diff --git a/pydra/compose/base/builder.py b/pydra/compose/base/builder.py
index 18c5b96c7..35b882cc9 100644
--- a/pydra/compose/base/builder.py
+++ b/pydra/compose/base/builder.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 import types
 from pathlib import Path
 from copy import copy
-import attrs.validators
 from pydra.utils.typing import TypeParser, is_optional, is_fileset_or_union
 import attrs
 from .task import Task, Outputs
diff --git a/pydra/compose/base/helpers.py b/pydra/compose/base/helpers.py
index 78dac05f0..668371fc1 100644
--- a/pydra/compose/base/helpers.py
+++ b/pydra/compose/base/helpers.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ def ensure_field_objects(
             else:
                 arg.name = input_name
             if not arg.help:
-                arg.help = input_helps.get(input_name, "")
+                arg.help = input_helps.get(input_name, "") if input_helps else ""
         elif is_type(arg):
             inputs[input_name] = arg_type(
                 type=arg,
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ def ensure_field_objects(
             else:
                 out.name = output_name
             if not out.help:
-                out.help = output_helps.get(output_name, "")
+                out.help = output_helps.get(output_name, "") if output_helps else ""
         elif is_type(out):
             outputs[output_name] = out_type(
                 type=out,