diff --git a/python/obitools3/commands/import.pyx b/python/obitools3/commands/import.pyx
index 09d61b3..2798d77 100755
--- a/python/obitools3/commands/import.pyx
+++ b/python/obitools3/commands/import.pyx
@@ -128,16 +128,12 @@ def run(config):
             NUC_SEQS_view = True
     else: 
         raise NotImplementedError()
-
-    get_quality = config["obi"]["noquality"]
     
     # Save basic columns in variables for optimization
     if NUC_SEQS_view :
         id_col = view[b"ID"]            # TODO use macros or globals for column names
         def_col = view[b"DEFINITION"]
         seq_col = view[b"NUC_SEQ"]
-        if get_quality:
-            qual_col = view[b"QUALITY"]
         
     dcols = {}
         
@@ -150,7 +146,13 @@ def run(config):
             id_col[i] = entry.id
             def_col[i] = entry.definition
             seq_col[i] = entry.seq
-            if get_quality :
+            # Check if there is a sequencing quality associated by checking the first entry    # TODO haven't found a more robust solution yet
+            if i == 0:
+                get_quality = b"QUALITY" in entry
+                if get_quality:
+                    Column.new_column(view, b"QUALITY", OBI_QUAL)
+                    qual_col = view[b"QUALITY"]
+            if get_quality:
                 qual_col[i] = entry.quality
          
         for tag in entry :