diff --git a/totalsegmentator/config.py b/totalsegmentator/config.py
index eed6dae9e..d9d4739b3 100644
--- a/totalsegmentator/config.py
+++ b/totalsegmentator/config.py
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ def increase_prediction_counter():
         config = json.load(open(totalseg_config_file, "r"))
         config["prediction_counter"] += 1
         json.dump(config, open(totalseg_config_file, "w"), indent=4)
+        return config
 
 
 def get_version():
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ def get_version():
 
 
 def send_usage_stats(config, params):
-    if config["send_usage_stats"]:
+    if config is not None and config["send_usage_stats"]:
         
         params["roi_subset"] = "" if params["roi_subset"] is None else "-".join(params["roi_subset"])
 
diff --git a/totalsegmentator/python_api.py b/totalsegmentator/python_api.py
index 225542f7e..6d21d08a0 100644
--- a/totalsegmentator/python_api.py
+++ b/totalsegmentator/python_api.py
@@ -212,8 +212,8 @@ def totalsegmentator(input, output, ml=False, nr_thr_resamp=1, nr_thr_saving=6,
                          quiet=quiet, verbose=verbose, test=test, skip_saving=skip_saving)
     seg = seg_img.get_fdata().astype(np.uint8)
 
-    config = setup_totalseg()
-    increase_prediction_counter()
+    setup_totalseg()
+    config = increase_prediction_counter()
     send_usage_stats(config, {"task": task, "fast": fast, "preview": preview,
                               "multilabel": ml, "roi_subset": roi_subset, 
                               "statistics": statistics, "radiomics": radiomics})