diff --git a/lib/routes/outagereport/service.js b/lib/routes/outagereport/service.js
index 4ed7cebac..5aef2cee4 100644
--- a/lib/routes/outagereport/service.js
+++ b/lib/routes/outagereport/service.js
@@ -26,7 +26,9 @@ module.exports = async (ctx) => {
     // list ("Array" in js, though) of items
     const outageHistory = [];
 
-    if (gaugeCount >= watchCount) {
+    // 2020-09-17 output as long as it exists, avoid reporting errors
+    // compatible with optional variables
+    if (watchCount !== 0) {
         // alert only when it counts
         const outageReportItem = {
             title: `${serviceName} appear to be (partially) down`,