diff --git a/scripts/plot.py b/scripts/plot.py
index a163b7e0..d2e64017 100755
--- a/scripts/plot.py
+++ b/scripts/plot.py
@@ -479,12 +479,11 @@ def dataset(results, x=None, y=None, define=[]):
         # find ys
         if y is not None:
             if y not in r:
-                y_ = None
-            else:
-                try:
-                    y_ = dat(r[y])
-                except ValueError:
-                    y_ = None
+                continue
+            try:
+                y_ = dat(r[y])
+            except ValueError:
+                continue
         else:
             y_ = None
 
diff --git a/scripts/plotmpl.py b/scripts/plotmpl.py
index bdb3c349..52286525 100755
--- a/scripts/plotmpl.py
+++ b/scripts/plotmpl.py
@@ -230,12 +230,11 @@ def dataset(results, x=None, y=None, define=[]):
         # find ys
         if y is not None:
             if y not in r:
-                y_ = None
-            else:
-                try:
-                    y_ = dat(r[y])
-                except ValueError:
-                    y_ = None
+                continue
+            try:
+                y_ = dat(r[y])
+            except ValueError:
+                continue
         else:
             y_ = None