diff --git a/github_scripts/suite_data.py b/github_scripts/suite_data.py
index 9cae85bd..140653b5 100644
--- a/github_scripts/suite_data.py
+++ b/github_scripts/suite_data.py
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ def get_suite_starttime(self) -> str:
             starttime = row[0]
         return starttime.split("+")[0]
 
-    def read_groups_run(self) -> str:
+    def read_groups_run(self) -> List[str]:
         """
         Read in groups run as part of suite from the cylc database file
         """
@@ -341,6 +341,8 @@ def read_groups_run(self) -> str:
             if row[0] in ("g", "group"):
                 groups = row[1].strip("[]'\"").split(",")
                 break
+        if groups is None:
+            groups = ["suite_default"]
         return groups
 
     def get_task_states(self) -> Dict[str, str]:
diff --git a/github_scripts/suite_report_git.py b/github_scripts/suite_report_git.py
index 7e77f786..bc336bb4 100755
--- a/github_scripts/suite_report_git.py
+++ b/github_scripts/suite_report_git.py
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ def __init__(self, suite_path: Path) -> None:
         self.suite_starttime: str = self.get_suite_starttime()
         self.workflow_id: str = self.get_workflow_id()
         self.task_states: Dict[str, str] = self.get_task_states()
-        self.groups: str = self.read_groups_run()
+        self.groups: List[str] = self.read_groups_run()
         self.rose_data: Dict[str, str] = self.read_rose_conf()
         self.dependencies: Dict[str, Dict] = self.read_dependencies()
         self.primary_source: str = self.determine_primary_source()