diff --git a/.github/workflows/python-package.yml b/.github/workflows/python-package.yml
index 7e74d51..a9b7419 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/python-package.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/python-package.yml
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ jobs:
         - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
         - name: 📥 Apply Dependency Overrides
-          if: "${{ inputs.override-deps-artifact != '' }}"
+          if: "${{ inputs.override-deps-artifact != '' && inputs.override-deps-artifact != 'null' }}"
           uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
           with:
             name: ${{ inputs.override-deps-artifact }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/sync-dependencies.yml b/.github/workflows/sync-dependencies.yml
index d29d2e1..1697860 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/sync-dependencies.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/sync-dependencies.yml
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
           name: updated-deps
+          retention-days: 1
           path: |
             uv.lock
             conda/meta.yaml
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: sync-and-prepare
     uses: ./.github/workflows/python-package.yml
     with:
-      override-deps-artifact: ${{ needs.sync-and-prepare.outputs.sync_needed == 'true' && 'updated-deps' || '' }}
+      override-deps-artifact: ${{ needs.sync-and-prepare.outputs.sync_needed == 'true' && 'updated-deps' || '' }}      
     secrets: inherit
 
   finalize: