diff --git a/sir_complainsalot/delphi_sir_complainsalot/check_source.py b/sir_complainsalot/delphi_sir_complainsalot/check_source.py
index 840575cbf..c9fa1c377 100644
--- a/sir_complainsalot/delphi_sir_complainsalot/check_source.py
+++ b/sir_complainsalot/delphi_sir_complainsalot/check_source.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 import pandas as pd
 
 covidcast.covidcast._ASYNC_CALL = True  # pylint: disable=protected-access
+covidcast.covidcast.VALID_GEO_TYPES.add("hsa_nci")  # workaround to use new geo_type w/ legacy client
 
 @dataclass
 class Complaint: