diff --git a/packages/python/openproblems/src/openproblems/project/component_tests/run_and_check_output.py b/packages/python/openproblems/src/openproblems/project/component_tests/run_and_check_output.py
index 3f05b78..be16770 100644
--- a/packages/python/openproblems/src/openproblems/project/component_tests/run_and_check_output.py
+++ b/packages/python/openproblems/src/openproblems/project/component_tests/run_and_check_output.py
@@ -21,9 +21,9 @@ def check_input_files(arguments: list) -> None:
     print(">> Checking that all required input files exist", flush=True)
     for arg in arguments:
         if arg["type"] == "file" and arg["direction"] == "input" and arg["required"]:
-            assert not arg["must_exist"] or path.exists(
-                arg["value"]
-            ), f"Input file '{arg['value']}' does not exist"
+            expected_path = arg.get("value")
+            assert expected_path is not None, f"Input argument '{arg['name']}' is missing a value"
+            assert not arg["must_exist"] or path.exists(expected_path), f"Input file '{expected_path}' does not exist"
 
 
 def check_output_files(arguments: list) -> None:
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@ def check_output_files(arguments: list) -> None:
     print(">> Checking that all required output files were created", flush=True)
     for arg in arguments:
         if arg["type"] == "file" and arg["direction"] == "output" and arg["required"]:
-            assert not arg["must_exist"] or path.exists(
-                arg["value"]
-            ), f"Output file '{arg['value']}' does not exist"
+            expected_path = arg.get("value")
+            assert expected_path is not None, f"Output argument '{arg['name']}' is missing a value"
+            assert not arg["must_exist"] or path.exists(expected_path), f"Output file '{expected_path}' does not exist"
 
     print(">> Validating the contents and format of output files", flush=True)
     for arg in arguments:
@@ -216,15 +216,15 @@ def get_argument_sets(config: dict, resources_dir: str) -> dict:
         new_arg = arg.copy()
         arg_info = new_arg.get("info") or {}
         default_or_example = None
-        if arg_info.get("default"):
+        if arg_info.get("default") is not None:
             default_or_example = arg_info["default"]
-        elif arg_info.get("example"):
+        elif arg_info.get("example") is not None:
             default_or_example = arg_info["example"]
         if isinstance(default_or_example, list):
             default_or_example = default_or_example[0]
 
         # use example to find test resource file
-        if default_or_example and arg["type"] == "file":
+        if default_or_example is not None and arg["type"] == "file":
             if arg["direction"] == "input":
                 value = f"{resources_dir}/{default_or_example}"
             else: