diff --git a/docs/changelog.md b/docs/changelog.md
index 3a4338f09..a325cbe93 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.md
+++ b/docs/changelog.md
@@ -2,6 +2,11 @@
 
 This project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html) and [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/) format.
 
+## [1.4.3] -- 2023-08-01
+
+### Fixed
+- Fix regression for var_templates expansion.
+
 ## [1.4.2] -- 2023-07-31
 
 ### Fixed
diff --git a/looper/_version.py b/looper/_version.py
index daa50c7cf..aa56ed404 100644
--- a/looper/_version.py
+++ b/looper/_version.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-__version__ = "1.4.2"
+__version__ = "1.4.3"
diff --git a/looper/conductor.py b/looper/conductor.py
index 852923745..008d260cc 100644
--- a/looper/conductor.py
+++ b/looper/conductor.py
@@ -729,7 +729,7 @@ def write_script(self, pool, size):
                 namespaces=namespaces
             )
             _LOGGER.debug(f"namespace pipelines: { pl_iface }")
-            namespaces["pipeline"]["var_templates"] = pl_iface[VAR_TEMPL_KEY]
+            namespaces["pipeline"]["var_templates"] = pl_iface[VAR_TEMPL_KEY] or {}
             for k, v in namespaces["pipeline"]["var_templates"].items():
                 namespaces["pipeline"]["var_templates"][k] = expath(v)
             # pre_submit hook namespace updates