diff --git a/scripts/add_existing_baseyear.py b/scripts/add_existing_baseyear.py
index b2c534e6..9c85a215 100644
--- a/scripts/add_existing_baseyear.py
+++ b/scripts/add_existing_baseyear.py
@@ -444,6 +444,11 @@ def add_heating_capacities_installed_before_baseyear(
                     + n.loads_t.p_set.sum()[f"{node} services rural heat"]
                 )
             )
+            # if rural heating demand for one of the nodes doesn't exist,
+            # then columns were dropped before and heating demand share should be 0.0
+            if (f"{node} residential rural heat" in n.loads_t.p_set.sum().index)
+            & (f"{node} services rural heat" in n.loads_t.p_set.sum().index)
+            else 0.0
             for node in nodal_df.index
         ],
         index=nodal_df.index,