diff --git a/src/main/java/simpaths/data/Parameters.java b/src/main/java/simpaths/data/Parameters.java
index 9815aa3a9..70e2fec93 100644
--- a/src/main/java/simpaths/data/Parameters.java
+++ b/src/main/java/simpaths/data/Parameters.java
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 import java.util.*;
 
 // import plug-in packages
+import org.apache.commons.io.FileUtils;
 import simpaths.data.startingpop.DataParser;
 import simpaths.model.AnnuityRates;
 import simpaths.model.enums.*;
@@ -3318,6 +3319,11 @@ public static void databaseSetup(Country country, boolean executeWithGui, int st
         String filePath = "./input" + File.separator + "input.mv.db";
         safeDelete(filePath);
 
+        // Detect if data available; set to testing data if not
+        Collection<File> testList = FileUtils.listFiles(new File(Parameters.getInputDirectoryInitialPopulations()), new String[]{"csv"}, false);
+        if (testList.isEmpty())
+            Parameters.setTrainingFlag(true);
+
         // populate new database for starting data
         DataParser.databaseFromCSV(country, executeWithGui); // Initial database tables