diff --git a/06_gpu_and_ml/openai_whisper/pod_transcriber/app/main.py b/06_gpu_and_ml/openai_whisper/pod_transcriber/app/main.py
index f09d78120..93af2770e 100644
--- a/06_gpu_and_ml/openai_whisper/pod_transcriber/app/main.py
+++ b/06_gpu_and_ml/openai_whisper/pod_transcriber/app/main.py
@@ -55,7 +55,10 @@
     secrets=[Secret.from_name("podchaser")],
 )
 
-in_progress = Dict.from_name("pod-transcriber-in-progress")
+in_progress = Dict.from_name(
+    "pod-transcriber-in-progress",
+    create_if_missing=True
+)
 
 
 def utc_now() -> datetime.datetime: