diff --git a/NAERSTADMO.py b/NAERSTADMO.py
index 9855df1f4b4b8ee575688cb689cc9ea2e0e65abd..a236de59a3e54646636ee5a79240a0467e99b202 100644
--- a/NAERSTADMO.py
+++ b/NAERSTADMO.py
@@ -527,5 +527,11 @@ def run_cdo(cdo_command):
         logging.error(f"CDO command {cdo_command[1]} failed:", e)
         quit()
 
+# Don't run if before start_date
+start_date = datetime.strptime(os.getenv("START_DATE"), "%Y-%m-%d")
+if datetime.now() <= start_date:
+    print(f"Today is before the configured start date of {start_date}. Exiting.")
+    exit(0)
 
+# Run model
 create_dataset()