diff --git a/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/pw/base.py b/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/pw/base.py
index d660111dd..80b2f111f 100644
--- a/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/pw/base.py
+++ b/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/pw/base.py
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ def run_init(self):
         inputs = prepare_process_inputs(PwCalculation, inputs)
         running = self.submit(PwCalculation, **inputs)
 
-        self.report('launching initialization {}<{}>'.format(running.pk, self._process_class.__name__))
+        self.report('launching initialization {}<{}>'.format(running.pk, self.ctx.process_name))
 
         return ToContext(calculation_init=running)
 
@@ -336,9 +336,15 @@ def sanity_check_insufficient_bands(self, calculation):
 
         try:
             bands = calculation.outputs.output_band
+        except AttributeError:
+            args = [self.ctx.process_name, calculation.pk]
+            self.report('{}<{}> does not have `output_band` output, skipping sanity check.'.format(*args))
+            return
+
+        try:
             get_highest_occupied_band(bands)
         except ValueError as exception:
-            args = [self._process_class.__name__, calculation.pk]
+            args = [self.ctx.process_name, calculation.pk]
             self.report('{}<{}> run with smearing and highest band is occupied'.format(*args))
             self.report('BandsData<{}> has invalid occupations: {}'.format(bands.pk, exception))
             self.report('{}<{}> had insufficient bands'.format(calculation.process_label, calculation.pk))
diff --git a/tests/workflows/pw/test_base.py b/tests/workflows/pw/test_base.py
index 4b7ab0153..e7dc83b8c 100644
--- a/tests/workflows/pw/test_base.py
+++ b/tests/workflows/pw/test_base.py
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@
 from plumpy import ProcessState
 
 from aiida.common import AttributeDict
-from aiida.engine import ProcessHandlerReport
+from aiida.engine import ExitCode, ProcessHandlerReport
+from aiida.orm import Dict
 
 from aiida_quantumespresso.calculations.pw import PwCalculation
 from aiida_quantumespresso.workflows.pw.base import PwBaseWorkChain
@@ -23,7 +24,7 @@ def _generate_workchain_pw(exit_code=None):
         process = generate_workchain(entry_point, {'pw': inputs, 'kpoints': kpoints})
 
         if exit_code is not None:
-            node = generate_calc_job_node()
+            node = generate_calc_job_node(inputs={'parameters': Dict()})
             node.set_process_state(ProcessState.FINISHED)
             node.set_exit_status(exit_code.status)
 
@@ -133,3 +134,12 @@ def test_handle_relax_recoverable_ionic_convergence_error(
 
     result = process.inspect_process()
     assert result.status == 0
+
+
+def test_sanity_check_no_bands(aiida_profile, generate_workchain_pw):
+    """Test that `sanity_check_insufficient_bands` does not except if there is no `output_band`, which is optional."""
+    process = generate_workchain_pw(exit_code=ExitCode(0))
+    process.setup()
+
+    calculation = process.ctx.children[-1]
+    assert process.sanity_check_insufficient_bands(calculation) is None