diff --git a/openeo_driver/datacube.py b/openeo_driver/datacube.py
index 629e3447..bdec1d90 100644
--- a/openeo_driver/datacube.py
+++ b/openeo_driver/datacube.py
@@ -224,6 +224,7 @@ class DriverVectorCube:
     DIM_PROPERTIES = "properties"
     COLUMN_SELECTION_ALL = "all"
     COLUMN_SELECTION_NUMERICAL = "numerical"
+    VECTOR_CUBE_DUMMY = "vector_cube_dummy"
 
     def __init__(
         self,
@@ -324,7 +325,7 @@ def from_geodataframe(
                 data=numpy.full(shape=[data.shape[0]], fill_value=numpy.nan),
                 dims=[cls.DIM_GEOMETRIES],
                 coords={cls.DIM_GEOMETRIES: data.geometry.index.to_list()},
-                attrs={"vector_cube_dummy": True},
+                attrs={cls.VECTOR_CUBE_DUMMY: True},
             )
             return cls(geometries=data, cube=cube)
 
@@ -418,7 +419,7 @@ def _as_geopandas_df(
         """Join geometries and cube as a geopandas dataframe"""
         # TODO: avoid copy?
         df = self._geometries.copy(deep=True)
-        if self._cube is not None:
+        if self._cube is not None and not self._cube.attrs.get(self.VECTOR_CUBE_DUMMY):
             assert self._cube.dims[0] == self.DIM_GEOMETRIES
             # TODO: better way to combine cube with geometries
             # Flatten multiple (non-geometry) dimensions from cube to new properties in geopandas dataframe
diff --git a/tests/test_vectorcube.py b/tests/test_vectorcube.py
index 708ad874..7eb33643 100644
--- a/tests/test_vectorcube.py
+++ b/tests/test_vectorcube.py
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ def test_to_internal_json_defaults(self, gdf):
                         "geometries": {"attrs": {}, "data": [0, 1], "dims": ("geometries",)},
                     },
                     "data": [IsNan(), IsNan()],
-                    "attrs": {},
+                    "attrs": {"vector_cube_dummy": True},
                 },
             ),
             (