diff --git a/pcmdi_metrics/variability_mode/variability_modes_driver.py b/pcmdi_metrics/variability_mode/variability_modes_driver.py
index b5d6e0e17..a2b56a93f 100755
--- a/pcmdi_metrics/variability_mode/variability_modes_driver.py
+++ b/pcmdi_metrics/variability_mode/variability_modes_driver.py
@@ -546,8 +546,7 @@
     # Run
     # -------------------------------------------------
     for model_path in model_path_list:
-        # try:
-        if 1:
+        try:
             if realization == "*":
                 run = (model_path.split("/")[-1]).split(".")[run_in_modpath]
             else:
@@ -1022,14 +1021,12 @@
                 run=run,
                 cmec_flag=cmec,
             )
-        """
         except Exception as err:
             if debug:
                 raise
             else:
                 print("warning: failed for ", model, run, err)
                 pass
-        """
 # ========================================================================
 # Dictionary to JSON: collective JSON at the end of model_realization loop
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------