diff --git a/cfr/proxy.py b/cfr/proxy.py
index 535844b..8edda37 100644
--- a/cfr/proxy.py
+++ b/cfr/proxy.py
@@ -1218,6 +1218,8 @@ def from_df(self, df, pid_column='paleoData_pages2kID', lat_column='geo_meanLat'
             value_unit=row[value_unit_column] if value_name_column in row else None
             if climate_column in row:
                 climate = row[climate_column]
+            else:
+                climate = None
 
             record = ProxyRecord(
                 pid=pid, lat=lat, lon=lon, elev=elev,
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 6bd9666..a5f2a95 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 setup(
     name='cfr',  # required
-    version='2024.11.23',
+    version='2024.12.4',
     description='cfr: a Python package for Climate Field Reconstruction',
     long_description=long_description,
     long_description_content_type='text/x-rst',