diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f4fc91759..81fee573f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@ TrackGraph.alter() # Comment regarding the change
 - Linearization
     - Add edge_map parameter to LinearizedPositionV1 #1091
 
+- Position
+
+    - Restore #973, allow DLC without position tracking #1100
+
 - Spike Sorting
 
     - Fix bug in `get_group_by_shank` #1096
diff --git a/src/spyglass/position/v1/position_dlc_centroid.py b/src/spyglass/position/v1/position_dlc_centroid.py
index 04815ae53..c1353cc9b 100644
--- a/src/spyglass/position/v1/position_dlc_centroid.py
+++ b/src/spyglass/position/v1/position_dlc_centroid.py
@@ -254,19 +254,22 @@ def _logged_make(self, key):
         total_nan = np.sum(final_df.loc[:, idx[("x", "y")]].isna().any(axis=1))
 
         logger.info(f"total NaNs in centroid dataset: {total_nan}")
-        spatial_series = (RawPosition() & key).fetch_nwb()[0]["raw_position"]
         position = pynwb.behavior.Position()
         velocity = pynwb.behavior.BehavioralTimeSeries()
+        if query := (RawPosition() & key):
+            spatial_series = query.fetch_nwb()[0]["raw_position"]
+        else:
+            spatial_series = None
 
         common_attrs = {
             "conversion": METERS_PER_CM,
-            "comments": spatial_series.comments,
+            "comments": getattr(spatial_series, "comments", ""),
         }
         position.create_spatial_series(
             name="position",
             timestamps=final_df.index.to_numpy(),
             data=final_df.loc[:, idx[("x", "y")]].to_numpy(),
-            reference_frame=spatial_series.reference_frame,
+            reference_frame=getattr(spatial_series, "reference_frame", ""),
             description="x_position, y_position",
             **common_attrs,
         )
diff --git a/src/spyglass/position/v1/position_dlc_orient.py b/src/spyglass/position/v1/position_dlc_orient.py
index 118ddffc8..0f93f8264 100644
--- a/src/spyglass/position/v1/position_dlc_orient.py
+++ b/src/spyglass/position/v1/position_dlc_orient.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
     red_led_bisector_orientation,
     two_pt_head_orientation,
 )
-from spyglass.utils import SpyglassMixin, logger
+from spyglass.utils import SpyglassMixin
 
 from .position_dlc_cohort import DLCSmoothInterpCohort
 
diff --git a/src/spyglass/position/v1/position_dlc_pose_estimation.py b/src/spyglass/position/v1/position_dlc_pose_estimation.py
index 2ff376837..b5be422a3 100644
--- a/src/spyglass/position/v1/position_dlc_pose_estimation.py
+++ b/src/spyglass/position/v1/position_dlc_pose_estimation.py
@@ -258,17 +258,20 @@ def _logged_make(self, key):
                 populate_missing=False,
             )
         )
-        spatial_series = (
-            RawPosition() & {**key, "interval_list_name": interval_list_name}
-        ).fetch_nwb()[0]["raw_position"]
-        _, _, _, video_time = get_video_info(key)
-        pos_time = spatial_series.timestamps
+        if interval_list_name:
+            spatial_series = (
+                RawPosition()
+                & {**key, "interval_list_name": interval_list_name}
+            ).fetch_nwb()[0]["raw_position"]
+        else:
+            spatial_series = None
+
+        _, _, meters_per_pixel, video_time = get_video_info(key)
+        key["meters_per_pixel"] = meters_per_pixel
 
         # TODO: should get timestamps from VideoFile, but need the
         # video_frame_ind from RawPosition, which also has timestamps
 
-        key["meters_per_pixel"] = spatial_series.conversion
-
         # Insert entry into DLCPoseEstimation
         logger.info(
             "Inserting %s, epoch %02d into DLCPoseEsimation",
@@ -296,7 +299,9 @@ def _logged_make(self, key):
             part_df = convert_to_cm(part_df, meters_per_pixel)
             logger.info("adding timestamps to DataFrame")
             part_df = add_timestamps(
-                part_df, pos_time=pos_time, video_time=video_time
+                part_df,
+                pos_time=getattr(spatial_series, "timestamps", video_time),
+                video_time=video_time,
             )
             key["bodypart"] = body_part
             key["analysis_file_name"] = AnalysisNwbfile().create(
@@ -309,8 +314,8 @@ def _logged_make(self, key):
                 timestamps=part_df.time.to_numpy(),
                 conversion=METERS_PER_CM,
                 data=part_df.loc[:, idx[("x", "y")]].to_numpy(),
-                reference_frame=spatial_series.reference_frame,
-                comments=spatial_series.comments,
+                reference_frame=getattr(spatial_series, "reference_frame", ""),
+                comments=getattr(spatial_series, "comments", "no comments"),
                 description="x_position, y_position",
             )
             likelihood.create_timeseries(
diff --git a/src/spyglass/utils/dj_mixin.py b/src/spyglass/utils/dj_mixin.py
index 9ac836f5a..723fec869 100644
--- a/src/spyglass/utils/dj_mixin.py
+++ b/src/spyglass/utils/dj_mixin.py
@@ -614,7 +614,7 @@ def populate(self, *restrictions, **kwargs):
                 for key in keys:
                     self.make(key)
                 if upstream_hash != self._hash_upstream(keys):
-                    (self & keys).delete(force=True)
+                    (self & keys).delete(safemode=False)
                     logger.error(
                         "Upstream tables changed during non-transaction "
                         + "populate. Please try again."