diff --git a/parsers/survex.py b/parsers/survex.py
index 5394de6..58763c5 100644
--- a/parsers/survex.py
+++ b/parsers/survex.py
@@ -739,9 +739,10 @@ class LoadingSurvex:
             print(f"  {survexblock.survexfile=}")
             # raise
             
-        if year:
+        try: 
             setdate_on_survexblock(year)
-        else:
+        except NameError:
+            print(">> why is year not set ?! {survexblock.survexfile.path}")
             setdate_on_survexblock("1970")
         if survexblock.date:
             # do not actually need a distict variable 'currentdate' but it makes the code clearer