diff --git a/scripts/Diffraction/isis_powder/routines/focus.py b/scripts/Diffraction/isis_powder/routines/focus.py
index a2c40738c3965ad48dd12f5336728023e40f7ab2..e6af0a277f9013d67918d16add30eef723feb381 100644
--- a/scripts/Diffraction/isis_powder/routines/focus.py
+++ b/scripts/Diffraction/isis_powder/routines/focus.py
@@ -99,7 +99,10 @@ def _batched_run_focusing(instrument, perform_vanadium_norm, run_number_string,
     read_ws_list = common.load_current_normalised_ws_list(run_number_string=run_number_string,
                                                           instrument=instrument)
     run_details = instrument._get_run_details(run_number_string=run_number_string)
-    vanadium_splines = mantid.LoadNexus(Filename=run_details.splined_vanadium_file_path)
+    vanadium_splines = None;
+    if perform_vanadium_norm:
+        vanadium_splines = mantid.LoadNexus(Filename=run_details.splined_vanadium_file_path)
+
     output = None
     for ws in read_ws_list:
         output = _focus_one_ws(input_workspace=ws, run_number=run_number_string, instrument=instrument,
@@ -139,7 +142,9 @@ def _individual_run_focusing(instrument, perform_vanadium_norm, run_number, abso
     # Load and process one by one
     run_numbers = common.generate_run_numbers(run_number_string=run_number)
     run_details = instrument._get_run_details(run_number_string=run_number)
-    vanadium_splines = mantid.LoadNexus(Filename=run_details.splined_vanadium_file_path)
+    vanadium_splines = None;
+    if perform_vanadium_norm:
+        vanadium_splines = mantid.LoadNexus(Filename=run_details.splined_vanadium_file_path)
     output = None
     for run in run_numbers:
         ws = common.load_current_normalised_ws_list(run_number_string=run, instrument=instrument)