|  | @@ -59,8 +59,7 @@ class CotAgentRunner(BaseAgentRunner, ABC):
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				|  |  |  
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				|  |  |          # init instruction
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				|  |  |          inputs = inputs or {}
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				|  |  | -        assert app_config.prompt_template.simple_prompt_template
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				|  |  | -        instruction = app_config.prompt_template.simple_prompt_template
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				|  |  | +        instruction = app_config.prompt_template.simple_prompt_template or ""
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				|  |  |          self._instruction = self._fill_in_inputs_from_external_data_tools(instruction, inputs)
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				|  |  |  
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				|  |  |          iteration_step = 1
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