diff --git a/ena_upload/_version.py b/ena_upload/_version.py
index df12433..f6b7e26 100644
--- a/ena_upload/_version.py
+++ b/ena_upload/_version.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-__version__ = "0.4.2"
+__version__ = "0.4.3"
diff --git a/ena_upload/ena_upload.py b/ena_upload/ena_upload.py
index 13f6a23..6dbfc53 100755
--- a/ena_upload/ena_upload.py
+++ b/ena_upload/ena_upload.py
@@ -79,8 +79,8 @@ def extract_targets(action, schema_dataframe):
 
     for schema, dataframe in schema_dataframe.items():
         filtered = dataframe.query(f'status=="{action}"')
-        # ? add a function to control empty filtered, return error
-        schema_targets[schema] = filtered
+        if not filtered.empty:
+            schema_targets[schema] = filtered
 
     return schema_targets
 
@@ -711,6 +711,9 @@ def main():
     # these rows are the targets for submission
     schema_targets = extract_targets(action, schema_dataframe)
 
+    if not schema_targets:
+        sys.exit(f"There is no table submitted having at least one row with {action} as action in the status column.")
+
     if action == 'ADD':
         # when adding run object
         # update schema_targets wit md5 hash