diff --git a/template/base/miner.py b/template/base/miner.py
index 1788e24b..4bbcc394 100644
--- a/template/base/miner.py
+++ b/template/base/miner.py
@@ -111,20 +111,10 @@ def run(self):
         # This loop maintains the miner's operations until intentionally stopped.
         try:
             while not self.should_exit:
-                while (
-                    self.block - self.metagraph.last_update[self.uid]
-                    < self.config.neuron.epoch_length
-                ):
-                    # Wait before checking again.
-                    time.sleep(1)
-
-                    # Check if we should exit.
-                    if self.should_exit:
-                        break
-
-                # Sync metagraph and potentially set weights.
-                self.sync()
-                self.step += 1
+                bt.logging.debug(f"block: {self.block}")
+                if self.block % self.config.neuron.epoch_length == 0:
+                    self.sync()
+                time.sleep(12)
 
         # If someone intentionally stops the miner, it'll safely terminate operations.
         except KeyboardInterrupt:
diff --git a/template/base/utils/weight_utils.py b/template/base/utils/weight_utils.py
index 26133efd..f31eac4e 100644
--- a/template/base/utils/weight_utils.py
+++ b/template/base/utils/weight_utils.py
@@ -159,6 +159,11 @@ def process_weights_for_netuid(
     non_zero_weight_idx = np.argwhere(weights > 0).squeeze()
     non_zero_weight_uids = uids[non_zero_weight_idx]
     non_zero_weights = weights[non_zero_weight_idx]
+
+    # Ensure non_zero_weights is a NumPy array
+    if not isinstance(non_zero_weights, np.ndarray):
+        non_zero_weights = np.array(non_zero_weights)
+
     if non_zero_weights.size == 0 or metagraph.n < min_allowed_weights:
         bittensor.logging.warning("No non-zero weights returning all ones.")
         final_weights = np.ones(metagraph.n) / metagraph.n
@@ -167,7 +172,7 @@ def process_weights_for_netuid(
 
     elif non_zero_weights.size < min_allowed_weights:
         bittensor.logging.warning(
-            "No non-zero weights less then min allowed weight, returning all ones."
+            "No non-zero weights less than min allowed weight, returning all ones."
         )
         weights = (
                 np.ones(metagraph.n) * 1e-5