diff --git a/docs/tardis_atomdata_ref.ipynb b/docs/tardis_atomdata_ref.ipynb
index 3a1731b6a..1ff213545 100644
--- a/docs/tardis_atomdata_ref.ipynb
+++ b/docs/tardis_atomdata_ref.ipynb
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
    },
    "outputs": [],
    "source": [
+    "import pathlib\n",
     "from carsus.io.nist import NISTWeightsComp, NISTIonizationEnergies"
    ]
   },
@@ -59,7 +60,9 @@
    "metadata": {},
    "outputs": [],
    "source": [
-    "cmfgen_path = '../../carsus-data-cmfgen/atomic/'"
+    "cmfgen_path = '../../carsus-data-cmfgen/atomic/'\n",
+    "if not pathlib.Path(cmfgen_path).exists():\n",
+    "    cmfgen_path = \"/tmp/atomic/\""
    ]
   },
   {