diff --git a/src/backend/home/tests.py b/src/backend/home/tests.py
index baff765d..dc1cd3f5 100644
--- a/src/backend/home/tests.py
+++ b/src/backend/home/tests.py
@@ -200,22 +200,28 @@ def test_fail_requests(self):
         self.assertIn('does not exist or is deleted', resp.json()['error'])
         dm.DatasetRawFile.objects.create(dataset=self.ds, rawfile=self.timsraw)
         resp = self.cl.post(self.url, content_type='application/json', data={'pwiz_id': self.pw.pk,
-            'dsid': self.ds.pk})
+            'dsid': self.ds.pk, 'dbid': self.sflib.pk})
         self.assertEqual(resp.status_code, 403)
         self.assertIn('contains data from multiple instrument types', resp.json()['error'])
 
-    def test_existing_mzmls(self):
+    def test_existing_mzmls_no_db(self):
         # no mzMLs exist yet
         resp = self.cl.post(self.url, content_type='application/json', data={'pwiz_id': self.pw.pk,
             'dsid': self.ds.pk})
         self.assertEqual(resp.status_code, 403)
         self.assertIn('Need to create normal mzMLs', resp.json()['error'])
 
+        # Not passed a db
+        am.MzmlFile.objects.create(sfile=self.qesf, pwiz=self.pw)
+        resp = self.cl.post(self.url, content_type='application/json', data={'pwiz_id': self.pw.pk,
+            'dsid': self.ds.pk})
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_code, 400)
+        self.assertEqual('Must pass a database to refine with', resp.json()['error'])
+
         # refined exists already
         refinedsf = rm.StoredFile.objects.create(rawfile=self.qeraw, filename=f'{self.qeraw.name}_refined',
                 servershare=self.ds.storageshare, path=self.storloc, md5='refined_md5', checked=True, filetype=self.ft)
         am.MzmlFile.objects.create(sfile=refinedsf, pwiz=self.pw, refined=True)
-        am.MzmlFile.objects.create(sfile=self.qesf, pwiz=self.pw)
         resp = self.cl.post(self.url, content_type='application/json', data={'dsid': self.ds.pk})
         self.assertEqual(resp.status_code, 403)
 
diff --git a/src/backend/home/views.py b/src/backend/home/views.py
index fcaf089d..5ce3ff16 100644
--- a/src/backend/home/views.py
+++ b/src/backend/home/views.py
@@ -917,9 +917,11 @@ def refine_mzmls(request):
     elif not nr_exist_mzml or nr_exist_mzml < nr_dsrs:
         return JsonResponse({'error': 'Need to create normal mzMLs before refining'}, status=403)
     # Check DB
-    if filemodels.StoredFile.objects.filter(pk=data['dbid'],
-            filetype__name=settings.DBFA_FT_NAME).count() != 1:
-        return JsonResponse({'error': 'Wrong database to refine with'}, status=403)
+    if dbid := data.get('dbid'):
+        if filemodels.StoredFile.objects.filter(pk=dbid, filetype__name=settings.DBFA_FT_NAME).count() != 1:
+            return JsonResponse({'error': 'Wrong database to refine with'}, status=403)
+    else:
+        return JsonResponse({'error': 'Must pass a database to refine with'}, status=400)
     # Check WF
     if anmodels.NextflowWfVersionParamset.objects.filter(pk=data['wfid'],
            userworkflow__name__icontains='refine',
@@ -937,7 +939,7 @@ def refine_mzmls(request):
     # FIXME get analysis if it does exist, in case someone reruns?
     analysis = anmodels.Analysis.objects.create(user=request.user, name=f'refine_dataset_{dset.pk}', editable=False)
     job = create_job('refine_mzmls', dset_id=dset.pk, analysis_id=analysis.id, wfv_id=data['wfid'],
-            dstshare_id=res_share.pk, dbfn_id=data['dbid'], qtype=dset.quantdataset.quanttype.shortname)
+            dstshare_id=res_share.pk, dbfn_id=dbid, qtype=dset.quantdataset.quanttype.shortname)
     uwf = anmodels.UserWorkflow.objects.get(nfwfversionparamsets=data['wfid'],
             wftype=anmodels.UserWorkflow.WFTypeChoices.SPEC)
     anmodels.NextflowSearch.objects.update_or_create(analysis=analysis, defaults={