diff --git a/VERSIONLOG.md b/VERSIONLOG.md
index 29c618bc..42e8e6fa 100644
--- a/VERSIONLOG.md
+++ b/VERSIONLOG.md
@@ -1,14 +1,18 @@
 # TACA Version Log
 
-##20260127.1
+## 20260203.1
+
+Set mask to N\* if read or index is 0 for AVITI
+
+## 20260127.1
 
 Email when MismatchThreshold is set to 0 for AVITI runs
 
-##20251127.1
+## 20251127.1
 
 Enable archiving of Aviti Teton runs to PDC
 
-##20251121.1
+## 20251121.1
 
 Exclude pod5 from delivery by default
 
diff --git a/taca/__init__.py b/taca/__init__.py
index 35d2b951..4a7bd461 100644
--- a/taca/__init__.py
+++ b/taca/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 """Main TACA module"""
 
-__version__ = "1.6.15"
+__version__ = "1.6.16"
diff --git a/taca/element/Element_Runs.py b/taca/element/Element_Runs.py
index e3c64445..f7aacfb9 100644
--- a/taca/element/Element_Runs.py
+++ b/taca/element/Element_Runs.py
@@ -64,9 +64,9 @@ def get_mask(
     ], f"Mask prefix {prefix} not recognized"
     assert keep in ["bases", "Ns"], f"Keep option {keep} not recognized"
 
-    # Handle no-input cases
+    # Handle no-input cases (e.g. read setups like 144nt(R1)-6nt(I1)-0nt(I2)-0nt(R2))
     if seq == "":
-        mask = f"{prefix}N{cycles_used}"
+        mask = f"{prefix}N*"
         return mask
 
     # Define dict to convert base to mask classifier