diff --git a/notebooks/discrete_illustris.ipynb b/notebooks/discrete_illustris.ipynb
index 71e80f32..10d7e28a 100644
--- a/notebooks/discrete_illustris.ipynb
+++ b/notebooks/discrete_illustris.ipynb
@@ -180,7 +180,11 @@
     "    if uniform:\n",
     "        color = ax._get_lines.get_next_color()\n",
     "\n",
-    "    _draw_gwb_sample(ax, gwb, color=color, num=nreals)\n",
+    "    try:\n",
+    "        _draw_gwb_sample(ax, gwb, color=color, num=nreals)\n",
+    "    except ValueError as err:\n",
+    "        log.warning(f\"Error trying to run `_draw_gwb_sample`: {err}\")\n",
+    "\n",
     "    _draw_gwb_conf(ax, gwb, color=color)\n",
     "    plot._draw_plaw(ax, gwb.freqs*YR, f0=1, color='0.5', lw=2.0, ls='--')\n",
     "\n",
@@ -861,7 +865,7 @@
    "outputs": [],
    "source": [
     "# choose frequencies at which to calculate GWB, use standard PTA frequencies\n",
-    "fobs, _ = utils.pta_freqs(num=40)\n",
+    "fobs, _ = utils.pta_freqs(num=10)\n",
     "\n",
     "# calculate eccentric GWB, using eccentric population\n",
     "gwb_eccen_eccen = holo.gravwaves.GW_Discrete(evo_eccen, fobs, nreals=100)\n",
@@ -917,18 +921,18 @@
    "metadata": {},
    "outputs": [],
    "source": [
-    "# ---- Create initial population\n",
+    "# # ---- Create initial population\n",
     "\n",
-    "pop = holo.population.Pop_Illustris()\n",
+    "# pop = holo.population.Pop_Illustris()\n",
     "\n",
-    "# ---- Evolve binary population\n",
+    "# # ---- Evolve binary population\n",
     "\n",
-    "# create a fixed-total-time hardening mechanism\n",
-    "fixed = holo.hardening.Fixed_Time.from_pop(pop, 2.0 * GYR)\n",
-    "# Create an evolution instance using population and hardening mechanism\n",
-    "evo = holo.evolution.Evolution(pop, fixed)\n",
-    "# evolve binary population\n",
-    "evo.evolve()"
+    "# # create a fixed-total-time hardening mechanism\n",
+    "# fixed = holo.hardening.Fixed_Time.from_pop(pop, 2.0 * GYR)\n",
+    "# # Create an evolution instance using population and hardening mechanism\n",
+    "# evo = holo.evolution.Evolution(pop, fixed)\n",
+    "# # evolve binary population\n",
+    "# evo.evolve()"
    ]
   },
   {