diff --git a/workflow/qhtcp-workflow b/workflow/qhtcp-workflow
index 694787fe..9e8ac00a 100755
--- a/workflow/qhtcp-workflow
+++ b/workflow/qhtcp-workflow
@@ -222,11 +222,10 @@ ask_pn() {
 		If entering a new project, use the suggested prefix: ${PROJECT_PREFIX}_
 		You may choose any combination of words/characters following the prefix, but be sensible.
 		Make it descriptive and avoid spaces and special characters.
-		Example: ${example_pn}
 	EOF
   trys=3 # give the user up to 3 tries to enter a valid project name
   for ((i=1; i<=trys; i++)); do 
-    read -r -p "Enter a new or existing project name or enter for default ($example_pn): " response
+    read -r -p "Enter a new or existing project name or hit Enter for default ($example_pn): " response
     if [[ -z $response ]]; then
       ADD_PROJECTS+=("$example_pn")
       break
@@ -374,29 +373,42 @@ interactive_header() {
   shopt -s nullglob
   projects=("$SCANS_DIR"/*/)
   shopt -u nullglob
-  echo "Available Projects:"
-  projects=("${projects[@]%/}") # strip comma first!
-  projects=("${projects[@]##*/}")
-  for i in "${!projects[@]}"; do
-    printf "%d. %s\n" "$((i+1))" "${projects[i]}"
-  done
+  
+  if [[ ${#projects[@]} -eq 0 ]]; then
+    echo "No projects found in $SCANS_DIR"
+    ask_pn && PROJECTS+=("${ADD_PROJECTS[@]}")
+  else
+    echo "Available Projects:"
+    projects=("${projects[@]%/}") # strip comma first!
+    projects=("${projects[@]##*/}")
+    for i in "${!projects[@]}"; do
+      printf "%d. %s\n" "$((i+1))" "${projects[i]}"
+    done
+  fi
   echo ""
 
-  # Let user choose project(s)
+  # Let user choose or add project(s)
   if [[ -z ${PROJECTS[*]} ]]; then
     num=$((${#projects[@]}))
-    echo "Enter a comma-separated list of project numbers to analyze"
-    read -r -p "Or hit Enter to add a new project" response
-    [[ -z $response ]] && ask_pn && PROJECTS+=("${ADD_PROJECTS[@]}")
-    ((YES)) || read -r -p "Hit enter for default ($num): " response
-    [[ -z $response ]] && response=$num
-    IFS=',' read -ra arr <<< "$response"
-    for i in "${arr[@]}"; do
-      PROJECTS+=("${projects[$((i-1))]}")
-    done
+    if [[ $num -eq 0 ]]; then
+      ask_pn && PROJECTS+=("${ADD_PROJECTS[@]}")
+    else
+      echo "Enter a comma-separated list of project numbers to analyze"
+      ((YES)) || read -r -p "Enter \"new\" to add a new project or hit Enter for default ($num): " response
+      if [[ $response == "new" ]]; then 
+        ask_pn && PROJECTS+=("${ADD_PROJECTS[@]}")
+      else
+        [[ -z $response ]] && response=$num
+        IFS=',' read -ra arr <<< "$response"
+        for i in "${arr[@]}"; do
+          PROJECTS+=("${projects[$((i-1))]}")
+        done
+      fi
+    fi
     unset response arr i
   fi
 
+  # Sanitize project names
   for i in "${!PROJECTS[@]}"; do
     if ! sanitize_pn "${PROJECTS[i]}"; then
       echo "Project name ${PROJECTS[i]} is invalid"
@@ -1850,7 +1862,6 @@ main() {
       continue 2 # skip the command string
     done
 
-
   done
 }