diff --git a/backend/core/views/process.py b/backend/core/views/process.py
index 5dc049d..0b973a2 100644
--- a/backend/core/views/process.py
+++ b/backend/core/views/process.py
@@ -111,9 +111,12 @@ def create(self, request):
             for _input in _inputs:
                 main_file = _input.files.get(role=0)
                 filepath = pathlib.Path(
-                    settings.MEDIA_ROOT, _input.path, main_file.name
+                    settings.UPLOAD_DIR, _input.path, main_file.name
                 )
 
+                if not filepath.is_file():
+                    raise FileNotFoundError(f"File not found: {str(filepath)}")
+
                 ra = self.__get_mapped_column(_input, "RA")
                 dec = self.__get_mapped_column(_input, "Dec")
                 z = self.__get_mapped_column(_input, "z")
diff --git a/backend/pzserver/settings.py b/backend/pzserver/settings.py
index e03e99c..cdd7909 100644
--- a/backend/pzserver/settings.py
+++ b/backend/pzserver/settings.py
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@
 
 import saml2
 
-# import saml2.saml
-
 # Build paths inside the project like this: BASE_DIR / 'subdir'.
 # BASE_DIR = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
 BASE_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
@@ -156,8 +154,10 @@
 STATIC_URL = "/django_static/"
 STATIC_ROOT = os.path.join(BASE_DIR, "django_static")
 
-MEDIA_URL = os.getenv("MEDIA_URL", "/archive/data/")
-MEDIA_ROOT = os.getenv("MEDIA_ROOT", "/archive/data/")
+MEDIA_URL = "/archive/data/"
+MEDIA_ROOT = MEDIA_URL
+
+UPLOAD_DIR = os.getenv("UPLOAD_DIR", MEDIA_URL)
 
 # Default primary key field type
 # https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/4.0/ref/settings/#default-auto-field
diff --git a/env_template b/env_template
index 056adf0..c8931fd 100644
--- a/env_template
+++ b/env_template
@@ -78,10 +78,6 @@ PIPELINES_DIR=/pipelines
 # directory where it will contain the datasets.
 DATASETS_DIR=/datasets
 
-# Upload dir
-MEDIA_URL=/archive/data
-MEDIA_ROOT=/archive/data
-
 # Saml2 / Satosa Auth
 # URL to login using satosa
 # AUTH_SHIB_URL=${URI}/saml2/login/