diff --git a/.github/workflows/project_automation.yml b/.github/workflows/project_automation.yml
index 868c7e706e..66a16d1c1b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/project_automation.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/project_automation.yml
@@ -12,11 +12,15 @@ jobs:
   Handle_event:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: takb/project-board@master
+      - name: run project board action
+        uses: takb/project-board@master
+        env:
+          PROJECT_AUTOMATION: ${{ secrets.PROJECT_AUTOMATION }}
+        if: env.PROJECT_AUTOMATION != null
         with:
           token: "${{ secrets.PROJECT_AUTOMATION }}"
           owner: "GIScience"
           repo: "openrouteservice"
           project: "16"
           columnbylabel: '{":bug: bug": "Priority"}'
-          ignorecolumnnames: "Priority,Assigned,In progress,Review,Awaiting release,Done"
\ No newline at end of file
+          ignorecolumnnames: "Priority,Assigned,In progress,Review,Awaiting release,Done"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/run_maven_tests.yml b/.github/workflows/run_maven_tests.yml
index ba788447b0..6d887df1e4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/run_maven_tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/run_maven_tests.yml
@@ -41,5 +41,6 @@ jobs:
       with:
         type: ${{ job.status }}
         job_name: '*ORS CI Test*'
-        commit: true
+# this does not work. https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/runs/1648312213?check_suite_focus=true
+#        commit: false
         token: ${{ secrets.PROJECT_AUTOMATION }}
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index a28f4bd14c..21a2cfa864 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@ openrouteservice/src/main/resources/app.config*
 docker/elevation_cache
 docker/conf
 
+# Ignore ors.run file
+*ors.run
+
 app.config.local
 cgiar_provider/
 graphs/
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ba81082e14..292b62375c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ RELEASING:
  -->
 
 ## [Unreleased]
+### Added
+- output run file to signal completion of graph building/loading at init time
 ### Fixed
 - Define behavior for first container start with existing app.config
 
diff --git a/openrouteservice/src/main/java/org/heigit/ors/routing/RoutingProfileManager.java b/openrouteservice/src/main/java/org/heigit/ors/routing/RoutingProfileManager.java
index 149967c262..3362a77c35 100644
--- a/openrouteservice/src/main/java/org/heigit/ors/routing/RoutingProfileManager.java
+++ b/openrouteservice/src/main/java/org/heigit/ors/routing/RoutingProfileManager.java
@@ -625,12 +625,12 @@ public MatrixResult computeMatrix(MatrixRequest req) throws Exception {
     }
 
     public void createRunFile() {
-        File file=new File("ors.run");
+        File file = new File("ors.run");
         try (FileWriter fw = new FileWriter(file)) {
             fw.write("ORS init complete: "+ Instant.now().toString() + "\n");
             fw.flush();
-        } catch(IOException ex) {
-            ex.printStackTrace();
+        } catch(Exception ex) {
+            LOGGER.warn("Failed to write ors.run file, this might cause problems with automated testing.");
         }
     }
 }