handle exception in case MD file is completely missing

        metadata_differs = False

        for md_file in md_out_files:

            dut_metadata_file = f"{dut_base_path}/param_file/dec/{md_file}"

            ref_metadata_file = f"{reference_path}/param_file/dec/{md_file}"

            if (not filecmp.cmp(dut_metadata_file, ref_metadata_file)):

            dut_metadata_file = Path(f"{dut_base_path}/param_file/dec/{md_file}")

            ref_metadata_file = Path(f"{reference_path}/param_file/dec/{md_file}")

            try:

                if not filecmp.cmp(dut_metadata_file, ref_metadata_file):

                    print("Output metadata differs for file: " + md_file)

                    metadata_differs = True

            except FileNotFoundError:

                if not dut_metadata_file.exists():

                    print(f"Output metadata missing for dut output")

                if not ref_metadata_file.exists():

                    print(f"Output metadata missing for ref output")

                metadata_differs = True

        if output_differs or metadata_differs:

            msg = "Difference between ref and dut in "