diff --git a/framework/python/src/api/api.py b/framework/python/src/api/api.py
index 719710694..041be4cc9 100644
--- a/framework/python/src/api/api.py
+++ b/framework/python/src/api/api.py
@@ -681,6 +681,12 @@ async def update_profile(self, request: Request, response: Response):
 
     LOGGER.debug("Received profile update request")
 
+    # Check if the profiles format was loaded correctly
+    if self.get_session().get_profiles_format() is None:
+      response.status_code = status.HTTP_501_NOT_IMPLEMENTED
+      return self._generate_msg(False,
+                                "Risk profiles are not available right now")
+
     try:
       req_raw = (await request.body()).decode("UTF-8")
       req_json = json.loads(req_raw)
@@ -696,6 +702,7 @@ async def update_profile(self, request: Request, response: Response):
     profile = self.get_session().get_profile(profile_name)
 
     if profile is None:
+
       # Create new profile
       profile = self.get_session().update_profile(req_json)
 
diff --git a/framework/python/src/common/session.py b/framework/python/src/common/session.py
index 02d46591e..29279abc2 100644
--- a/framework/python/src/common/session.py
+++ b/framework/python/src/common/session.py
@@ -376,6 +376,10 @@ def _load_profiles(self):
           'An error occurred whilst loading the risk assessment format')
       LOGGER.debug(e)
 
+      # If the format JSON fails to load, skip loading profiles
+      LOGGER.error('Profiles will not be loaded')
+      return
+
     profile_format_array = []
 
     # Remove internal properties