diff --git a/workflow/apps/r/calculate_interaction_zscores5.R b/workflow/apps/r/calculate_interaction_zscores5.R
index 82e131c1..828f3cb8 100644
--- a/workflow/apps/r/calculate_interaction_zscores5.R
+++ b/workflow/apps/r/calculate_interaction_zscores5.R
@@ -193,6 +193,13 @@ generate_plot <- function(df, x_var, y_var = NULL, plot_type, color_var = "conc_
 
 generate_and_save_plots <- function(df, output_dir, prefix, variables, include_qc = FALSE) {
   plots <- list()
+
+  if (nrow(df) == 0) {
+    message("The \"", deparse(substitute(df)), "\" dataframe is empty, skipping plots")
+    return()
+  }
+
+  message("Generating plots for \"", deparse(substitute(df)), "\" dataframe")
   
   for (var in variables) {
     scatter_plot <-
@@ -269,7 +276,7 @@ save_plots <- function(file_name, plot_list, output_dir) {
   
   # Save to HTML with horizontal legend orientation
   lapply(names(plot_list), function(plot_name) {
-    message("Processing plot: ", plot_name)
+    message("Generating plot: ", plot_name)
     pgg <- tryCatch({
       suppressWarnings(ggplotly(plot_list[[plot_name]]) %>%
         layout(legend = list(orientation = "h")))