diff --git a/reasoning_gym/algorithmic/pool_matrix.py b/reasoning_gym/algorithmic/pool_matrix.py
index 4d14c9cf..41b9117d 100644
--- a/reasoning_gym/algorithmic/pool_matrix.py
+++ b/reasoning_gym/algorithmic/pool_matrix.py
@@ -97,19 +97,21 @@ class PoolMatrixDataset(ProceduralDataset):
     def score_answer(self, answer: Optional[str], entry: dict[str, Any]) -> float:
         """Score the answer based on the metadata"""
 
+        if not answer:
+            return 0.0
+
         reward = 0.0
         try:
-            if answer is not None:
-                oracle_answer = np.array(entry["answer"])
-                answer = np.array(answer)
-                if oracle_answer.shape == answer.shape and np.allclose(oracle_answer, answer):
-                    reward = 1.0
-                if oracle_answer.shape == answer.shape:
-                    reward = 0.1
-                else:
-                    reward = 0.01
-        except:
-            print("Error in scoring answer for Pool Matrix")
+            oracle_answer = np.array(entry["answer"])
+            answer = np.array(answer)
+            if oracle_answer.shape == answer.shape and np.allclose(oracle_answer, answer):
+                reward = 1.0
+            elif oracle_answer.shape == answer.shape:
+                reward = 0.1
+            else:
+                reward = 0.01
+        except Exception:
+            pass
         return reward
 
     def __getitem__(self, idx: int) -> dict: