diff --git a/winterdrp/paths.py b/winterdrp/paths.py
index c130381b5..f992ba569 100644
--- a/winterdrp/paths.py
+++ b/winterdrp/paths.py
@@ -166,8 +166,9 @@ def parse_image_list(
 flat_frame_key = 'FLATNAME'
 bias_frame_key = 'BIASNAME'
 dark_frame_key = 'DARKNAME'
+coadd_key = "COADDS"
 
-core_fields = ["OBSCLASS", "TARGET", "UTCTIME"]
+core_fields = ["OBSCLASS", "TARGET", "UTCTIME", coadd_key, proc_history_key]
 
 
 class ProcessingError(Exception):
diff --git a/winterdrp/pipelines/wirc/wirc_pipeline.py b/winterdrp/pipelines/wirc/wirc_pipeline.py
index aded285e3..0d05f4711 100644
--- a/winterdrp/pipelines/wirc/wirc_pipeline.py
+++ b/winterdrp/pipelines/wirc/wirc_pipeline.py
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@
 from winterdrp.downloader.caltech import download_via_ssh
 from winterdrp.processors.utils.image_loader import ImageLoader
 from winterdrp.processors.utils.image_selector import ImageSelector, ImageBatcher, ImageDebatcher
+from winterdrp.paths import coadd_key, proc_history_key
+import logging
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 def wirc_astrometric_catalog_generator(
@@ -49,6 +53,11 @@ def load_raw_wirc_image(
         header["TARGET"] = header["OBJECT"].lower()
         header["UTCTIME"] = header["UTSHUT"]
         header["MJD-OBS"] = Time(header['UTSHUT']).mjd
+        if coadd_key not in header.keys():
+            logger.debug(f"No {coadd_key} entry. Setting coadds to 1.")
+            header[coadd_key] = 1
+        if proc_history_key not in header.keys():
+            header[proc_history_key] = ""
     return data, header