diff --git a/PhysicsAnalysis/MCTruthClassifier/Root/MCTruthClassifier.cxx b/PhysicsAnalysis/MCTruthClassifier/Root/MCTruthClassifier.cxx
index 401a600c4e0502e51e1ba3dfe7b1c5d26687eb7e..b973c4856b351d8d5ef805fdbfccf87f25785385 100644
--- a/PhysicsAnalysis/MCTruthClassifier/Root/MCTruthClassifier.cxx
+++ b/PhysicsAnalysis/MCTruthClassifier/Root/MCTruthClassifier.cxx
@@ -112,7 +112,10 @@ StatusCode MCTruthClassifier::initialize(){
 
   ATH_MSG_INFO( " Initializing MCTruthClassifier" );
 
-  ATH_CHECK(m_truthLinkVecReadHandleKey.initialize());
+  // Only needed for GenParticle interface
+  if(!m_truthLinkVecReadHandleKey.key().empty()) {
+    ATH_CHECK(m_truthLinkVecReadHandleKey.initialize());
+  }
   ATH_CHECK(m_truthParticleContainerKey.initialize());
   
   //define barcode scheme