diff --git a/imap_l3_processing/swe/l3/utils.py b/imap_l3_processing/swe/l3/utils.py
index 7f3add53..a70d58ff 100644
--- a/imap_l3_processing/swe/l3/utils.py
+++ b/imap_l3_processing/swe/l3/utils.py
@@ -57,7 +57,11 @@ def read_l3a_swapi_proton_data(swapi_l3a_data: Path) -> SwapiL3aProtonData:
         proton_sw_speed = read_numeric_variable(cdf["proton_sw_speed"])
         proton_sw_clock_angle = read_numeric_variable(cdf["proton_sw_clock_angle"])
         proton_sw_deflection_angle = read_numeric_variable(cdf["proton_sw_deflection_angle"])
-        swp_flags = read_numeric_variable(cdf["swp_flags"])
+        ### MEC: insert try-except to catch swp_flags issue
+        try:
+            swp_flags = read_numeric_variable(cdf["swp_flags"])
+        except:
+            swp_flags = np.zeros(len(epoch))
 
     return SwapiL3aProtonData(epoch=epoch,
                               epoch_delta=epoch_delta,