diff --git a/ruby/lib/hla_algorithm.rb b/ruby/lib/hla_algorithm.rb
index 9ccf95c..7bf1e0e 100644
--- a/ruby/lib/hla_algorithm.rb
+++ b/ruby/lib/hla_algorithm.rb
@@ -46,6 +46,12 @@ def initialize(raw_result)
 
 
 class HLAAlgorithm
+  class Error < RuntimeError
+  end
+
+  class NoMatchingStandards < Error
+  end
+
   def initialize(
     hla_std_path=nil,
     hla_freq_path=nil
@@ -83,6 +89,11 @@ def analyze(seqs, locus='B', threshold=nil)
       raise error_msg
     end
 
+    result = JSON.parse(python_stdout)
+    if result.key?('exception') && result['exception'] == 'no matching standards'
+      raise(NoMatchingStandards)
+    end
+
     return HLAResult.new(JSON.parse(python_stdout))
   end
 end
diff --git a/src/hla_algorithm/interpret_from_json.py b/src/hla_algorithm/interpret_from_json.py
index bc91616..a868445 100644
--- a/src/hla_algorithm/interpret_from_json.py
+++ b/src/hla_algorithm/interpret_from_json.py
@@ -44,9 +44,14 @@ def main():
             hla_input.hla_std_path,
             hla_input.hla_freq_path,
         )
-        interp: HLAInterpretation = hla_alg.interpret(
-            hla_input.hla_sequence(), hla_input.threshold
-        )
+        try:
+            interp: HLAInterpretation = hla_alg.interpret(
+                hla_input.hla_sequence(), hla_input.threshold
+            )
+        except HLAAlgorithm.NoMatchingStandards:
+            print(json.dumps({"exception": "no matching standards"}))
+            return
+
         print(
             HLAResult.build_from_interpretation(
                 interp, hla_alg.tag, hla_alg.last_updated