diff --git a/src/aliby/tile/tiler.py b/src/aliby/tile/tiler.py
index ff90624bdf3c6a987306e46634e5ade32cb691aa..c336c674767c4f45b6dc43f8dc1a25d89b60a221 100644
--- a/src/aliby/tile/tiler.py
+++ b/src/aliby/tile/tiler.py
@@ -231,13 +231,14 @@ class Tiler(StepABC):
         self.image = image
         self._metadata = metadata
         self.channels = metadata.get(
-            "channels", list(range(metadata.get("size_c", 0)))
-        )
-        self.ref_channel = (
-            self.get_channel_index(parameters.ref_channel)
-            or self.backup_ref_channel
+            "channels",
+            list(range(metadata.get("size_c", 0))),
         )
 
+        self.ref_channel = self.get_channel_index(parameters.ref_channel)
+        if self.ref_channel is None:
+            self.ref_channel = self.backup_ref_channel
+
         self.ref_channel = self.get_channel_index(parameters.ref_channel)
         self.tile_locs = tile_locs
         try: