diff --git a/src/agentlab/agents/hint_use_agent/generic_agent.py b/src/agentlab/agents/hint_use_agent/generic_agent.py
index afc688ed..f4010f70 100644
--- a/src/agentlab/agents/hint_use_agent/generic_agent.py
+++ b/src/agentlab/agents/hint_use_agent/generic_agent.py
@@ -271,6 +271,11 @@ def _init_hints_index(self):
         """Initialize the block."""
         try:
             if self.flags.hint_type == "docs":
+                if self.flags.hint_index_type == "direct":
+                    print(
+                        "WARNING: Hint index type 'direct' is not supported for docs. Using 'sparse' instead."
+                    )
+                    self.flags.hint_index_type = "sparse"
                 if self.flags.hint_index_type == "sparse":
                     import bm25s
 
@@ -323,10 +328,14 @@ def _get_task_hints(self) -> list[str]:
             return []
 
         if self.flags.hint_type == "docs":
+            if self.flags.hint_index_type == "direct":
+                print(
+                    "WARNING: Hint index type 'direct' is not supported for docs. Using 'sparse' instead."
+                )
+                self.flags.hint_index_type = "sparse"
             if not hasattr(self, "hint_index"):
-                print("Initializing hint index new time")
-                # @patricebechard It seems _.init() method is missing do we still need it?
-                # self._init()
+                print("WARNING: Hint index not initialized. Initializing now.")
+                self._init_hints_index()
             if self.flags.hint_query_type == "goal":
                 query = self.obs_history[-1]["goal_object"][0]["text"]
             elif self.flags.hint_query_type == "llm":
@@ -334,7 +343,6 @@ def _get_task_hints(self) -> list[str]:
                 # HACK: only 1 query supported
                 query = queries[0]
             else:
-                # @patricebechard: This raises an error with the default value 'direct'
                 raise ValueError(f"Unknown hint query type: {self.flags.hint_query_type}")
 
             print(f"Query: {query}")