diff --git a/InnerDetector/InDetConditions/SCT_ConditionsTools/src/SCT_ReadoutTool.cxx b/InnerDetector/InDetConditions/SCT_ConditionsTools/src/SCT_ReadoutTool.cxx
index 0ee1f02af526f36bec2da99f7810ed06472ac144..f9842458af648f9ad2b071926eaac0347066aef4 100644
--- a/InnerDetector/InDetConditions/SCT_ConditionsTools/src/SCT_ReadoutTool.cxx
+++ b/InnerDetector/InDetConditions/SCT_ConditionsTools/src/SCT_ReadoutTool.cxx
@@ -21,7 +21,9 @@ SCT_ReadoutTool::SCT_ReadoutTool(const std::string& type, const std::string& nam
 StatusCode SCT_ReadoutTool::initialize() {
   ATH_MSG_DEBUG("Initialize SCT_ReadoutTool");
   // Retrieve cabling
-  ATH_CHECK(m_cablingTool.retrieve());
+  if (!m_cablingTool.empty()) {
+    ATH_CHECK(m_cablingTool.retrieve());
+  }
   // Retrieve SCT helper
   ATH_CHECK(detStore()->retrieve(m_sctId, "SCT_ID"));
   // Get MessageSvc for SCT_ReadoutData