diff --git a/src/mrinufft/operators/base.py b/src/mrinufft/operators/base.py
index f66c2012..6fbbb73c 100644
--- a/src/mrinufft/operators/base.py
+++ b/src/mrinufft/operators/base.py
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ def compute_density(self, method=None):
                 shape,
                 **kwargs,
             )
-        self._density = method(self.samples, self.shape, **kwargs)
+        self.density = method(self.samples, self.shape, **kwargs)
 
     def get_lipschitz_cst(self, max_iter=10, **kwargs):
         """Return the Lipschitz constant of the operator.
diff --git a/src/mrinufft/operators/interfaces/gpunufft.py b/src/mrinufft/operators/interfaces/gpunufft.py
index 57371299..fcaae3e9 100644
--- a/src/mrinufft/operators/interfaces/gpunufft.py
+++ b/src/mrinufft/operators/interfaces/gpunufft.py
@@ -561,10 +561,11 @@ def density(self, density):
             The density for the Fourier Operator.
         """
         self._density = density
-        self.raw_op.set_pts(
-            self._samples,
-            density=density,
-        )
+        if hasattr(self, "raw_op"):  # edge case for init
+            self.raw_op.set_pts(
+                self._samples,
+                density=density,
+            )
 
     @classmethod
     def pipe(
@@ -593,7 +594,7 @@ def pipe(
         """
         if GPUNUFFT_AVAILABLE is False:
             raise ValueError(
-                "gpuNUFFT is not available, cannot " "estimate the density compensation"
+                "gpuNUFFT is not available, cannot estimate the density compensation"
             )
         original_shape = volume_shape
         volume_shape = (np.array(volume_shape) * osf).astype(int)