diff --git a/cadc-storage-adapter-fs/build.gradle b/cadc-storage-adapter-fs/build.gradle
index 1269afb7..d779a977 100644
--- a/cadc-storage-adapter-fs/build.gradle
+++ b/cadc-storage-adapter-fs/build.gradle
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ apply from: '../opencadc.gradle'
 
 group = 'org.opencadc'
 
-version = '0.9.4'
+version = '0.9.5'
 
 description = 'OpenCADC Storage Inventory FileSystem StorageAdapter implementation'
 def git_url = 'https://github.com/opencadc/storage-inventory'
diff --git a/cadc-storage-adapter-fs/src/main/java/org/opencadc/inventory/storage/fs/OpaqueFileSystemStorageAdapter.java b/cadc-storage-adapter-fs/src/main/java/org/opencadc/inventory/storage/fs/OpaqueFileSystemStorageAdapter.java
index 1cf219e2..00475ad6 100644
--- a/cadc-storage-adapter-fs/src/main/java/org/opencadc/inventory/storage/fs/OpaqueFileSystemStorageAdapter.java
+++ b/cadc-storage-adapter-fs/src/main/java/org/opencadc/inventory/storage/fs/OpaqueFileSystemStorageAdapter.java
@@ -926,6 +926,16 @@ static StorageMetadata createStorageMetadata(Path base, Path p, boolean includeR
             try {
                 String csAttr = getFileAttribute(p, OpaqueFileSystemStorageAdapter.CHECKSUM_ATTR);
                 String aidAttr = getFileAttribute(p, OpaqueFileSystemStorageAdapter.ARTIFACTID_ATTR);
+                if (csAttr == null || aidAttr == null) {
+                    // this could happen if some were to copy files or the whole filesystem to
+                    // a new storage area and not preserve xattrs (eg rsync without -X/--xattrs)
+                    
+                    // for now, just warn and skip so the operator has a chance to correct
+                    log.warn("SKIP invalid: " + sloc + " : missing required attribute(s)"
+                        + " " + OpaqueFileSystemStorageAdapter.CHECKSUM_ATTR + "=" + csAttr
+                        + " " + OpaqueFileSystemStorageAdapter.ARTIFACTID_ATTR + "=" + aidAttr);
+                    return null;
+                }
                 URI contentChecksum = new URI(csAttr);
                 long contentLength = Files.size(p);
                 URI artifactURI = new URI(aidAttr);