diff --git a/MantidQt/CustomInterfaces/src/Indirect/IndirectDiffractionReduction.cpp b/MantidQt/CustomInterfaces/src/Indirect/IndirectDiffractionReduction.cpp
index 65bd77db57d5c16d956ef9a8d6d3ab202ec6e7aa..d51c7f3c9c636b84a1309723ee524ca24e32a4e6 100644
--- a/MantidQt/CustomInterfaces/src/Indirect/IndirectDiffractionReduction.cpp
+++ b/MantidQt/CustomInterfaces/src/Indirect/IndirectDiffractionReduction.cpp
@@ -351,9 +351,12 @@ void IndirectDiffractionReduction::runGenericReduction(QString instName,
     }
   }
   if (mode == "diffspec") {
-    const auto vanFile =
-        m_uiForm.rfVanFile_only->getFilenames().join(",").toStdString();
-    msgDiffReduction->setProperty("VanadiumFiles", vanFile);
+
+    if (m_uiForm.ckUseVanadium->isChecked()) {
+      const auto vanFile =
+          m_uiForm.rfVanFile_only->getFilenames().join(",").toStdString();
+      msgDiffReduction->setProperty("VanadiumFiles", vanFile);
+    }
   }
   msgDiffReduction->setProperty("SumFiles", m_uiForm.ckSumFiles->isChecked());
   msgDiffReduction->setProperty("LoadLogFiles",