diff --git a/catalogbuilder/scripts/gen_intake_gfdl.py b/catalogbuilder/scripts/gen_intake_gfdl.py
index 75c709e..7fdecf7 100755
--- a/catalogbuilder/scripts/gen_intake_gfdl.py
+++ b/catalogbuilder/scripts/gen_intake_gfdl.py
@@ -107,8 +107,14 @@ def create_catalog(input_path=None, output_path=None, config=None, filter_realm=
                #If we badly need standard name, we use gfdl cmip mapping tables especially when one does not prefer the slow option. Useful for MDTF runs
                       df = pd.read_csv(os.path.abspath(csv_path), sep=",", header=0,index_col=False)
                       list_variable_id = []
-                      list_variable_id = df["variable_id"].unique().tolist()
-                      list_realm = df["realm"].unique().tolist()
+                      try:
+                          list_variable_id = df["variable_id"].unique().tolist()
+                      except:
+                          print("Having trouble finding 'variable_id'... Be sure to add it to the output_path_template field of your configuration")
+                      try:
+                          list_realm = df["realm"].unique().tolist()
+                      except:
+                          print("Having trouble finding 'realm'... Be sure to add it to the output_path_template field of your configuration")
                       dictVarCF = getinfo.getStandardName(list_variable_id,list_realm)
                       #print("standard name from look-up table-", dictVarCF)
                       for k, v in dictVarCF.items():