diff --git a/pycbc/events/stat.py b/pycbc/events/stat.py
index c3c87f8b254..f621610f9a0 100644
--- a/pycbc/events/stat.py
+++ b/pycbc/events/stat.py
@@ -442,7 +442,12 @@ def __init__(
         self.pbin = numpy.zeros(128, dtype=numpy.int32)
         self.sbin = numpy.zeros(128, dtype=numpy.int32)
 
-        if pregenerate_hist and not len(ifos) == 1:
+        # Is the histogram needed to be pre-generated?
+        hist_needed = pregenerate_hist
+        hist_needed &= not len(ifos) == 1
+        hist_needed &= (type(self).__name__ == "PhaseTD" or self.kwargs["phasetd"])
+
+        if hist_needed:
             self.get_hist()
         elif len(ifos) == 1:
             # remove all phasetd files from self.files and self.file_hashes,
@@ -1628,6 +1633,8 @@ def rank_stat_coinc(
         ln_s = 0
 
         if self.kwargs["phasetd"]:
+            if not self.has_hist:
+                self.get_hist()
             # Find total volume of phase-time-amplitude space occupied by
             # noise coincs, so that the logsignalrate function is properly
             # normalized