diff --git a/jdaviz/configs/mosviz/helper.py b/jdaviz/configs/mosviz/helper.py
index 213abf648b..1530b9a85e 100644
--- a/jdaviz/configs/mosviz/helper.py
+++ b/jdaviz/configs/mosviz/helper.py
@@ -154,7 +154,11 @@ def _zoom_to_slit_params(self, msg):
         imview = self.app.get_viewer("image-viewer")
         specview = self.app.get_viewer("spectrum-2d-viewer")
 
-        sky_region = jwst_header_to_skyregion(specview.layers[0].layer.meta)
+        try:
+            sky_region = jwst_header_to_skyregion(specview.layers[0].layer.meta)
+        except KeyError:
+            # If the header didn't have slit params, can't zoom to it.
+            return None, None
         ra = sky_region.center.ra.deg
         dec = sky_region.center.dec.deg
 
@@ -254,6 +258,9 @@ def load_data(self, spectra_1d=None, spectra_2d=None, images=None,
             msg = SnackbarMessage(msg, color='warning', sender=self)
             self.app.hub.broadcast(msg)
 
+        # Load the first object into the viewers automatically
+        self.app.get_viewer("table-viewer").figure_widget.highlighted = 0
+
     def load_spectra(self, spectra_1d, spectra_2d):
         """
         Load 1D and 2D spectra using lists or strings to represent each.
@@ -287,9 +294,6 @@ def load_spectra_from_directory(self, directory, instrument):
         """
         self.load_data(directory=directory, instrument=instrument)
 
-        # Load the first object into the viewers automatically
-        self.app.get_viewer("table-viewer").figure_widget.highlighted = 0
-
     def load_metadata(self, data_obj):
         """
         Load and parse a set of FITS objects to extract any relevant metadata.
@@ -340,8 +344,6 @@ def load_2d_spectra(self, data_obj, data_labels=None):
 
     def load_niriss_data(self, data_obj, data_labels=None):
         super().load_data(data_obj, parser_reference="mosviz-niriss-parser")
-        # Load the first object into the viewers automatically
-        self.app.get_viewer("table-viewer").figure_widget.highlighted = 0
 
     def load_images(self, data_obj, data_labels=None, share_image=0):
         """
diff --git a/notebooks/MosvizNIRISSExample.ipynb b/notebooks/MosvizNIRISSExample.ipynb
index cea3e65ea3..ae647501fa 100644
--- a/notebooks/MosvizNIRISSExample.ipynb
+++ b/notebooks/MosvizNIRISSExample.ipynb
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@
    "source": [
     "mosviz.load_data(directory=data_dir, instrument=\"niriss\")"
    ]
-  },
+  }
  ],
  "metadata": {
   "kernelspec": {