diff --git a/resources/home/dnanexus/generate_workbook/utils/vcf.py b/resources/home/dnanexus/generate_workbook/utils/vcf.py
index 5b4f28f..e14f49a 100644
--- a/resources/home/dnanexus/generate_workbook/utils/vcf.py
+++ b/resources/home/dnanexus/generate_workbook/utils/vcf.py
@@ -442,8 +442,8 @@ def read_additional_files(self):
 
                 # call some of the formatting methods for regular vcfs
                 # to get things like split INFO columns and hyperlinks
-
-                file_df = splitColumns().split(file_df)
+                if not file_df.empty:
+                    file_df = splitColumns().split(file_df)
 
                 if self.args.split_hgvs:
                     file_df = self.split_hgvs([file_df])[0]