diff --git a/src/spyglass/common/common_behav.py b/src/spyglass/common/common_behav.py
index 53f8b7dcd..0569d46e3 100644
--- a/src/spyglass/common/common_behav.py
+++ b/src/spyglass/common/common_behav.py
@@ -536,6 +536,9 @@ def _no_transaction_make(self, key):
         EPSILON = 0.51  # tolerated time diff in bounds across epoch/pos
         no_pop_msg = "CANNOT POPULATE PositionIntervalMap"
 
+        # Strip extra info from key if not passed via populate call
+        key = {k: v for k, v in key.items() if k in self.primary_key}
+
         nwb_file_name = key["nwb_file_name"]
         pos_intervals = get_pos_interval_list_names(nwb_file_name)
         null_key = dict(key, position_interval_name="")