diff --git a/ena_upload/ena_upload.py b/ena_upload/ena_upload.py
index 556b1b6..0dcd4aa 100755
--- a/ena_upload/ena_upload.py
+++ b/ena_upload/ena_upload.py
@@ -735,7 +735,7 @@ def process_args():
             parser.error(msg)
 
     # check if data is given when adding a 'run' table
-    if (not args.no_data_upload and args.run) or (not args.no_data_upload and args.xlsx):
+    if (not args.no_data_upload and args.run and args.action not in ['release','cancel']) or (not args.no_data_upload and args.xlsx and args.action not in ['release','cancel']):
         if args.data is None:
             parser.error('Oops, requires data for submitting RUN object')