diff --git a/chipcompiler/thirdparty/ecc-tools b/chipcompiler/thirdparty/ecc-tools
index 45b4f883..26e86bc9 160000
--- a/chipcompiler/thirdparty/ecc-tools
+++ b/chipcompiler/thirdparty/ecc-tools
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 45b4f88338d631f6b0b34ce2d8dd4a991a9bdefe
+Subproject commit 26e86bc9d7a4968f4d503274158a78ad3fa78109
diff --git a/chipcompiler/tools/ecc/runner.py b/chipcompiler/tools/ecc/runner.py
index 5fde8d79..1c6e7ed9 100644
--- a/chipcompiler/tools/ecc/runner.py
+++ b/chipcompiler/tools/ecc/runner.py
@@ -40,7 +40,20 @@ def load_data():
     
         db_path = step.input.get("db", "")
         if ecc_module.is_db_data_exists(db_path):
-            ecc_module.load_data(path=db_path)
+            try:
+                loaded = ecc_module.load_data(path=db_path)
+            except Exception as e:
+                workspace.logger.warning(
+                    f"Failed to load ECC data from {db_path}; falling back to design input: {e}"
+                )
+                return None
+
+            if not loaded:
+                workspace.logger.warning(
+                    f"Failed to load ECC data from {db_path}; falling back to design input."
+                )
+                return None
+
             workspace.logger.info(f"Successfully loaded data from {db_path}")
             return ecc_module
         else: