )
-    assert stop_duration is not None  # nosec
-    get_instrumentation(app).dynamic_sidecar_metrics.stop_time_duration.labels(
-        **get_metrics_labels(scheduler_data)
-    ).observe(stop_duration)
+    if stop_duration is not None:
+        get_instrumentation(app).dynamic_sidecar_metrics.stop_time_duration.labels(
+            **get_metrics_labels(scheduler_data)
+        ).observe(stop_duration)
 
 
 async def attach_project_networks(app: FastAPI, scheduler_data: SchedulerData) -> None: