diff --git a/gdl/models/DECA.py b/gdl/models/DECA.py
index 2079829f3de25eac3605bd8b9636eaf71536fdb7..df5ea57dfe8d0d6f5b49e37e647b598c8dfc5d5c 100644
--- a/gdl/models/DECA.py
+++ b/gdl/models/DECA.py
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ class DecaModule(LightningModule):
         """
         Initialize the au perceptual loss (not currently used in EMOCA)
         """
-        if 'lipread_loss' in self.deca.config.keys():
+        if 'lipread_loss' in self.deca.config.keys() and self.deca.config.lipread_loss.get('load', True):
             if self.lipread_loss is not None:
                 force_override = True if 'force_override' in self.deca.config.lipread_loss.keys() \
                                          and self.deca.config.lipread_loss.force_override else False
diff --git a/gdl/models/EmoDECA.py b/gdl/models/EmoDECA.py
index bdcc7c7ef033b2f3750337f5f9f2a2bf4d0cb9af..ef7f7bd832ebf9abcb1ab782729deac123dde48c 100644
--- a/gdl/models/EmoDECA.py
+++ b/gdl/models/EmoDECA.py
@@ -54,9 +54,12 @@ class EmoDECA(EmotionRecognitionBaseModule):
             "stage_name": "testing",
         }
         # instantiate the face net
-        self.deca = instantiate_deca(config.model.deca_cfg, deca_stage , "test", deca_checkpoint, deca_checkpoint_kwargs)
-        self.deca.inout_params.full_run_dir = config.inout.full_run_dir
-        self._setup_deca(False)
+        if bool(deca_checkpoint):
+            self.deca = instantiate_deca(config.model.deca_cfg, deca_stage , "test", deca_checkpoint, deca_checkpoint_kwargs)
+            self.deca.inout_params.full_run_dir = config.inout.full_run_dir
+            self._setup_deca(False)
+        else: 
+            self.deca = None
 
         # which latent codes are being used
         in_size = 0